Saivism encompasses all aspects of religion: a philosophy, a theology, a conception of the universe, a current of devotion, a world of myths, elaborate rituals in temples, expressions in plastic arts, in poetry, music, dance. The sources to understand this subject are the Sanskrit texts of Epics, Puranas and Agamas. The present book gives a clear presentation of Saivism through a survey and an erudite reading of this vast literature. The agamas are the key to the knowledge of temple organization and rituals, the description of which is a unique and original contribution of this work. This very readable and reliable work contains an amazing quantity of information, carefully referenced at every step, and is likely to be of the greatest utility to researchers in history of religion, medieval to modern, as well as to the general reader interested in Saivism. 

Pandit N. Ramachandra Bhatt has devoted his whole life to research and bring to light Saivagama literature.