Shivashri Sambandhasivacarya was honoured with the Presidential Award of Certificate of Honour for his lifetime achievements in Sanskrit and Shaiva Siddhanta studies. He had remarked that it was a reward for his hard work and purvajanma punyam. Perhaps, it was our punyam that India was blessed with such a scholar.
In context of relationship between deity & devotee, at some point in time there would be apparent conflict between adherence to ‘correct’ ritual performance as laid down in texts & personal devotion (bhakti)
This essay will provide some insight into the particular traditions within the larger dharma framework and how these various systems gave access to one and all, as long as they were sincere aspirants.
It is often argued that restrictive rules, in terms of temple entry or offering worship at one, impinge upon the “right to participate in the religion” of those who are…
