Re-understanding Deification and Hunger: An Ecocritical Venture into Shiva Purana

Abstract

The advent of the Eighteenth Century witnessed emergence of a scientific temperament and shook the foundation of faith or religion in an unbelievable manner. Industrial Revolution, World Wars aggravated the situation and a conflict between science and religion has been prevalent since then. People began to neglect the mores and preaching of theological philosophy and even the tradition and customs handed down by religion or otherwise also culture. In the era of over-all degradation, it has become the need of the hour to restore theology, spiritual and mythical works for re-learning the meanings of humanity and wisdom, although the elimination of religious blindness needs to be done. It is discerned that people discard the ancient philosophy and myths to be irrational and non-scientific, but it is not true. Religion, ancient philosophy and conduct of life is intertwined intricately. In religion and culture, myths and folklores remain popular and are handed down from generation to generation and appear to be so fictional. But, in reality, they carry innumerable valuable messages and codes for life. So, this study intends to shed the irrationality and illuminate the rational and significant implications in the text Shiva Purana, which forms a part of the very precious Mahapuranas, spiritual and mythological text of Hindus. The paper would, however, attempt an ecocritical study of the specified text. As ecological concerns have called for urgent attention, ancient wisdom can assist scientific ideologies and thus, go hand in hand to unite humans to become environmentally sensitive.