"Wherefore, the whole universe is ensouled by Siva. If any embodied being whatsoever, be subjected to constraint, it will be quite repugnant to the eight-bodied Lord; as to this, there is no doubt. Doing good to all, kindness to all, affording shelter to all, this they hold as the worshipping of Siva."

Here, in this last sentence of Srikantha, do we get at the real essence of all religion. What is Siva? It is Love. What is worship of Him? Loving Him. How can we love Him, whom we do not know? Nay, we can know Him and do know Him though. We do not perceive each other's souls or minds and yet, we love each other. It is the body we know, and it is on each other's body we manifest all our love. We do willing service to the body only of our elders, masters, teachers and parents. It is on that body we love, we lavish all our wealth and labour. So can we worship and love Him by loving His Body which is the whole universe of Chatana and Achetana.

'Thou dwell'st in all the elements," tis said ; and yet

'Thou goest not, nor com'st;' the sages thus, have sung 'Their rhythmic songs. Though, neither have we heard, nor learnt Of those, that Thee by seeing of the eye, have known.

Thou King of Perun-Turai, girt with cool rice-fields,

To ponder Thee is hard to human thought. To us

In presence come! Cut off our ills! In mercy make us Thine!

Our mighty Lord, from off Thy couch in grace arise!

As I pointed out above, knowledge is an essential requisite of our love. As knowledge grows, Love will grow. The more and more we understand our nearness to each other and to God, more and more will our love grow. The knowledge and love prevailing between master and servant is weaker than between father and son; between friends it is higher, and in the case of lovers, it is highest.