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The Śivadharmaśāstra has arguably played a crucial role in the formation, development and institutionalisation of Śaivism. Through a detailed study of its extensive śānti mantra, Peter Bisschop shows how the text advocates a system in which all worldly and cosmic power is ultimately dependent upon Śiva. The mantra itself is a mine of information on the evolving pantheon of early Brahmanical Hinduism.
Thanks to generous support of the J. Gonda Fund Foundation, the e-book version of this volume is available in Open Access.
The Śivadharmaśāstra has arguably played a crucial role in the formation, development and institutionalisation of Śaivism. Through a detailed study of its extensive śānti mantra, Peter Bisschop shows how the text advocates a system in which all worldly and cosmic power is ultimately dependent upon Śiva. The mantra itself is a mine of information on the evolving pantheon of early Brahmanical Hinduism.
Thanks to generous support of the J. Gonda Fund Foundation, the e-book version of this volume is available in Open Access.
Abstract
The figure of Candeśa (Candeśvara) in early Śaivism has been the subject of two recent studies by Diwakar Acharya and Dominic Goodall. The present article proposes to identify a sculpture in the British Museum, hitherto identified as Lakulīśa, as representing Candeśvara. Attention is drawn to the iconographical similarities to a Śaiva deity depicted on the Cālukya shrines of Mahākūta and Pattadakal. A passage from the lay Śivadharma proves crucial in understanding the identity of Candésvara in early Śaivism, which leads to a renewed consideration of the deity invoked in the final line of the Mathurā Pillar Inscription of Candragupta. Finally the Śivadharma's descriptions of two other Ganas, Bhrngiriti and Vināyaka (Ganésa), are briefly analyzed in the light of the significant fact that both Ganas are referred to as 'son of Rudra'.