Shaivism

Shaivism

1. P1

   • Major denomination, >200 million followers.
   • Tradition's antiquity roots from ancient Indian traditions.
   • Shiva
     • Supreme being above all else
     • Highest supreme form of Brahman
     • all in all = creator, preserver + destroyer, concealer of all that is
   • Few esoteric sects worship Parvati
     • Shakti Traditions worship the female energy
   • Svetasvatara Upanishad
     • Earliest textual exposition of a systematic philosophy of Shaivism
   • 6/18 puranas = dedicated to Shiva

2. P2

   • Many different concepts
     • 1 concept = radical universalism.
   • Literature represents 3 main philosophical schools.
     • Abheda (Non-Dualist)
     • Bheda (Dualist)
     • Bhedabheda (Non-dual-with-dualism)
   • 2 Distinct groups
     • Puranic Orders
       • Science forms central basis
     • Non-Puranic orders: Adherents undergo diksa (initiation) into a specific cult
       • Atimarga: Focus on becoming one with Shiva.
         • Pashupatas
         • Lakula
       • Mantramarga
         • Path of mantras.
         • Seek liberation + worldly pleasures.

3. P3: Shaiva Siddhanta

   • 2000 years
   • Shiva = Pati (Primal being)
   • Atman and Shiva
     • Same essence but constitution is distinct.
     • Not a state of oneness but of sameness.
     • Atman is distinct because it is subject to 3 impurities (Malas).
       • Anava (Natural Impurity)
         • Born with atman
         • Never separates until Moksha.
         • Clouds consciousness
         • Causes oneself to act differently to Shiva.
       • Bind the atman to functional limitations + experiences of unreality which turns humans into ignorant beings.
       • Karma
         • Binds atman to the consequences of its actions.
         • Actions from a cosmic perspective have no consequence thus Shiva is karma-less.
       • Maya
         • Binds the atman to sense of objects through desires and ignorance.
         • Illusion that restricts humans from seeing the supreme reality.
   • Dualistic school
   • Moksha attained through 4 paths.
     • Charya: Path of servant, involves tasks like cooking and cleaning.
     • Kriya: Path of a good son, gain close proximity to Shiva through idol worship and singing.
     • Yoga: Path of friendship, involves meditation and performing exercises.
     • Jnana: Path of knowledge (superior path) one lives closer to sat (truth). Tasks include studying texts such as Upanishads.

4. ·

   • • P4: Conclusion
       • Important denom that has aided the spread of Indian Philosophy throughout Asia.
       • Schools make it possible to understand the diversity of Hinduism and the labels of monistic and monotheistic in a polytheistic environment.
       • Challenges common misconceptions of Hinduism as a whole