CHAPTER- I

Introduction
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CHAPTER-I

Introduction

Devotion - A vital means of Liberation

1.1.0 Spiritual Texts

Spiritual texts are of two types - the learned philosophical treatises
(siistriis) that appeal to the intelligence with the nuances and subtleties of
logic etc. which explain the experience of divine. And the fervent devotional
hymns (stotriis) that explain through mystic teaching and spiritual vision, the
Omniscience, Omnipresence and Omnipotence of Supreme Being, available
to the spiritual aspirant in search of the ultimate truth. There is no watertight
distinction between these since both categories convey the devout
experience and are authentic expression of devotion. Siva Gita combines the
features of both the sastra and stotra.

1.2.0 Rama 's conversation with Siva

In Siva Gita, the conversation is between Sri Rama and Lord Siva.
After the abduction of Sita, Rama is depressed and is in anger. At this point
Sage Agastya appears in front of Rama to teach vairiigya and upon Rama' s
insistence to get Sita recovered first, teaches him Siva sahasra niima and
advises him to propitiate Lord Siva who will bestow him Piisupata arrow to
enable him conquer RavaQ.a. After bestowing Piisupata, Lord Siva imparts
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spiritual teaching in order to elevate Rama to higher realms and transmits the
knowledge of the Self to Rama to get over anger and agony and obtain
lasting peace, thereby facilitating all the spiritual aspirants to derive the
benefit of the spiritual knowledge unlike the Bhagavad Gita which preaches
the spiritual knowledge to get over sorrow and delusion.

1.3.0 Comparison of Siva Gita with Bhagavad Gita

There are striking parallels in SG and BG in quite a few places as if
resounding echoes. Six verses {provided in appendix} are verbatim
reproductions while 32 verses are very much similar in form, import and
content.There is no cause of wonder because both these Gita texts have
emanated from the pen of great Badarayat).a, Veda Vyasa.

1.4 .0 Origin of Siva Gita

The SG forms part of Uttara-khat).9a of Padma-pural)a. Parama
Sivendra Sarasvati says in his commentary on Siva Gita [I-36] that it

belongs to the Padma-pur~a: "3'1f+JOicrVlct qs:Jlj•OJI a~<HI'llct:z:i ~

~ ~CICTIIJOi<H$f.4ci; ' "CTT"CH": tRT<:r $fliiR\ChJf"

1
• Main thrust of this

work is on the philosophy of Advaita that follows the Upani$ads and the
Brahma-sutra as its source of authority.

1.5. 0 Siva Gita- the ancient

SG gives essence of major Upani$ads in general and Saivopani$ads
in particular. A list of 64 gitas is given in appendix and SG is one of the
 17

prominent of the same. This could be the fore runner of BG as this

conversation between ·Lord Siva and Sri Rama took place in Treta yuga

(~ ~~ifiCflC"4 6i1CfllcrtdJfll~ 3flf a~cflqa~r:,

~ ~
ar a~ lAfct) 2 where as the
~

BG conversation in the Kuru~etra war field took place in subsequent

Dvaparayuga. The authenticity of one Primary God's (Lord Siva) advice to
another Primary God's (Vi~l)u) incarnation, has been suitably modified by
the recipient Primary God's another incarnation to suit mankind and
delivered to a human hero Arjuna in the form of a dialogue set in battlefield.

In BG, Arjuna is '~~nCH131Jt' 3 • Thus it is observed that the seed of BG has

been sown in SG.

1.6 .0 Available works on Siva Gita

There is a gloss on SG titled Sivagitatatparyaprakasika by His
Holiness Jagadguru Parama Sivendra Sarasvati.4 Yet another work Siva
Gita Bha~yam was authored by Sri Srngagiri Jagadguru Srimad Abhinava
Nrsimha Bharati Svami. 5 The third work is in Grantha character with
translation of Sanskrit verses in Tamil. 6 There is another one publication of
Siva Gita by the Nirnaya Sagar Press, Bombay. 7 There is a Siva Gita with
Hindi translation ofverses. 8 There is a recent work with Tamil translation
with meanings written by Anandanaciyaramma. 9 Another translation of Siva
Gita in English is by Prof P.K.Sundaram. 10 It is learnt that there is a
translation of Siva Gita into Italian language by Mario Vallauri. 11
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1.7 .0 Siva same as Vi~I}U

It has to be well kept in mind that SG is not sectarian. One, who
thinks Siva and Vi~I)u are different, is mistaken. Even Brahma or Hiral)ya
Garbha is not different from Siva and Vi~I)u.

1.7.1 We have in Brahma Naradiya pur~a 12

"Between the primordial Gods Hari and Sankara, only the Ignoramus
introduces differences, on account of their sins."

1.7.2. Lord Siva says In HV 13

3ft <=Cf ti aaI~ ~: c-a cR c:u ~ \)1011 2\crt I

"There is absolutely no difference either in words or meaning between us

and I am you and you are me, Janardana."

1.7.3 ~bhu, an avatiira ofVi~I)u says 14

"I am the real Hari and I am also Sada Siva. We are of the nature of pure
existence and consciousness."
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1.7.4 Lord Siva says in Siva Gita itself 5

mm7R;mi4C1¢tci ~~~
.j .j

"0, Ruler of Mankind, One who hates Me or the Preceptor or Pasupata

penance or Vi~I)u, will not get released even in millions ofbirths."
The idea focussed in Siva Gita naturally inculcates in the mind the themes
quoted above.

1.8.0 Emphasis on Siva

SG provides a synthesis between Saiva and Vai~I)ava traditions.
Although SG glorifies Lord Siva, it simultaneously advocates tolerance
between Siva and Vi~I)U (which is the need of the hour).
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NOTES- CHAPTER I

I. Vide. SG with English commentary by Prof. P.K.Sundaram- Introduction p-v

2. Ibid. Introduction p- xiii

3. BG- Chapter XI verse -33.

4. Printed in 1906 by The Vani Vilas Press, Srirangam and the author was the 57th
Pontiff of the Kamakoti Pftham from 1539-1586.

5. Published by Sp1geri Sarada Pftham in 1962 and the author was the 24th Pontiff
from 1599- 1622.

6. Authored by Sri' Muthukumaraswamy Gurukkal from Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

7. This book is published in 1909 vide prof. P.K.Sundaram's Siva Gita- introduction
p- IV

8. Published by Gangavi$1J.U Sri' Kr$IJ.adas, Kalyan, Bombay - authored by Pandit

Jvalaprasad Misra-1994

9. Published by Sri' Indu Publications, T.Nagar, Chennai in 2004.

10. Published by The Centurian Trust, Chennai in 1997 following the commentary
called Bala-nandini by Hari Pandita.

11. Vide SG - English commentary (Centurian Trust) Introduction p-v.

12. Ibid. introduction P-xiii.

13. HV- the fmal part ofMahabharata - adhyaya 67 v-55

14. Vide 7th chapter 64 the verse in TBU.

15. Vide Gitadhikari NirupaiJ.am- XVIth chapter of SG - verse 6.

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