Weclome to the Šivaloka web site.  The word 'Šivaloka' (or Shivaloka) roughly translates from the Sanskrit to 'Shiva World' or, more literally 'The Abode of the Auspicious One'.  This web site is dedicated to study and worship of God, the Parasivam, the Brahmam, the Ultimate Reality, the Supreme Self, the Divine Consciousness of All That Is.   The divinity that is imminent in us and in the world around us, that permeates all the Universe. For our return visitors, please see WHAT'S NEW!  Please click on the links in the navigation bar on the left to explore this site.  In the Dharma section, you will find articles about Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).  In the Shastras section you will find  scriptural passages, links and commentaries. In the Bhajan section you will find devotional songs and poetry.  On the Puja page you can find instructions on performing home pujas (religious ritual worship).    The Darshan section is a  Cyber Shrine where you may 'take darshan' (receive blessings) from the many divine forms of God/Goddess/All-That-Is.    This site a personal effort and a seva (spiritual service/offering) of Hariharan Veer Shivadas, and this site reflects the opinions and conclusions of him and the contains contain quotations and links from a variety of sources.   Your comments and suggestions are most welcomed.   Simply click here or look for the WRITE US menu item in the left border of the page. sathyam nasti paro dharma! There is no religion higher than Truth!  What is Hinduism ? (Sanatana Dharma)   "Acceptance of the Vedas, the oldest scriptures in the world, with reverence; recognition of the fact that the means or ways to salvation are diverse; and the realization of the truth that while God is One, yet the number of names and forms by which God is worshipped is large, that indeed is the distinguishing feature of the Hindu religion." - India's Supreme Court.       "We Hindus do not merely tolerate, we unite ourselves with every religion, praying in the mosque of Mohammedan, worshipping before the fire of the Zoroastrian, and kneeling to the cross of the Christian. We know that all religions alike, from the lowest fetishism to the highest absolutism, are but so many attempts of the human soul to grasp and realise the Infinite. So we gather all these flowers, and, binding them together with the cord of love, make them into a wonderful bouquet of worship." "'Universal brotherhood! We are all equal, therefore let us make a sect.' As soon as you make a sect, you protest against equality, and equality is no more. Muslims talk of universal brotherhood, but what comes out of that in reality? Why, that anybody who is not a Muslim will not be admitted into the brotherhood; he will more likely have his throat cut.  Christians talk of universal brotherhood; but anyone who is not a Christian must go to that place where he will be eternally barbecued." -Swami Vivekanand Selections from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekanada