7 Secrets of Shiva: The Hindu Trinity Series

This book intends to explains the philosophy of Lord Shiva by explaining the symbols sights and rituals associated. While doing this so, this book arouses ones spirituality to a great extent. The philosophy explained is meaningful, upto the point and is very easy to understand. I started off with this book with an intolerant attitude towards the religion, often calling it a religion full of compelling myths which made no sense to a great extent. Having read this book, I further continued with the book "Seven secrets of Vishnu". Now I am a genuine admirer of both these. For all those who wish to understand philosophy of Shiva logically this is the book.

Seven Secrets of Shiva is a non-fiction work that endeavors to explain Shiva, the Lord of Kailash through the labyrinth of myths, stories and cultural perception. Why is Shiva dressed like an uncouth tramp? Why does he smear ashes from the cemetery, on his body and dress with a tiger skin? Why did he arm Ravana and Basmasura with boons that finally led to trouble? Who is this God who acts like a hermit devoid of family, commitments and emotion and yet has a huge following of ganas, wives and sons? One will find all the answers for these questions in this book. With impeccable research, Devdutt Patnaik steers us through Sati’s marriage to Shiva, the impact of her death on him and his resultant withdrawal from the world. I liked the way, the author explains the role of Parvathi in Shiva’s world. It is she who facilitates Shiva’s engagement back in the world. It is she who teaches esoteric nuances of sex and love to him. And author’s assertion that Shiva was innocent to the world’s prejudices and cultural perception makes a lot of sense. As with any other mythology book, the author has delved deep into both north and south indian fables, folk tales, myths and legends and has presented Shiva to the common man to understand, venerate and learn the primitive wisdom that would help us escape the trapping of the world. Devdutt’s language is simple to understand yet he manages to explain complex arguments about Shiva in very understandable terms. Plus Points: Thorough research of all legends, stories and myths related to Shiva. Minus Points: Felt that the first chapter dragged a bit with a lot esoteric explanations.

Very well researched and objectively presented. Pattanaik digs into the esoteric and symbolic manifestations and representations of Shiva. As a practicing Hindu, I found this book to add greatly to my own understanding of the implicit within the art/ narrative depictions of Shiva. I'm not sure if this is a good "beginners" book - but highly recommend it for the spiritually curious. I also enjoy that the author steps away from the obligatory religious anecdotes (for instance, of Shakti mounting Shiva to invigorate him to benefit the universe - compared to the layman account of the same depictions placing Shiva at Shakti's feet to calm the angry goddess). Cannot wait to read Pattanaik's other works!

Lord Shiva is the primordial source of energy and symbolizes not only destruction but also creation through creating matter from energy. This book is well written and presented but appears more another mythological story. There is more to the contained energy, energy transformation, and to 'apsamara' than what has been given in the book. Readable. Lalji Verma

Personally I like Lord Shiva a lot, I like to read this book. This book is not a novel like reading, but goes to the deep knowledge about what is the purpose of Shiva and how he balances everything that belongs to nature. People had bad thing in their mind about Lord Shiva as the status about Lord Shiva was erotic in some temples but this book has incorporated the idea of subjective nature and objective nature about those symbol and explains us why we need to look into those differently. I am yet to complete this book as this book is not to be read just like that but need to understand what is the meaning behind in each and every paragraph. Will give more review about this book once I complete this book..

Every sentence provokes though! Really helped me understand the concepts of maya, culture vs nature, and that Shiva is full of empathy and kindness. Destroyer of fear, deconstructor of our imagined realities. Great insight into Parvati as Shakti and also as Durga, Kali, and Ganga. The great Goddess. Also loved the discussion of Ganesha and Kartikeya. Dr Pattanaik is wonderfully adept with words and includes many photographs of art to interpret for fuller understanding. Worth reading multiple times!

As a collection of stories on Shiv, this book does very well. Pattnaik succeeds in chronologically (I never though that was possible with Hindu mythology) ordering the various manifestations of the Unmanifest through some good & simple stories revealing a character whose simplicity sits rather uncomfortably with his powers & philosophy. Through these tales, Pattnaik also expounds many aspects of the Hindu thought around rebirth, maya, Purusha & Prakriti et al. The philosophy is really not that catchy - I never thought it was meant to be. It is an accompaniment to the stories of Shiv, a pregnant pause to explain a beheading there & a drunken-college-dude thing there that Shiv does from time to time. But Shiv is well beyond all our classifications which he neither understands nor cares about. To really dig your heel into philosophy/.Hindu thought, I suggest look elsewhere. This is good but fleeting series of introductions to a many tentacled complex web of Hindu thought. It is really the stories then & the character that emerges from it. Ultimately, all the complex doctrines fuse into this simpleton & manifest awkwardly in this world of ours making him both accessible, inspiring & a lot of fun.

This may be an absolutely essential book for those who are interested seriously in the ideas behind Shiva God of creation and destruction – the God of the centrifugal force which destroyed the Bindu and with Brahman, created the so-called Big Bang. The book is full of pictures and marvelous stories that even a Strong devotee of Shiva like myself, On myself learning new things and being transported to new worlds of wonder and excitement. I don't think there's a spare word in the whole book and if you are interested in Shiva I can suggest several other books that aren't worth half of what this one is worth I have to thank the author, Devdutt Pattanaik, but this incredible plethora of marvels equal to any book of fancy which turns out to be authentic and absolutely on the mark in a manner of showing one has to live life to the fullest. A Roman Catholic by birth and I practiced I am also a Hindu, and specifically a devotee of Shiva – I cannot recommend this book more highly.

This book was my introduction to Devdutt Pattanaik. He has helped me understand Shiva and for that I am most grateful. His writing is beautiful and shows deep understanding into this subject. I have become a disciple of his and now addicted to elegant style by reading more of his great works. I am indebted to him for clearing my mind of confusion regarding Indian Mythology and look forward to the next book.

Written in a simple and conversational style by Devdutt Pattnaik and presented on top-notch paper quality this book has been accompanying me for the past few days, unraveling every conceivable detail a novice (me) may seek about Lord Shiva! What's not to love? The 7 Secrets of Shiva is the first huge step that has surely kindled my curiosity to know so much more, because it explains the stories, and symbolisms that we have heard while growing up, but never had anyone explain to us in great detail. It's been a delightful journey so far, and though a few pages remain, I'm elated to have discovered this gem. Actually, more grateful than elated.

Good source material for someone who wants to know about shiva. Definitely getting book about Vishnu too. Bless you brother

Just great. I love that book. It is so interesting. It gives you a good and easy understanding. I do read it bit by bit because ther is so much info on one single side.