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yajvan
12 April 2007, 06:42 AM
Shaiva - or the one that follows Siva and practices Saivism ( also written Shaivism). Siva, means auspicious. Siva is also known as Rudra. Many know Him as part of the triad if Brahma, Visnu and Siva. Yet to the Śaivite Siva is Supreme.
Discussion: Traditionally six schools are recognized: Shaiva Siddhanta, Kashmir Shaivism,Pashupata Shaivism, Siddha Siddhanta and Shiva Advaita.

Shaiva Siddhanta or the final or established conclusions of Saivism. Please refer to the following: htp://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/dws/dws_r2_six-schools.html (http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/dws/dws_r2_six-schools.html)

Kashmir Śaivism also known as Trika Shaivism. The key theme, the realization that that God and individual are one. There are four schools to Kashmir Śaivism - Krama, Kula, Spanda, and Pratyabhijña. Please review to the following URL for insights:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_%C5% Aaivism#Four_Schools_of_Kashmir_Shaivism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_%C5% Aaivism#Four_Schools_of_Kashmir_Shaivism)

Virasaivism ( also Veerashaivism) - is called Lingayatism - please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virasaivism#Lingayat_Theosophy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virasaivism#Lingayat_Theosophy)

Pashupata Shaivism The Pashupata group is the oldest known Shaivit group, made of ascetic monks. Their name derives from Pashupati, a name of HYPERLINK "http://sivasakti.com/glossary/shiva.html"Shiva (http://sivasakti.com/glossary/shiva.htmlShiva),
meaning the lord of animals or lord of souls , in fact of all creatures. Please refer to http://sivasakti.com/articles/tantra/kashmiri-shaivism-art149.html (http://sivasakti.com/articles/tantra/kashmiri-shaivism-art149.html) for more in-depth discussions.

Shiva Advaita- Siva as 'auspicious'. Now add Advaita or 'not two' from a or 'not' and dvatia 'dual or two'. This term defines the non-duality of Siva. All this is One , Tad Ekam or That One. The first person to explicitly consolidate the principles of Advaita Vedanta was Adi Shankara. Hence this approach is Siva is Tad Ekam, That One. The practice and realization that all This is non-duality. One contiguous Being. for more information on Adi Shankara's approach see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedanta#Adi_Shankara (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedanta#Adi_Shankara).


There are multiple sects that adore Siva. Please consider visiting this site for further definitions, by Swami Sivananda:
http://www.hinduism.co.za/hindu3.htm (http://www.hinduism.co.za/hindu3.htm)

References Used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaivism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaivism)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_%C5%9Aaivism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_%C5%9Aaivism)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_%C5%9Aaivism#Legend_of_Ka.C5.9Bmir_.C5.9Aaivism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_%C5%9Aaivism#Legend_of_Ka.C5.9Bmir_.C5.9Aaivism)