Veera Saivam - A Brief Outline

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

Many of the members in advaitin may not be familiar with Veera

Saivas - Worshippers of Lord Siva with single-minded devotion. The

Hindu Culture is very diverse and Veera Saivam portrays a segment of

the diversity. They visualize the 'nirguna brahman' in the form of

Shiva, the all pervading 'Saguna Brahman."

 

regards,

 

Ram Chandran

--------------

 

Veera Saivam - A Brief Outline

(For greater details, refer to the article at the URL:

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1994/3/1994-3-13.shtml

 

Vira Saivism's means of attainment depends on the panchachara (five

codes of conduct) and ashtavarana (eight shields) to protect the body

as the abode of the Lord. The five codes are Lingachara (daily

worship of the Sivalinga), sadachara (attention to vocation and

duty), Sivachara (acknowledging Siva as the one God and equality

among members), bhrityachara (humility towards all creatures) and

ganachara (defense of the community and its tenets).

 

The eight shields are guru, Linga, jangama (wandering monk), paduka

(water from bathing the Linga or guru's feet), prasada (sacred

offering), vibhuti (holy ash), rudraksha (holy beads) and mantra

(Namah Sivaya). One enters the Vira Saiva religion through formal

initiation called Linga Diksha, a rite for both boys and girls which

replaces the sacred thread ceremony and enjoins the devotee to

worship the personal Sivalinga daily. Lingayats place great emphasis

on this life, on equality of all members (regardless of caste,

education, sex, etc.), on intense social involvement and service to

the community. Their faith stresses free will, affirms a purposeful

world and avows a pure monotheism.

 

Today Vira Saivism is a vibrant faith, particularly strong in its

religious homeland of Karnataka, South-Central India. Roughly forty

millionpeople live here, of which perhaps 25% are members of the Vira

Saiva religion. There is hardly a village in the state without a

jangama and a matha (monastery). On the occasion of birth in a

Lingayat family, the child is entered into the faith that same day by

a visiting jangama, who bestows a small Sivalinga encased in a

pendant tied to a thread. This same Linga is to be worn throughout

life.