The power that bestows wealth and might is called power.
-Sridamdevi Bhagavat 9-2-10
Shaivism
The Rig Veda mentions a deity named Rudra, the 16th chapter of the Yajur Veda sings extensive praises of Bhavagan Rudra. In the Atharva Veda, Shiva is called Bhava, Sharva, Pashupati and Bhupati. Shaivism is believed to have originated from the worship of Rudra described in the Rig Veda. Later on this is Rudra, ‘Shiva’ called.
‘Shiva’ to those who consider Lord Shiva and his incarnations as adorable gods and their view of the ‘Shaiva sect’ It was said. The chief of the twelve Rudras was later called Shiva, Shankar, Bholenath and Mahadev.
The earliest archaeological evidence of Shivalinga worship has been found in the excavations of the Harappan civilization (3350 BC-1750 BC) while the first clear description of Linga worship in written form is found in the Matsya Purana (post-Vedic period). Linga worship is also mentioned in the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata. The coins of the Kushan rulers contain the simultaneous inscription of Shiva and Nandi.
There are four main sects of Hindus:Vedic, Vaishnava, Shaiva and Smarta. The Shaiva sect includes the Shakta, Nath and Sant sects. The Dasnami and Gorakhpanthi sects are also included in the Nath sect of Shaivism. The Shaiva sect is monotheistic. Its sanyasis wear matted hair and bow their heads but do not wear a crest.
Their rituals are performed at night. They have their own tantric mantras. The Shiva monks also remain naked and wear saffron clothes. They hold a waterpot and tongs in their hands and enjoy smoking by lighting a fire in a round circle. Shaiva sages are called Naths, Aghoris, Avdhuts, Babas, Oghars, Yogis and Siddhas.
The Shaiva sect had a tradition of taking samadhi by sadhu. Shaiva temples are called Shivalaya where Shivling and Nandi are installed. Saiva Mavalambi wear horizontal tilak and observe vows and fasts based on lunar dates.
The Shiva Purana mentions the ten incarnations of Shiva. All these incarnations are related to Tantra:(1.) Mahakala, (2.) Tara, (3.) Bhuvanesh, (4.) Sixteenth, (5.) Bhairava, (6.) Chhinnamastaka Girija, (7.) Dhumravan , (8.) Bagalamukhi, (9.) Matanga and (10.) Kamal.
Other sources also give the names of eleven other incarnations of Shiva:(1.) Kapali, (2.) Pingala, (3.) Bhima, (4.) Virupaksha, (5.) Vilohita, (6.) Shasta, (7.) Ajapada, (8.) Apirbudhya, (9.) Shambha, (10.) Chanda, (11.) Bhava.
The major Shaiva texts are as follows:Swetasvataro Upanishad, Shiva Purana, Agama Grantha and Tirumurai. The major Shiva shrines are as follows:(1.) Kashi Vishwanath, Banaras, (2.) Kedarnath Dham, (3.) Somnath, (3.) Rameshwaram, (4.) Chidambaram, (5.) Amarnath, (6.) Kailash Mansarovar. The twelve Jyotirlingas are also major Shiva shrines.
Various sects of Shaivaism
The Shaiva sect initially developed as a branch of Vedic religion but later on it appears to have two major streams- Vedic Shaiva and Tantric Shaiva. The Mahabharata mentions four sects of Maheshwaras, i.e., followers of the Shaiva sect:(1.) Shaiva (2.) Pashupata (3.) Kaladamana and (4.) Kapalika.
The Vamana Purana also mentions the number of Saiva sects as four:(1.) Lingayat, (2) Pashupata, (3.) Kalamukha, (4.) Kalpalika. Vachaspati Mishra has also given the names of four Maheshwara sects. The differences between the various tantric sects are mentioned in the Agama Pramana, Shiva Purana and Agama Purana. Over time, sub-sects like Shakta, Nath, Dasnami, Naga etc. were also established in the Shaiva sect.
Lingayat sect (Veer Shaiva doctrine)
‘Shivagama’ in North India to Shaivism based on the Vedas and ‘Lingayat’ in South India It was said. Collectively it is called ‘Veer Shaiva Mat’ It was said. In Tamil it is called ‘Shivadvaita’ It was said. The people of this sect worshiped the Shiva Linga. The Basava Purana tells of Ullabha Prabhu and his disciple Basava, the founders of the Lingayat community.
Around 1700 BC, the followers of the Veer Shaivism lived in a vast area from Afghanistan to Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana. Later this view gained momentum in South India and Karnataka became the major region of this religion.
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have the highest number of Veer Shaiva worshippers. It is a monotheistic religion. The civilization of the heroic Shaivas is ‘Dravidian civilization’ also called. In the Parameshwara Tantra, the Veer Shaiva philosophy is connected to other Vedic doctrines. According to Panini’s formula, Veer Shaiva means, ‘delighting in knowledge’ is the one. The Lingayat community was also called Jangam in South India.
Shakti Vishishtadvaita
‘Shakti’ in Veer Shaiva philosophy Because of the predominance of, it is called ‘Shakti Vishishtadvaita’ also stated. ‘Power’ is called the triple Maya named Sattva, Rajas and Tama. Thus there are two forms of power, one is the ‘Sad-Chit-Anand Form’ and the second is the ‘Mayarupa.’ composed of the three modes The union of these two forms is ‘parashakti’ in Veer Shaiva philosophy is said to be.
There are also many sects of worship of Shakti in a specific way, of which Shakti Vishishtadvaita is the chief. According to this, the triple illusion and the anshi-bhava of the distinct advaita, both together are called the power distinct advaita-
Veer Shaiva Vaishnava Shakta Sauram Vinayaka.
There are six views of the Vijneyam as Kapalika.
Pashupat Sect (Lakulish Sect)
The Pashupat sect is the oldest sect of the Shivas, its founder was Lakulish, who is considered to be one of the 18 incarnations of Lord Shiva. The followers of the Pashupata sect were called Pancharthikas, the theoretical text of this view is the ‘Pashupata Sutra’ is. The Pashupat sect is called the Lakulish sect or ‘Nakulish sect’ also called. ‘Lakulish’ of Gujarat, the place of origin of the ‘Kayavarohan’ area was.
The sect also spread to Mysore and Rajasthan between the sixth and ninth centuries. The Vedic Lakulish wore Linga, Rudraksha and ashes while the Tantric Lakulish or Pashupata wore Lingatapta sign and spear and the Misra Pashupata worshiped the five gods with similar feelings. The Pashupata doctrine of Lakulish and the Kapali sects are mentioned in the 6th to 10th centuries AD.
The Lakulish sect had already appeared in Gujarat. But scholars believe that his philosophy must have developed in the seventh-eighth century AD. In time, this view spread to South and Central India. The list of incarnations of Shiva, quoted from the Vayu Purana to the Linga Purana and the Kurma Purana, mentions Lakulish.
Mention is also made of the statue of Lakulish, the ‘Jharpatan’ of Gujarat is in the place named. This statue of Lakulish dates back to the seventh century AD. In the Linga Purana, the names of the four main disciples of Lakulish are ‘Kushika’, ‘Garga’, ‘Mitra’ and ‘Kaurushya’ Let's meet. The account of this sect is found in inscriptions and in the Vishnu-Purana and Linga Purana etc.
The Kalamukh Sect
The followers of the Kalamukh sect are called ‘Mahavratadhar’ in the Shiva Purana It has been said. The people of this sect ate food, water and wine in the human skull and rubbed the ashes of the coffin on the body.
The Kapali doctrine
‘Bhairava’, the dearest deity of the Kapali sect The main center of this sect was a place called Srisaila. The ‘Mahavrata sect’ of the Kapali sect also called. Sriharsha (A.D. 1088), a disciple of Yamuna Muni, wrote ‘Samasiddhanta’ in Naishadha The doctrine mentioned by name is the Kapali sect. The origin of the name Kapalika is believed to be due to the wearing of a male skull.
In fact, this is also an exogenous theory. Its innermost secret is ‘Enlightenment-Moonrise’ of ‘light’ is revealed in the commentary entitled. According to it, the seekers of this sect drank nectar in the skull, that is, in the male skull indicated by the Brahma-hole. This is why they were called Kapalis. Sects of Kapalis existed even in the time of the Buddhist teachers Harivarma and Asanga.
The Sarabartantra contains the names and descriptions of 12 Kapali gurus like Adi Nath, Anadi, Kal, Amitabh, Karala, Vikaral and their 12 disciples like Nagarjuna, Jadbharatha, Harichandra, Charpat. These Shaiva saints are considered to be the initiators of the Tantric Shaiva doctrine. Some Puranas mention Dhanda or Kubera, the initiator of the Kapali doctrine.
Nath Sect
‘Nath’ The word exists in use among Hindu, Buddhist and Jain saints. ‘Nath’ The word means master. Lord Shiva is also called Bholenath and Adi Nath. After Lord Shiva, the greatest name in this tradition is that of Lord Dattatreya. The tradition of Lord Shiva was carried on by his disciples Brihaspati, Vishalaksha (Shiva), Shukra, Sahasraksha, Mahendra, Prachetas Manu, Bharadvaja, Agastya Muni, Gaurashiras Muni, Nandi, Kartikeya, Bhairavnath etc. Well-known Shiva temples like Amarnath, Kedarnath, Badrinath etc. are the major temples of Naths. Nath gurus and disciples are known as Mahasiddhas in Tibetan Buddhism. They are also called parivrajaks. Parivrajak means wanderer.