List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The Natar¿ja bronze; 2. The Cidambaram myth; 3. Temple, priests and ritual; 4. The Hall of Consciousness, the Heart of the Universe; 5. ¿aiva Siddh¿nta and Ved¿nta; 6. The Goddess; 7. Bhiks¿tana; 8. Bhairava the Terrible and other forms of ¿iva; 9. Saints, dancing girls, ganas and Apasm¿ra; 10. Last words; Notes; Bibliography; Index and glossary.