Questions tagged [shaivism]
Shaivism is one of the six major sects of Hinduism, which reveres Lord Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivism holds that Shiva is the creator, preserver, destroyer, revealer and concealer of all that is.
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Why Shiva (an asectic god) has family while most other Gods don't?
Shiva or Mahadev is generally considered a deity of Sanyasi/yogis. Shiva himself is the greatest yogi and lives in Smashan. But unlike most other Hindu gods, he has a proper family. Parvati is his ...
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Do any commentators of Brahmasūtras other than Ādi Śaṅkarācārya disagree with both Pañcarātra and Śaiva Āgamas?
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedānta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sūtras, a work by the sage Vyāsa ...
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What is the meaning of the word "Shiva"?
Is "Shiva" just a name of a God or does the word actually denote something?
In other words, what is the real meaning of the word "Shiva" (also spelled as Śiva or शिव)?
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Why does lord Shiva have three eyes?
How did lord Shiva of the Thrimoorthi get three eyes? Who gave him the third eye?
user304
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What is the significance of Rudraksha in Saivism?
Rudraksham seems to have an important place in the Saivite sect of Hinduism. I have seen it being worn by many Saivite temple priests and many rishis (in their portrayals). Apart from priests, I have ...
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What is Shakti Visishtadvaita philosophy?
Does any one know what this(Shakti Visishtadvaita) philosophy is all about? I know what are dvaita, advaita philosophies but this is new one.
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Is ‘Vayu Purāṇa’ a synonym for the Shiva Purāṇa and what is the reason for it having two names?
The Matsya Purāṇa, while enlisting the 18 mahapuranas says the following with reference to the fourth one, also known as the Shri Shiva Purāṇa
With reference to the Śvetakalpa, the dharma which Vayu ...
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Who is a Shaivite or Shaiva? What are his/her supposed qualities?
Like in this thread we find the definition & qualities of a Vaishnava, I would like to know the same for the Shaiva as well. What is the definition or qualities of a Shaiva or Shaivite.
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Does Sadashiva ride a tortoise?
In this excerpt from the Manava Shrauta Sutras, a text associated with the Yajur Veda, a certain ritual for worshiping Shiva is described. As part of this ritual, the five-headed form of Shiva is ...
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What is the difference between Raudra and Saumya sects of Shaivism?
The term "Shaivite" is often overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they are actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss ...
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Can Lingayats be considered as a part of Hinduism?
Lingayatism is considered as a Shaivite sect within Hinduism which worship Linga, founded by Basava. This sects seems to reject everything belonging to Hinduism—like the Varna system, the Vedas, and ...
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Do Shaivites believe in something greater than Sadashiva?
In this excerpt from the Vayaviya Samhita of the Shiva Purana, various time scales are described:
Brahma's one day is equivalent to a kalpa. He is of unmanifest origin. A thousand kalpas make a ...
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Do any non-Vaishnava Agamas trace their origins to a Vedic Shakha?
As I discuss in this answer, Hindu scripture is made up of two categories, Shruti or that which is heard from the gods, and Smriti or that which is composed by humans authors and passed down from ...
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What are the major schools of Kashmir Shaivism?
One of the nondual Agamic traditions is the Kashmir Shaiva agama.
What are the major schools of this tradition?
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Can Shaivaites or Devotees of Shiva eat meat?
I have seen animals sacrificing for Kali mata. I am not brahmin by birth but had developed interest towards Lord Siva. I read Shiva Purana but there are no references for devotees of Shiva. I have ...
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Who are all the Gurus of Abhinavagupta and what Paramparas did they come from?
Generally, Vaishnavas follow the Pancharatra Agamas, Shaivites follow the Shaiva Agamas, and Shaktas follow the Shaiva Agamas. But long ago, there was a group of people in Kashmir who followed the ...
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Why Kukke Subramanya temple has a Madhwa mutt?
This question is specific to kukke Subramanya temple present in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka (refer : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukke_Subramanya_Temple).
The main presiding deity is ...
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Which are the 10 Mahapuranas dedicated to Shiva according to Skanda Mahapurana?
The largest Mahapurana, Skanda Purana of Shaiva sect in Kedara Khanda 1 says:
अष्टादशपुराणेषु दशभिर्गीयते शिवः। चतुर्भिर्भगवान् ब्रह्मा द्वाभ्यां देवी तथा हरिः॥ or ‘अठारह पुराणों में दस में शिव-स्तुति...
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Which are the 118 worlds as described in Fifteen verses of Wisdom?
One of the verses from Fifteen Verses of Wisdom (bodhapancadasika) by Abhinavagupta, the great master of all aspects of Kashmir Shaivism, is as follows:
In this way the Lord, Bhairava, the essence ...
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What is the difference between Veerashaivism and Lingayatism?
Lingayats and Veerashaivites are often considered the same Shaivite sect. However, there are many who consider them distinct to each other. What is the difference between the two?
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What does Lord Shiva mean by saying that in Shaiva traditions Gurus are three?
In KulArnava Tantram's 13th chapter, Lord Shiva discusses about Guru and its signs in great details. In that context he says the following verse:
Shaive Gurutrayam Proktam Vaishnave Gurupanchakam | ...
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What commentary on the Brahma Sutras does the Saiva Siddhanta Church support?
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss here and here) ...
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Is worship of Lord Hanuman associated with Vaishnavism or Shaivism?
Lord Hanuman, as we know is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama (Lord Vishnu's incarnation). But at the same time He is said to be Lord Shiva's incarnation. So is Hanuman worship more associated with ...
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Do pashupata-shaivists have mathas?
I tried google search but I found nothing about mathas in pashupata shaivism. I am interested in becoming a ordained monk in hinduism sub-school pashupata shaivism. I would like to know where those ...
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What scriptures describe Sadashiva carrying Vishnu in Vishnu's abode of Paramapadam?
As I discuss in this question, the Sri Vaishnava sect (of which I am a member) places great importance on the Divya Desams, the 108 sacred places of Vishnu which are mentioned in the poems of the ...
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What are the prerequisites to get initiated in Shaiva or Shakta Agamas?
I wanted to know the qualifications or qualities one should possess to get initiation in Shiva or Shakta agamas?
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Do all Shaiva Siddhantins reject Vamachara practices as sinful?
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect ((which I discuss here and here), ...
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Who was the solar dynasty king who was turned into a spider?
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss here ...
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Can Vaishnavas join the Natha Sampradaya?
According to Wikipedia, Natha Sampradaya is a subsect within Shaivism. However, I recently found an adherent of this Sampradaya who claims to be a devotee of Lord Krishna.
Now, how is it possible ...
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What are the symbols and weapons in the hand of Sadashiva?
Sadashiva is described as being eternal form of Lord Shiva. He is represented with Five-faces and ten hands.
The five heads of Sadashiva are known as Sadyojata [West facing], Vamadeva [North facing], ...
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Does Basavanna reject the Vedas outrightly in any of his works?
Basavanna was a 12th century philosopher, a Kannada social reformer and a renowned Shaivite. He is said to be an incarnation of Nandikeshwar by his followers. Basavanna is said to have found the ...
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What does Lord Shiva mean when he says there are 5 gurus in Vaishnava tradition?
In Kularnava Tantra. Chapter 13, Lord Shiva talks about guru and his characteristics. He says following verse :
śaive gurutrayaṃ proktaṃ vaiṣṇave guru pañcakaṃ
vedaśāstreṣu sataso gururekaṃ ...
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Which scriptures describe the concept of "Shadjanma Pashu"?
While reading the article "Ahimsha and Vegetarianism in Kashmir Shaivaism" on the Kamakotimandali, i came across the concept of "Shadjanma Pashu" ( Shad=six; Janma=birth; Pashu=an animal).
It is ...
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What scriptures describe Ganesha having five hands?
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss here and here), ...
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Which are the Five faces of Lord Shiva?
I saw a verse in Shiva Mahapurana that depicts Lord shiva having 5 heads, does any other scripture describe details about 5 heads of Lord Shiva?
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How is Tirumantiram 1st verse by Tirumular 'One Is Many' interpreted?
Tirumantiram is more than 3000 verses in Tamil written by Tirumular in about 5th Century. In the 1st verse of Tirumantiram he writes:
1: One Is Many
The One is He, the Two His sweet Grace,
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Shiva Gita in English with commentaries from eminent Philosophers
Shiva Gita is less known Gita (song) found in Uttara Kanda of Padma Purana. The Siva-Gita begins with episode from the Ramayana epic, where Rama is despondent over the loss of Sita. I found Shiva Gita ...
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Why Manikkavasagar isn't usually included in the Nayanars list?
Along with 63 Nayanars, why Manikkavasagar isn't included to make it as 64? He wrote one of the famous literature in Tamil i.e., Thiruvasagam. But he is included in the list of Nalvar(four people) ...
user9554
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What does the meaning of "Vishnu" have to do with the word "Prabhu"?
As I discuss in this answer, the Pancharatra Agamas are the foundational texts of Vaishnavism. Similarly, the foundational texts of Shaivism are known as the Shaiva Agamas, aka the Shaiva Tantras. My ...
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Where do the Vedas say that a single Vajapeya Yagna will make you the next Indra?
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss here and here), ...
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Shaivism or Shivaism?
What is the correct term to use, Shaivism or Shivaism? I could not find a good source about how the word Shaiva (Saiva, Caiva) appeared and when.
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How do Shaivas view and interpret the Ramayana and Mahabharata?
Do Shaivas accept that Rama and Krishna were incarnations of Vishnu?
How do Shaivas view and interpret these Itihasas?
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What parts of Utpaladeva's Ishwara Pratyabhijna Vivriti are available in English?
Generally, Vaishnavas follow the Pancharatra Agamas, Shaivites follow the Shaiva Agamas, and Shaktas follow the Shaiva Agamas. But long ago, there was a group of people in Kashmir who followed the ...
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Can we wear Banalinga as pendant around our neck?
Banalingas or Narmada lingas are considered as Swayambhu Shiva Lingams which are found on the river beds of Narmada river.
There are many shops which sell them online as wearable pendants. Like this:
...
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Which Shaivite sect believes God is the operator of the Universe but not the source?
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa ...
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What are the arguments given by some scholars that the Vishnu Puranas are Tamasic?
Some scholars think that the Vishnu Puranas are actually tamasic, but what are their arguments for this?
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Method/ philosophy to attain moksha, concept of Brahman in the Shaiva Agamas, and link to Vedas
Please read the main 3 questions, additional are secondary questions.
The Shaiva Agamas, 28 in number, having 204 supporting Upagamas, are said to be revealed by the five faces of Rudra Bhagavan ...
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Which of these Bhairava shruti texts / Tantras are lost?
The following is a list from the Shrikanthi Samhita of the 64 Bhairava Tantras and their 8 classifications:
Yamalasataka - BrahmayAmala, VishnuyAmala, Rudra-yAmala, Swacanda
yAmala, AtharvanayAmala, ...
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Who are the parents of Indra and Brahma mentioned by Basava?
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss here and here) ...
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Who are the nAthas of nAth sampradAya?
One of the largest group of Hindu ascetics is the Nath (or Natha) sampradaya.
Who are the Naths?
Who were the famous 9 Naths?
What is their core ideology?
What sect of Shaivism do they belong to?
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