Contents: Preface. 1. The Pancharatra or The Bhagavata cult. 2. Antiquity of Siva worship. 3. Antiquity of Linga worship and esoterism. 4. The emergence of Lakulisa Pasupata. 5. Historicity of Lakulisa cult. 6. Genealogy of the disciples of Lakulisa. 7. The metaphysics of Pasupata system. 8. Iconographic representation of Lakulisa. 9. Representation of Siva in coins. 10. Srikantha and Lakulisa. 11. Kashmir Saivism and Vira Saivism. 12. Lakulisa and Ajivikas. Appendix: 1. Lakulisa Pasupata cult : its journey to south. 2. Cintra Prasasti and the Pasupata Acaryas with names ending in Rasi. 3. Eklingji stone inscription : Vikram year 1028. 4. The Mathura pilaster inscription of Chandragupta II: Gupta year 61. Bibliography. Index.

"The cult of Lakulisa, the foremost amongst the Pasupata sects has not received the attention of the scholars which it deserved. Although a few stray articles did appear in some notable journals and modern texts, the authentic history of the order was the need of the hour.

"From Kayavarohana in Gujarat, the cult travelled to various parts of India including Payar in Kashmir, Orissa in the east and many temple sites in the south including Tamil Nadu. The monumental discovery of 'Karvan Mahatmya" revealed for the first time lesser known facts about Lakulisa and the 'Ganakarika" provided valuable information about the rituals and methods of worship.

"The discovery of Lakulisa images in all parts of India proves that the faith was well accepted by the common people. He is represented as a saint, teacher, yogin and a man of divinity and considered by his followers as an incarnation of Siva. In the present text, attempt has been made to incorporate the history and antiquity of Siva worship and the emergence of Lakulisa order. The monograph broadly discusses the saliant features of Lakulisa Pasupatas and throws welcome light on the genesis and development of the faith." (jacket)