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Shiva: The Wild God of Power and Ecstasy
An extensive look at all the aspects of multi-natured Shiva
• Explores the shamanic roots of world spirituality as exemplified by this Hindu god who shares many of the attributes of the Norse Odin and the Celtic Cernunnos
• Looks at Shiva’s relation to contemporary culture, Tantra, and the dualistic religions of the West
To his devotees Shiva is the entire universe and the core of all beings. Hindu myth shows him appearing at the beginning of creation as a giant pillar of fire from which this world sprang forth. Yet he is also the most approachable of gods, for he is the lover of lovers and the devotee of his devotees. Of the 1,008 names of Shiva, Pashupati, Lord of Animals, is one of the most common. His special relation to animals along with his trickster nature reveal the deep connection of Shiva to shamanism and other gods such as the Norse Odin and the Celtic Cernunnos that came out of the Paleolithic traditions.
Ethnologist Wolf-Dieter Storl was first captivated by Shiva when he was in India as a visiting scholar at Benares Hindu University. In this book he invites readers to join in the lively and mythical world of Shiva, or Mahadev, God of All Gods. Shiva is a study in contrasts: As the lord of dance he looses himself in ecstatic abandon; with his consort Parvati he can make love for 10,000 years. Both men and women worship him for his ability to unite and balance masculine and feminine energies. But as the ascetic Shankar he sits in deep meditation, shunning women, and none dare disturb him lest he open his third eye and immolate the entire universe. Lord of intoxicants and poisons, he is the keeper of secret occult knowledge and powers, for which he is worshipped by yogis and demons alike. Shiva dances both the joy of being and the dance of doom--but in every aspect he breaks through the false ego to reveal the true self lying within. This is his true power.
• Explores the shamanic roots of world spirituality as exemplified by this Hindu god who shares many of the attributes of the Norse Odin and the Celtic Cernunnos
• Looks at Shiva’s relation to contemporary culture, Tantra, and the dualistic religions of the West
To his devotees Shiva is the entire universe and the core of all beings. Hindu myth shows him appearing at the beginning of creation as a giant pillar of fire from which this world sprang forth. Yet he is also the most approachable of gods, for he is the lover of lovers and the devotee of his devotees. Of the 1,008 names of Shiva, Pashupati, Lord of Animals, is one of the most common. His special relation to animals along with his trickster nature reveal the deep connection of Shiva to shamanism and other gods such as the Norse Odin and the Celtic Cernunnos that came out of the Paleolithic traditions.
Ethnologist Wolf-Dieter Storl was first captivated by Shiva when he was in India as a visiting scholar at Benares Hindu University. In this book he invites readers to join in the lively and mythical world of Shiva, or Mahadev, God of All Gods. Shiva is a study in contrasts: As the lord of dance he looses himself in ecstatic abandon; with his consort Parvati he can make love for 10,000 years. Both men and women worship him for his ability to unite and balance masculine and feminine energies. But as the ascetic Shankar he sits in deep meditation, shunning women, and none dare disturb him lest he open his third eye and immolate the entire universe. Lord of intoxicants and poisons, he is the keeper of secret occult knowledge and powers, for which he is worshipped by yogis and demons alike. Shiva dances both the joy of being and the dance of doom--but in every aspect he breaks through the false ego to reveal the true self lying within. This is his true power.
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
37 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
Wolf-Dieter Storl
70 books121 followersBorn in Saxony, Germany in 1942 with a green thumb and the gift of writing, and emigrating with his parents to the United States in 1954, cultural anthropologist and ethno-botanist Wolf Dieter Storl has had a special connection to nature since childhood. His specific area of research is shamanism and healing in traditional societies with a focus on the role of plants in all aspects of life, including sacred symbolism, magic, medicine, foods, and poisons. He has pursued this interest in many parts of the world.
After finishing his PhD in Anthropology (magna cum lauda) on a Fulbright scholarship in 1974 in Berne, Switzerland, he taught anthropology and sociology in Grants Pass, OR. During this time he also offered an organic gardening course that was extremely popular. He was one of the pioneers of the organic/biodynamic gardening movement. While preparing for his doctoral exams in Switzerland he also lived in an experimental community and helped tend a five-acre organic garden. There he had the good fortune to learn from master gardener, Manfred Stauffer who specialized in composting any organic matter.
Storl is also an avid traveler and has gathered much experience observing nature around the entire globe and spending time with people who are very connected to the nature that surrounds them. From1982 -83, he spent a year as an official visiting scholar at the Benares Hindu University, in Varanasi, India. After returning to the United States in 1984, he spent much time with traditional medicine persons of the Cheyenne and taught courses at Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wyoming. He has traveled and conducted research in South Asia, India, Mexico, the Canary Islands, South Africa, and much of Europe, pursuing ehtnobotanical and ethnomedicinal interests. He has written some twenty-five books and many articles in German and English, which have been translated into various languages, such as English, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Japanese, Danish, Lithuanian, Latvian, and Czech. Storl is a frequent guest on German, Swiss and Austrian television and has also appeared on BBC.
After another visit in India and Nepal in 1986, he and his wife moved to Germany where he began to write books as a freelance writer and offer freelance lectures. He lives with his family on an old estate in the foothills of the Alps where he has a large garden.
Storl’s books are unique in that he does not treat nature only with cold objectivism. He is able to delve into nature's depths and supports his experience with ancient lore from all over the world that has been, for the most part, left on the wayside in the wake of objective science. He theorizes that science is not always as objective as it claims to be. He invites his readers on a journey into a world of nature that is completely alive and has its own rhyme and reason. Myths and lore from many cultures also have a prominent place in his writings, as he claims that the images portrayed in this way often tell us more about the true nature of things than dry facts can do.
Credentials:
MA from Kent State University, instructor there from 1967 – 1969 in anthropology and sociology.
PhD in Anthropology (magna cum lauda) from University of Berne Switzerland, Fulbright scholarship, 1974.
Organic, biodynamic gardener since 1970. First book, Culture and Horticulture from organic gardening course notes of three years on request of students.
Since 1986 freelance author living in Germany with family.
Wolf D. Storl also writes in German as Wolf-Dieter Storl
After finishing his PhD in Anthropology (magna cum lauda) on a Fulbright scholarship in 1974 in Berne, Switzerland, he taught anthropology and sociology in Grants Pass, OR. During this time he also offered an organic gardening course that was extremely popular. He was one of the pioneers of the organic/biodynamic gardening movement. While preparing for his doctoral exams in Switzerland he also lived in an experimental community and helped tend a five-acre organic garden. There he had the good fortune to learn from master gardener, Manfred Stauffer who specialized in composting any organic matter.
Storl is also an avid traveler and has gathered much experience observing nature around the entire globe and spending time with people who are very connected to the nature that surrounds them. From1982 -83, he spent a year as an official visiting scholar at the Benares Hindu University, in Varanasi, India. After returning to the United States in 1984, he spent much time with traditional medicine persons of the Cheyenne and taught courses at Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wyoming. He has traveled and conducted research in South Asia, India, Mexico, the Canary Islands, South Africa, and much of Europe, pursuing ehtnobotanical and ethnomedicinal interests. He has written some twenty-five books and many articles in German and English, which have been translated into various languages, such as English, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Japanese, Danish, Lithuanian, Latvian, and Czech. Storl is a frequent guest on German, Swiss and Austrian television and has also appeared on BBC.
After another visit in India and Nepal in 1986, he and his wife moved to Germany where he began to write books as a freelance writer and offer freelance lectures. He lives with his family on an old estate in the foothills of the Alps where he has a large garden.
Storl’s books are unique in that he does not treat nature only with cold objectivism. He is able to delve into nature's depths and supports his experience with ancient lore from all over the world that has been, for the most part, left on the wayside in the wake of objective science. He theorizes that science is not always as objective as it claims to be. He invites his readers on a journey into a world of nature that is completely alive and has its own rhyme and reason. Myths and lore from many cultures also have a prominent place in his writings, as he claims that the images portrayed in this way often tell us more about the true nature of things than dry facts can do.
Credentials:
MA from Kent State University, instructor there from 1967 – 1969 in anthropology and sociology.
PhD in Anthropology (magna cum lauda) from University of Berne Switzerland, Fulbright scholarship, 1974.
Organic, biodynamic gardener since 1970. First book, Culture and Horticulture from organic gardening course notes of three years on request of students.
Since 1986 freelance author living in Germany with family.
Wolf D. Storl also writes in German as Wolf-Dieter Storl
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 27, 2009
an in-depth analysis of shiva and his origins with frequent cross-references to other indo-european traditions that sheds a brilliant light upon western pagan traditions. this book is fascinating, and is the only non-fiction book i've read so far that was hard to put down. the prose is simple and clear, the sources are extensively credited, and the information is pertinent to almost any pagan tradition. this is exactly the kind of information i was looking for when i started to study shiva in an attempt to further understand curnunnos, and it has helped tremendously with my efforts to get to know my patron more deeply.
January 25, 2019
This book will be alright for foreigner who know nothing about shiva and for them this is more then enough but not totally accurate. When non believer wrote a book and at one point, they fell into dilemma of what's the true story from the all available stories and they choose the most logical one. But religion, mythologies can't run on logic's but on emotions and deep symbols.
Problem with book:
1. Aryan invasion theories are accepted by author, but its a tricky subject. Whatever the truth, author must alarm their readers that there are still a Doubt on authenticity. If base of the foundation is at fault, .......
2. Book compare the indian god with Christianity and greek one more then necessary. almost 1/3 of book are comparision and it might feel easy for non indian to understand this book.
Problem with book:
1. Aryan invasion theories are accepted by author, but its a tricky subject. Whatever the truth, author must alarm their readers that there are still a Doubt on authenticity. If base of the foundation is at fault, .......
2. Book compare the indian god with Christianity and greek one more then necessary. almost 1/3 of book are comparision and it might feel easy for non indian to understand this book.
January 14, 2026
An exceptional insight into the evolution of the multifaceted and complicated God that is Shiva, as well as very briefly touching on other Indo-European gods that are similar or maybe even derived from Him like Odin, Thor, Loki, Lugh, Dionysus, Zeus, and the concept of the West's pitchfork wielding Devil.
It's dense and full of puranas and excerpts to read for yourself, mostly concerning Shiva and other Hindu figures. I enjoyed it and I'm glad I finally had the chance to read it (also my edition was nearly 500 pages, goodreads not 300?)
It's dense and full of puranas and excerpts to read for yourself, mostly concerning Shiva and other Hindu figures. I enjoyed it and I'm glad I finally had the chance to read it (also my edition was nearly 500 pages, goodreads not 300?)
December 18, 2013
An exceptional, encyclopedia-like book on Shiva, that touches on many unknown matters on Hinduism and it's deep connections with other religions. No other book had touched this well on the dark Shiva and the various myths and legends pertaining to him. Plenty of shocking and disturbing revelations.
Unfortunately in some chapters, the writer's language and narration shows biasness against some other religions. And in the first few chapters, too many myths and stories are depicted that leaves the reader in a state of confusion. Some stories could have been avoided.
Otherwise, a great book on Shiva. A splendid look into the darker practices of Hinduism. A must read.
Unfortunately in some chapters, the writer's language and narration shows biasness against some other religions. And in the first few chapters, too many myths and stories are depicted that leaves the reader in a state of confusion. Some stories could have been avoided.
Otherwise, a great book on Shiva. A splendid look into the darker practices of Hinduism. A must read.
April 22, 2014
A great book to learn about Lord Shiva & how people worship him in India (in different ways). Some chapters a little draggy. Otherwise, a great book!
August 17, 2024
Title: Shiva: The Wild God Of Power And Ecstasy
Author: Wolf-Dieter Storl
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Illustrated edition (14 September 2004)
Language: English
Paperback: 312 pages
Item Weight: 508 g
Price: 449/-
In the mystifying congregation of gods of the Hindu pantheon, Lord Shiva stands out as one of the oldest and best loved. He is as old as the Indian culture, perhaps even older.
At the time of the cosmic dawn, before the creation of man, he appeared as the divine archer, pointing with his arrow to the clandestine Absolute.
The book contains the following chapters:
Chapter 1: Journey to the Source of Time
Chapter 2: Fire and Ice
Chapter 3: The Shaman and His Black Dog
Chapter 4: God’s Virile Member
Chapter 5: Shankar, The Yogi on the Mountain
Chapter 6: The Goddess
Chapter 7: The Dancer in the Flames
Chapter 8: The Ideal Family
Chapter 9: The Destruction of the Sacrifice
Chapter 10: Shiva as the Devil
Chapter 11: Tantra: The Serpent’s Path
Chapter 12: The Saint, the Hero, and the Beast
Chapter 13: Pollen Dust and Ashes
Chapter 14: Shiva’s Festivals and Holidays
The world is Mahadev’s hunting ground. The universe resounds with his presence. He is both sound and echo. He is intangible vibration as well as infinitesimal substance. He is the rustling of the withered leaves and the glossy green of the newborn grass. He is the ferryman who ferries us from life to death, but he is also the liberator from death to immortality. He has innumerable faces and eleven forms as described in the Vedas.
The sky and the seasons vibrate with his intensity and power. He grips, supports, releases, and liberates. He is both the disease and the destroyer of the disease. He is food, the giver of food, and the process of eating. His divine majesty and power are depicted through symbolic, yet highly realistic descriptions of an awe-inspiring figure, far, distant, and cold in his remote Himalayan fastness as well as close, kind, and loving, a living, throbbing symbol of the Divine.
He was worshipped as the divine shaman by wild tribes that roamed across the subcontinent before the dawn of history. They contacted him by the use of certain psychoactive compounds and various esoteric rituals. Later we see him on the terra-cotta seals of the Indus civilization. There he is shown as Pasupati, Lord of beasts, surrounded by the wild creatures of the jungle. He is also shown as the yogi sitting in various meditative postures.
The rishis of the Vedas looked up at the Himalayas and saw in them his hair; they found his breath in the air, and all creation and destruction in his dance—the Thandava Nritta. The Rig Veda, the oldest religious text known to humankind, refers to him as Rudra, the wild one, who dwelt in fearful places and shot arrows of disease. Sacrifices were constantly offered to appease him.
The stories told in this book are public Indian lore. Grandmothers narrate them to the children, peasant storytellers or nomadic sadhus declaim them in the evening to enthusiastic listeners. They are told, not just to entertain, but to teach, to make a point, or to exemplify some vision into the ambiguities of life.
Give it a go. It is a treasure-chest of wisdom.
Author: Wolf-Dieter Storl
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Illustrated edition (14 September 2004)
Language: English
Paperback: 312 pages
Item Weight: 508 g
Price: 449/-
In the mystifying congregation of gods of the Hindu pantheon, Lord Shiva stands out as one of the oldest and best loved. He is as old as the Indian culture, perhaps even older.
At the time of the cosmic dawn, before the creation of man, he appeared as the divine archer, pointing with his arrow to the clandestine Absolute.
The book contains the following chapters:
Chapter 1: Journey to the Source of Time
Chapter 2: Fire and Ice
Chapter 3: The Shaman and His Black Dog
Chapter 4: God’s Virile Member
Chapter 5: Shankar, The Yogi on the Mountain
Chapter 6: The Goddess
Chapter 7: The Dancer in the Flames
Chapter 8: The Ideal Family
Chapter 9: The Destruction of the Sacrifice
Chapter 10: Shiva as the Devil
Chapter 11: Tantra: The Serpent’s Path
Chapter 12: The Saint, the Hero, and the Beast
Chapter 13: Pollen Dust and Ashes
Chapter 14: Shiva’s Festivals and Holidays
The world is Mahadev’s hunting ground. The universe resounds with his presence. He is both sound and echo. He is intangible vibration as well as infinitesimal substance. He is the rustling of the withered leaves and the glossy green of the newborn grass. He is the ferryman who ferries us from life to death, but he is also the liberator from death to immortality. He has innumerable faces and eleven forms as described in the Vedas.
The sky and the seasons vibrate with his intensity and power. He grips, supports, releases, and liberates. He is both the disease and the destroyer of the disease. He is food, the giver of food, and the process of eating. His divine majesty and power are depicted through symbolic, yet highly realistic descriptions of an awe-inspiring figure, far, distant, and cold in his remote Himalayan fastness as well as close, kind, and loving, a living, throbbing symbol of the Divine.
He was worshipped as the divine shaman by wild tribes that roamed across the subcontinent before the dawn of history. They contacted him by the use of certain psychoactive compounds and various esoteric rituals. Later we see him on the terra-cotta seals of the Indus civilization. There he is shown as Pasupati, Lord of beasts, surrounded by the wild creatures of the jungle. He is also shown as the yogi sitting in various meditative postures.
The rishis of the Vedas looked up at the Himalayas and saw in them his hair; they found his breath in the air, and all creation and destruction in his dance—the Thandava Nritta. The Rig Veda, the oldest religious text known to humankind, refers to him as Rudra, the wild one, who dwelt in fearful places and shot arrows of disease. Sacrifices were constantly offered to appease him.
The stories told in this book are public Indian lore. Grandmothers narrate them to the children, peasant storytellers or nomadic sadhus declaim them in the evening to enthusiastic listeners. They are told, not just to entertain, but to teach, to make a point, or to exemplify some vision into the ambiguities of life.
Give it a go. It is a treasure-chest of wisdom.
June 5, 2022
If you are interested in learning more about this Indian God of the Gods, Wolf-Dieter has done an AMAZING job to help you with it.
Based on his experiences in India and his wide knowledge of, well, a lot, he has gifted me with a better connection to a power that seems to be bigger then us. This book isnt just about Shiva. It takes you right onto the paradox pathways that make this life an adventure.
His way of telling stories is magical for me and I love how he can take a complex topic like Shiva and turn it into a book that you can read in 2 days turning your head into an expanding universe of endlessness.
I really recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in connecting the dots of Mythology and our present life. Or, of course, an interest in Shiva.
Thank you Wolf-Dieter Storl for this great work.
Based on his experiences in India and his wide knowledge of, well, a lot, he has gifted me with a better connection to a power that seems to be bigger then us. This book isnt just about Shiva. It takes you right onto the paradox pathways that make this life an adventure.
His way of telling stories is magical for me and I love how he can take a complex topic like Shiva and turn it into a book that you can read in 2 days turning your head into an expanding universe of endlessness.
I really recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in connecting the dots of Mythology and our present life. Or, of course, an interest in Shiva.
Thank you Wolf-Dieter Storl for this great work.
April 15, 2018
Enjoyed this immensely. The author is an anthropologist with an interest in shamanism, so the book is filled with comparisons to other religions and cultures. He brings out the wide range of differences in the interpretation of Shiva across Indian history and communities, and illustrates everything with tales about him from a variety of sources.
My one criticism is that he is too ready to add in his own commentary on modern times. It's one thing talking about how modern Westerners have interpreted Shiva, but it's not relevant to add in your opinion of their lifestyle.
My one criticism is that he is too ready to add in his own commentary on modern times. It's one thing talking about how modern Westerners have interpreted Shiva, but it's not relevant to add in your opinion of their lifestyle.
April 24, 2023
Recommended to me in India.
Polytheistic religion works quite differently.
Polytheistic religion works quite differently.
August 14, 2014
This a great book to understand the origins and the mythos surrounding Shiva. There is a lot of comparative analysis between the cultures. that share similar deities, beliefs, myths, and practices. The author goes in detail of the stories of Shiva found in the folklore and explains the symbolic significance of those - this helps in explaining many of the rituals we conduct without really understanding why we do what we do..
A great introduction and many insights for a devotee or a theologian or an intellectual... you will enjoy this book one way or the other.
A great introduction and many insights for a devotee or a theologian or an intellectual... you will enjoy this book one way or the other.
July 11, 2016
I am not getting any option to read on iphone 5s. Please help me
January 11, 2013
Awesome.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews