Universal Śaivism

In Universal Saivism Peter Bisschop provides a critical edition and annotated translation of the sixth chapter of the Sivadharmasastra `Treatise on the Religion of Siva’, the so-called Santyadhyaya 'Chapter on Appeasement’. The Sanskrit text is preceded by an extensive introduction on its composition, transmission and edition.

The Sivadharmasastra has arguably played a crucial role in the formation, development and institutionalisation of Saivism. Through a detailed study of its extensive santi mantra, Peter Bisschop shows how the text advocates a system in which all worldly and cosmic power is ultimately dependent upon Siva. 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.