Shaivism

Shaivism is a major tradition within Hinduism that venerates Shiva as the Supreme Being, supreme consciousness, or as a principal force of creation, preservation, and destruction. Practitioners follow diverse paths, including devotion (bhakti), philosophy, asceticism, and tantra. Temples, icons, and lingams are common features, and Shaiva communities are concentrated in India, Nepal, and the broader South Asian region.

Its historical development extends from early Vedic expressions of Rudra to distinct Shaiva sects in ancient and medieval India. Early devotional movements in Tamil Nadu gave rise to the Nayanars and temple-centered Shaivism; in North India the Pashupata and other ascetic lineages contributed to practices and scriptures. The tradition also drew on the Shaiva Agamas and related tantric texts, shaping ritualization and theology across regions.

Central beliefs include Shiva as the transcendent source and/or immanent consciousness, the linga as a symbol of Shiva's energy, and the guru as a guide to realization. Shaivism emphasizes yoga, meditation, and ritual worship, with pilgrimage to sacred sites such as Jyotirlingas and holy mountains. Devotional poetry, iconography (Nataraja, Ardhanarishvara), and mythology surrounding Shiva and Parvati inform moral and cosmological ideas.

Philosophical streams include Shaiva Siddhanta (a dualistic, temple-based Tamil school), Kashmir Shaivism (a nondual system stressing Spanda, or divine vibration), and ancient Pashupata traditions. Together they interpret Shaiva theology through Agamic scriptures, Upanishadic ideas, and tantric practices, offering paths to liberation (moksha) through knowledge, devotion, or austerity.

The influence of Shaivism is evident in art, literature, and ritual life across South Asia, with major festivals such as Mahashivaratri, temple processions, and pilgrimages to Jyotirlinga sites. It remains a vibrant, diverse tradition within Hinduism.