Shiva to Shankara: Giving Form to the Formless

by Devdutt Pattanaik

We live in times where people have extreme views. On the one hand, there are scholars who describe Shiva's linga literally as a phallus, and see all metaphoric meaning as embarrassed apology of the uneducated. On the other hand, we have puritanical Hindus who want to strip the Shiva linga of all sexual meaning and sanitize Shiva's lore. In both cases, a symbol is being reduced to a sign. In Shiva to Shankara, Devdutt Pattanaik, India's leading mythologist, seeks to bridge the gap.

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 20, 2023

About the author

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik (born December 11, 1970) is an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist and author whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology, and also management. He has written a number of books related to Hindu mythology, including Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, a novel, The Pregnant King, and Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata (2010).
He is the Chief Belief Officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers, bringing the wisdom of Indian mythology into Indian business, especifically in human resource management. He also writes a column for the newspaper MID DAY.
He has also written a novel based on a tale from the Mahabharata titled 'The Pregnant King' published by Penguin Books India

Reviews

[Preethika P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Om Namasivaya 🙏

God is everywhere. As per the vedic history, Lord Shiva is the first born self made god who gave birth to yoga and numerous things in the world now. He was always an outsider of the world affairs and kept himself away from everything. He mastered yoga where the place he lived in became cold as him and gave external power to him whenever needed.

Devi as a consort of Lord Shiva forced him to include himself into the Samsara so he will be kind hearted and give boon to the life structure of the universe. With Shakthi, Siva became a Samsara and gave wonders to the universe. Without Shakthi, Siva is nothing.

Devdutt Pattanaik explored the vedic books and explained about the form of Lord Shiva we worship in temple now. He showed how Shiva changed to Shankara with the help of Devi Parvati. Giving form to the formless meant the absolute meaning in the book.

The author explained how tapasya and yagna differentiate itself when it comes to praying and seeking the desire of the universe. He explained the details of each symbol and the Purana mentioned in the history and showed who is Siva to the readers ❤ Best read for Lord Shiva followers like me ❤ Humbled to read this book 🙏

[Craartology · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devdutt Pattanaik’s Shiva to Shankara: Giving Form to the Formless is a crisp and gripping account of Lord Shiva’s role in the Hindu way of life.

Interpretation of various forms of the Shiva this book represents the aspect of God or the supreme that is closer to nature, the one who transcends social codes and cultural norms describing him as the one who is pleased by sincere devotion and not rituals while being indifferent to worldly affairs.

Folklore, fables and accounts from the vedas and puranas give insight into the character and essence of Shiva’s persona and role in maintaining the balance of the universe.

Through the author’s interpretation the reader also gets details into the ritualistic and theistic aspects of religion and spirituality. In totality, Devdutt Pattanaik’s interpretation of Lord Shiva is a glimpse of the actual divinity of the Lord.

[Gooogleion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remain in the world but yet out of it

[Aditya Nihal Kumar Singh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was expecting a more evolution of Shaivism but it turned out to be a naive interpretation of Puranic stories loosely based on Samkhya and Shakt Philosophy. I found some parts of the book really blasphemous in my limited knowledge. The pictures on the book great as usual.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shiv to Shankara Giving Form to the Formless by Devdutt Pattanaik provides an accessible introduction to the complex figure of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology. Pattanaik’s writing is clear and concise, making complex philosophical ideas accessible to a broader audience. The book traces the transformation of Shiva from the abstract, formless entity (Shiv) to the more relatable, human-like god (Shankara), which reflects the spiritual journey of many who seek to understand the divine.

However, for readers already familiar with Shiva’s mythology, the content may feel somewhat repetitive or too basic. As one of the most enigmatic deities in the Hindu Mythology, Shiva wasn’t established as such. Pattanaik failed to do justice to the complexities of Shiva. But for those unfamiliar with the subject matter, this book serves as an excellent entry point into the vast world of Hindu theology and mythology. Although the book may not fully satisfy readers seeking a more rigorous or in-depth examination of Lord Shiva’s multifaceted nature.

Overall, Shiv to Shankara serves as a decent introduction, but it may not satisfy readers with varied knowledge of Hindu mythology. Pattanaik’s reliance on simplicity, while useful for newcomers, might seem reductive to those who have a deeper familiarity with Hindu philosophy. In any case, reading it will enhance your knowledge about Hindu mythology.