Siva-Kosha- A Project on Devata-Kosha: Volume Two (An Old and Rare Book)

Preface The Kalpathans Research Academy, Bangalore, has already established itself as a prolific learning center in Indology, and its publications are of enduring value. It has added one more Kosha to its series of Devata Kosha (Encyclopaedia of Indian gods and goddesses), including Ganesha Kosha, Lalita Kosha, Durga-Kosha, Navagraha-Kosha and Salagrama-Kosha. As it is well known, a group of five divinities receives worship all over the country, known as Panchopasana, Panchayatana or Pancha-Deva-Paja. It accommodates the worship of Ganesha. Ambika (Durga), Surya, Siva and Narayana, We have already brought out Koshas with regard to the first two of five divinities and Surya has been covered in Navagraha-Kosha. The present volume relates to Siva and the volume on Narayana is under preparation.

The Academy is grateful to Vidyalankara, Sastrachudamani, Sangita-kalratna Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao for having prepared this volume 'Siva-Kosha', as he has done the other volumes in the series. Siva is the deity that is worshipped all over the country by all classes of people; and the literature on Siva, Saiva agama and Saiva pantheon is immense, and there are also numerous shrines in India where Siva is worshipped in one form (or aspect) or another. The available matter therefore justifies two volumes on the subject. This is the second of the Volumes. We hope that the scholars and students interested in Indian culture would welcome this publication as they have done our previous research publications:

We acknowledge with profound respect and gratitude the blessings on us by Acharya of Sri Sringeri Sharada-Peetham, His Holiness Sri Bharathi-Tirtha Mahaswamiji, who has graciously consented to be the chief patron of the Academy. We are also grateful to Sri V.R. Gowrishankar, the Administrator of the Sri Sringeri Sharada-Peetham and the Chariman of the Kalpatharu Research Academy, for his unfailing encouragement in our endeavor.

Also we are deeply beholden to the authorities of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India for their generous financial assistance. We also thank the Govt. of Karnataka for their support in our endeavour.

The Omkar Offset Printers, Bangalore, have accomplished a laudable work in producing this volume: and we are grateful to them **Contents and Sample Pages**