Saivasiddhanta

[Guest guest]

It is very strange to hear that there are two sub-groups in

Saivasiddhanta- one by Thirumular and another,much more strangely, by

Mahavrata. The person seems totally confused. First, it is true that

there arte two broad divisions of saiva siddhanta: the earlier

tradition from about the 7th-8th centuries whose authors lived in

Kashmir and propagated it; the second, the one developed and

propagated in Tamilnadu from about 12th century.

Mahavrata is the name of a subsect of Pasupata (Kalamukha ?) and it

is not a name of any individual.

Then Tirumuular's teaching is not strictly saivasiddhanta alone but

it includes mantras, worship of Sakti (Srividya,etc.) and so many

other non-saivasiddhanta matters. There is no question of advaita or

any such thing with him. Of course, he seems to be with a form of

Sivadvaita.

Saivasiddhantins practise kriya-the rituals, worship of Siva and

other scripture-ordained rites. Very few practise Yoga, etc.

Siva, the highest Reality is always accompanied by His Sakti and as

such there is no separate worship of Sakti apart from Siva.