subject to imperfections, although
here too his power is their
ultimate source. The only path to
liberation is devotion to Shiva,
through whose grace the bonds of
maya can be broken or transcended.
Even after liberation souls remain dis-
tinct from Shiva, although they remain
in his presence. For further informa-
tion see M. Dhavamony, Love of God
According to Saiva Siddhanta, 1971.
See also shaiva andTamil Nadu.
Shaka (“Teak”) Dvipa
In traditional mythic geography, the
sixth of the seven concentric landmasses
(dvipas) making up the visible world.
See also cosmology.
Shaka Era
One of the dating systems in India,
which is claimed to mark the defeat of
the Shakas by King Salivahana. For any
given year in the common era, the
Shaka era date is either seventy-eight or
seventy-nine years earlier, a discrepancy
that stems from the differing days on
which the years begin in these two sys-
tems. In the common era the year begins
on January 1, but in the Shaka era it
begins with the sun’s transition into
Aries, determined in India as falling on
April 14. Hence, to convert a Shaka era
date to a common era date, one adds
seventy-nine years for dates from
January 1 to April 14, and seventy-eight
years for dates from April 15 to
December 31.
Shakata
(“cart”) One of the demonassassins sent
by Kamsa, the demon-king of Mathura,
to kill his nephew, the child-god
Krishna. Shakata takes the form of a
cart, intending to take the infant
Krishna unaware. Yet Krishna is not
fooled by this deception: With a kick of
his infant toes Krishna launches the cart
into flight, killing the demon with the
force of the blow.
Shakha
(“branch”) The name given to a local
“branch” of the Rashtriya
Svayamsevak Sangh (RSS), whose
membership is often drawn from a
particular neighborhood or section of
a city. The RSSis a conservative Hindu
organization whose express purpose
is to provide the leadership cadre for a
revitalized Hindu India. The RSShas
historically characterized itself as a
cultural and character-building orga-
nization, and for much of its existence
has shunned direct political involve-
ment, although it has exercised con-
siderable influence through its many
affiliated organizations. Each shakha,
or local RSSunit, holds a daily meeting
for its members, who are known as
svayamsevaks (“volunteers”). The
meeting’s typical activities include an
opening ceremony in which the orga-
nization’s saffron banner is raised; tra-
ditional games or exercises, including
martial drill, and a discussion period
in which RSSideals can be disseminat-
ed and propagated. The shakhas in
any given area are overseen by a full-
time RSSworker known as a pracharak
(“director”), who serves as a liaison
between the local units and the RSS
leadership, and who oversees RSS
activity in his area. Most of the
shakha’s members will never advance
beyond this local level, and those who
do are usually gifted leaders. Thus, the
primary stress at the shakha level is
on forming personal relationships
with other members, as a way to
develop loyalty to the organization.
Although the shakhas often have very
high attrition, the bonds developed
there are often very strong as well and
are particularly beneficial in helping
displaced and newly urbanized peo-
ple develop a sense of community. For
further information see Walter K.
Andersen and Shridhar D. Damle, The
Brotherhood in Saffron, 1987.Shakha