SHAVISM

1-  The origin of Shavism can be traced back to pre-vedic times.

2-  By the early centuries of the Christian era it was popular sect all over India.

3-  Shiva was the principal deity of this sect.

4-  Shiva was worshipped in the form of Linga.

5-  Kushan king Weem Wema Kadphises was an ardent devote of Shiva.

6-  Prakrit test Gathasaptasati has references to Shiva worship.

7-  Tamil Sangam work refers to Shiva as the greatest of all gods (mamudu mudalvan).

8-  Shiva's consort Parvati was adored as Sakti.

9-  In Satavahana kingdom Parvati was worshipped as Gauri.

10-  Skanda was regarded as the son of Shiva.

11-  In Tamil state Skanda was worshipped in the Murugan form.

12-  Ganesa was the younger brother of skanda .

13-  Ganesa was also known as Vinayak.

14-  The most popular Shiva Sect was Pasupata sect.

15-  The Kapalika and Kalamukha sect developed much later.

VARIOUS SECTS OF SHAIVISM

A) Pasupatas / Nakulisapasupatas

1-  It was founded by Lakulisa / Nakulisa / Lakulin / Lakautin.

2-  They besmear the body with ashes.

3-  They created sound of Hundukkara.

4-  It was dualistic in character.

5-  Pasu, the individual soul-exits with Pati, the supreme soul.

6-  Dakhanata (end of  misery) is attained through yoga and Vidhi.

7-  They observe atimargika religious practices.

8-  The basic works are Pasupata sutras and Sarvadarsansmgraha.

B) Kalamukhas / Kapalikas

1-  It was extreme form of Shaivism.

2-  They eat food in skull, eat ashes, carry pot of wine.

3-  They worship Bhairava as the great God with his wife Chandika.

4-  They perform human sacrifices.

5-  They practice yoga in order to acquire miraculous power.

6-  They observe unconventional and horrifying practices including sexual rites.

7- It was an off shoots of Pasupata sect.

8- It flourished during the Gupta and post Gupta period.

C) Mattamayuras 

1-  It was moderate form of Shaivism.

2-  It developed in central India.

D) Veerashaiva / Lingayatas

1-  It was founded be Basava, the Prime Minister, of Bijjala, the Kalachuri King.

2-  It was anti-Brahmin in nature.

3-  They believe in love and self Surrender.

4-  They worship Linga and Nandi bull.

5-  They encouraged widow remarriage.

6-  Their philoshophy is known as Shakti Visistadvita soul as separable union with Para-Siva through Shakti.

7- The Para Shiva is the supreme reablity and Shakti is the power which resides in him.

8-  The ultimate goal of the soul is to unit with Para-shiva, this state is known as Ling Samarasya which means identity between Linga (shiva) and Anga(soul).

9-  They observed Diksha ceremony in the place of Upanayana in which even girl wear Linga.

10- They do not worship shiva in temples.

11-  It was popular in Karnataka region.

D) Kashmir Shaivism

1- Pratyabhijna

1-  Its origin is traced to Shiva-Sutras revealed to Vasugupta.

2-  It's founder is Vasugupta (800 - 900 AD).

3- It is also known as Trika / Trida because it had three chief religious books.

4- It regards the individual soul and the world identical with Shiva.

5- The ultimate reality is Shiva.

6-  Pratyabhijna means realisation of the soul's identity with Shiva.

7-  Shiva is known as anultara which mean the reality beyond which ther is nothing.

8-  Salvation lies in recognition that the soul is one with Shiva.

10-  It was a moderate form of Shaivism.

11-  It believed in spiritual development.

12-  Some of greatest exponents were Utpalachara.

13-  Abhinavgupta and his disciple Kshemraja.

2-  Spanda-Sastra

1-  It's founders are Kallata and Samnanda, the two disciples of Vasugupta.

2-  The term spanda means a change from the state of absolute unity to the plurality of the world.

3-  Kallata wrote Spanda - Saravasa.

4-  Somananda wrote Shiva - Dristi.

5- It was a moderate form of Shaivism.

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