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Along with various Vedic creeds, cults and belief-systems that thrive on spiritual and intellectual pursuits grounded in theological-philosophical ethos Hinduism has Non-Vedic sub-streams, comprising the esoteric and the occult mingling with the mainstream over the millennia. The Bhairava cult is one such, and has followers in India and Nepal. Even Buddhism has consecrated six aspects of Bhairava. A part of the primordial form of Saivism, Bhairava is a fearsome deity that is often identified with Rudra – the angry aspect of Siva. Since it is associated with fear and divine wrath Bhairava represents a human psychic state. It came to be imagined as the ‘resonance that emerged from the celestial amassing of cumulous clouds that promised rain... (And) personified as a furious and plucky dwarf... a defender of agro-trading professionals.’ Non-Vedic in origin Bhairava is the spiritual equivalent of the Vedic Rudra. Today there are several streams of this cult in Nepal. This well researched book deals with the Bhairava Cult’s origins, practices and other aspects in a comprehensive manner.
Relevance of Guru Granth
Sahib Spiritual teachings are essentially timeless. They remain relevant to the society for all ages. This is true of Guru Granth Sahib too. The author states that this Holy Scripture ‘`85 is not a mere system, philosophy or an ideology but is a living experience of spiritual preceptors`85’ of variegated traditions. Imbued with nirguna religiosity, the holy Granth lays great stress upon harmonious relationship between spirit and matter, man with his inner self, his fellow beings and with the whole cosmos. Divided into nine chapters this cerebral tome interprets the holy book’s teachings in the context of modern social and global issues. Sikhism’s action oriented philosophy enmeshes with tolerance and catholicity in such a way that one can interpret its tenets to understand the contemporary world, as this eminently readable tome has done so successfully.
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The cult of Bhairava in
Nepal
