The Presence of Shiva

The book reveals the image of one of the three principal gods of Hinduism, as he is depicted in the texts of the Vedas and Puranas. Being an outstanding art historian and philosopher, Stella Kramrisch combines the fascination of the narrative with a deep philosophical analysis of the myth of Shiva, touching upon various levels of meaning, from psychological to metaphysical. The comparison of the narratives of the same plots in different sources helps the author to uncover the richness of meanings embedded in them, as well as to reconcile seemingly contradictory and incompatible traits into a coherent, integral, and highly impressive image.