[UPSC CSE 2011] Angular momentum, spin etc (Q315, 10M)

Let \vec{\sigma} be the vector operator with component equal to Pauli's spin matrices \sigma_x,\sigma_y,\sigma_z. If \vec{a} and \vec{b} are vectors in 3D space, prove the identity (\vec{\sigma}\cdot\vec{a})(\vec{\sigma}\cdot\vec{b})=\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}+i\vec{\sigma}\cdot(\vec{a}\times\vec{b})