Shiva Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Shaivism === {{Main|Shaivism}} Shaivism is one of the four major sects of [[Hinduism]], the others being [[Vaishnavism]], [[Shaktism]] and the [[Smarta Tradition]]. Followers of Shaivism, called "Shaivas", revere Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer, revealer and concealer of all that is.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=65}}{{Sfn|Issitt|Main|2014|pp=147, 168}} He is not only the creator in Shaivism, but he is also the creation that results from him, he is everything and everywhere. Shiva is the primal Self, the pure consciousness and [[Brahman|Absolute Reality]] in the Shaiva traditions.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=65}} Shiva is also Part of 'Om' (ॐ) as a 'U' (उ). <ref>{{Cite web |title=Devi bhagwat Purana Skandh 5 Chapter 1 Verse 22-23 |url=https://archive.org/details/devi-bhagavata-with-hindi-translation/Devi%20Bhagavata%20with%20Hindi%20Translation%20Vol%201%20%28Gitapress%29%202010/page/n540/mode/1up?view=theater |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/devi-bhagavata-with-hindi-translation/Devi%20Bhagavata%20with%20Hindi%20Translation%20Vol%201%20%28Gitapress%29%202010/page/n540/mode/1up?view=theater}}</ref> The Shaivism theology is broadly grouped into two: the popular theology influenced by Shiva-Rudra in the Vedas, Epics and the Puranas; and the esoteric theology influenced by the Shiva and Shakti-related Tantra texts.{{Sfn|Michaels|2004|p=216}} The Vedic-Brahmanic Shiva theology includes both monist (''Advaita'') and devotional traditions (''Dvaita''), such as Tamil [[Shaiva Siddhanta]] and [[Lingayatism]]. Shiva temples feature items such as linga, Shiva-Parvati iconography, bull Nandi within the premises, and relief artwork showing aspects of Shiva.{{Sfn|Michaels|2004|pp=216–218}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Surendranath Dasgupta|title=A History of Indian Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aohGsuUuXuMC |year=1973|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-81208-04166|pages=17, 48–49, 65–67, 155–161}}</ref> The [[Tantra|Tantric]] Shiva (''[https://hi.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5 "शिव]''") tradition ignored the mythologies and Puranas related to Shiva, and depending on the sub-school developed a variety of practices. For example, historical records suggest the tantric [[Kapalika]]s (literally, the 'skull-men') co-existed with and shared many Vajrayana Buddhist rituals, engaged in esoteric practices that revered Shiva and Shakti wearing skulls, begged with empty skulls, and sometimes used meat as a part of ritual.<ref>{{cite book|author=David N. Lorenzen|title=The Kāpālikas and Kālāmukhas: Two Lost Śaivite Sects|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q4hm-k6fKs4C|year=1972|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0520-018426|pages=2–5, 15–17, 38, 80|access-date=6 October 2016|archive-date=31 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331131703/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q4hm-k6fKs4C|url-status=live}}</ref> In contrast, the esoteric tradition within [[Kashmir Shaivism]] has featured the ''Krama'' and ''Trika'' sub-traditions.<ref name=patil125>{{cite book|author=Narendranath B. Patil|title=The Variegated Plumage: Encounters with Indian Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3C1GWkeyXnQC |year=2003|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-8120819535|pages=125–126}}</ref> The Krama sub-tradition focussed on esoteric rituals around Shiva-Kali pair.<ref>{{cite book|author=Mark S. G. Dyczkowski|title=The Doctrine of Vibration: An Analysis of the Doctrines and Practices Associated with Kashmir Shaivism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QXn5n4gdfcIC|year=1987|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0887064319|page=9|access-date=6 October 2016|archive-date=31 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331131652/https://books.google.com/books?id=QXn5n4gdfcIC|url-status=live}}</ref> The Trika sub-tradition developed a theology of triads involving Shiva, combined it with an ascetic lifestyle focusing on personal Shiva in the pursuit of monistic self-liberation.<ref name=patil125 />{{Sfn|Michaels|2004|pp=215–216}}<ref>David Lawrence, [http://www.iep.utm.edu/kashmiri/#SH1d Kashmiri Shaiva Philosophy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312172048/http://www.iep.utm.edu/kashmiri/#SH1d |date=12 March 2017 }}, University of Manitoba, Canada, IEP, Section 1(d)</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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