We live in times where people have extreme views. On the one hand there are scholars who describe Shivas linga literally as a phallus and see all metaphoric meaning as embarrassed apology of the uneducated. On the other hand we have puritanical Hindus who want to strip the Shiva linga of all sexual meaning and sanitize Shivas lore. In both cases a symbol is being reduced to a sign. In Shiva to Shankara Devdutt Pattanaik Indias leading mythologist seeks to bridge the gap. As he explores the layers of meanings embedded in Shivas linga we discover why and how the Goddess transforms Shiva the hermit into Shankara the householder.
