New book on Rudra-Shiva

[Peter Schreiner]

Allow me to draw your attention to the following new publication by one of
the members of our institute: 

Annemarie Mertens:
Der Dakshamythus in der episch-puranischen Literatur : Beobachtungen zur
religionsgeschichtlichen Entwicklung des Gottes Rudra-Shiva im Hinduismus.
(Beitraege zur Indologie ; 29) Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1998. xx, 444 pp.
(ISBN 3-447-04079-3), paperback DM 148,-; ÖS 1080,-; SFR 131,-

Shiva´s image changed from a terrifying outsider in vedic times to a
supreme God in Hinduism. This long process of Rudra-Shiva´s rise to a
higher position can be studied in the many epic and puranic variations of
the story of Daksha´s sacrifice. The popular episode of Shiva´s exclusion
from a share of the sacrifice and his reaction to this discrimination - the
forcible interruption of the sacrifice - is reported in Shaivite as well as
Vaishnava and Shakta Puranas. The authors modified or extended the Daksha
episode revealing their different religious attitudes. The critical
analysis of the myth´s development and its different historical levels
makes a contribution to the history of Hinduism, especially of Shivaism.

Orders should be made to: 
Otto Harrassowitz
D-65174 Wiesbaden
Germany
Fax: +49(0)611/530560



(Peter Schreiner, 
Abteilung fuer Indologie
Universitaet Zuerich)