DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0098
86 Saivism. Saiva Sects.
like Vaishnavism, resolved itself into many separate organized
societies under great religious leaders. It would in truth be
difficult to name any conspicuous apostle and teacher of pure
Saivism (certainly not Basaba, p. 88), like the celebrated Vaish-
nava teachers Ramanuja, Madhva, Caitanya, and Vallabha.
For we have already seen that the great Sahkara, though
held by some to have Saiva proclivities, abstained from incul-
cating devotion to any one god more than to another.
Unquestionably all Hindus, even the strictest Vaishnavas,
are ready to pay homage to Siva in his first and second
characters of Dissolver and Regenerator. It is clear, too,
that in the days of Sahkara several sects of Saivas existed
and became the object of his controversial onslaughts. In
the Sahkara-vijaya six are named: to wit, i. the Saivas, par
excellence, who had the Lihga branded on both arms ; %. the
Raudras, who had the trident branded on the forehead;
3. the Ugras, who had the Damaru (see p. 81) branded on
the two arms ; 4. the Bhattas, who had the Lihga on the
forehead ; 5. the Jangamas, who bore the trident on the head
and carried a Lihga made of stone on their persons; 6. the
Pasupatas, who had the latter symbol branded on the fore-
head, arms, breast, and navel.
These sects are described in the Sahkara-vijaya as hostile
to the doctrine of Non-duality (Advaita-drohinah). Their
practice of branding is denounced by Sahkara on the ground
that various gods are present in the limbs of the human body1,
who are driven away by the burning (tapana) of the skin.
Of the six sects named only the two last remain to the
present day, and both these have altered not a few of their
tenets and practices. In modern times Saiva sectarians are
generally followers of Siva in his third character of an
ascetic. They profess to practise, like their god, severe aus-
terities and bodily mortifications. Numbers of them may be
1 May we not compare the Christian idea of the sanctity of the body
as the temple of the Holy Ghost ?
like Vaishnavism, resolved itself into many separate organized
societies under great religious leaders. It would in truth be
difficult to name any conspicuous apostle and teacher of pure
Saivism (certainly not Basaba, p. 88), like the celebrated Vaish-
nava teachers Ramanuja, Madhva, Caitanya, and Vallabha.
For we have already seen that the great Sahkara, though
held by some to have Saiva proclivities, abstained from incul-
cating devotion to any one god more than to another.
Unquestionably all Hindus, even the strictest Vaishnavas,
are ready to pay homage to Siva in his first and second
characters of Dissolver and Regenerator. It is clear, too,
that in the days of Sahkara several sects of Saivas existed
and became the object of his controversial onslaughts. In
the Sahkara-vijaya six are named: to wit, i. the Saivas, par
excellence, who had the Lihga branded on both arms ; %. the
Raudras, who had the trident branded on the forehead;
3. the Ugras, who had the Damaru (see p. 81) branded on
the two arms ; 4. the Bhattas, who had the Lihga on the
forehead ; 5. the Jangamas, who bore the trident on the head
and carried a Lihga made of stone on their persons; 6. the
Pasupatas, who had the latter symbol branded on the fore-
head, arms, breast, and navel.
These sects are described in the Sahkara-vijaya as hostile
to the doctrine of Non-duality (Advaita-drohinah). Their
practice of branding is denounced by Sahkara on the ground
that various gods are present in the limbs of the human body1,
who are driven away by the burning (tapana) of the skin.
Of the six sects named only the two last remain to the
present day, and both these have altered not a few of their
tenets and practices. In modern times Saiva sectarians are
generally followers of Siva in his third character of an
ascetic. They profess to practise, like their god, severe aus-
terities and bodily mortifications. Numbers of them may be
1 May we not compare the Christian idea of the sanctity of the body
as the temple of the Holy Ghost ?