One of the three Great Gods of Hinduism, Siva is a living god. The most sacred & most ancient book of India, the Rg Veda, evokes his presence in its hymns. Vedic myths, ritual, & even astronomy testify to his existence from the dawn of time. In a lively meditation of Svia—based on original Sanskrit texts, many heretofore not translated—Stella kramrisch ponders the metaphysics, ontology, & myths of Siva from the Vedas to the Puranas. Who is Siva? The author asks. Who is this god being comprises & transcends everything? None of the paire of opposites, nor the sum of his uncounted names, defines him. From the dawn of creation, the Wild God, whose ancient name is Rudra, is Consciousness. He is the Great Yogi, the guardian of the absolute. His actions are the themes of the myths in which his nature unfolds. By retelling & interweaving the many myths that continue to convey Siva’s presence as a living god in India today, Professor Kramrisch unfolds the paradoxes in Siva’s nature & thus in the nature of consciousness itself. The magnificent sculptures at Elephanta, illustrated at the end of the book, capture in another medium the presence of the god. This book took shape over over about ten years & I am grateful to those who read various drafts of the manuscript, edited the English, & checked the references to Sanskrit texts. Paul Todd Makler, Dorothy Norman, & Svatantra Kumar Pidara gave their unstinting help during the earlier phases. Guy Welbon made valuable suggestions concerning the substance of the texe; Darrel Sewell added constructive comments to the Appendix. Susan Oleksiw painstakingly revised in its final form the language & accuracy of the manuscript with regard to its sources. To her in particular, to all those who helped, & to the authorities of the Philadelphia Museum of Art who facilitated my work, I am indebted forever. (MOTILAL BANARSIDASS)