Shaivism (also spelled Saivism) is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God (Brahman.) Followers of Śaivism are called Śaivas or Śaivites. There are approximately 220 million Śaivites in the world. Even non-Hindus practice worship of Shiva as He is worshipped by many Buddhists, Sinic peoples, Shintos, Indochinese and Indonesian peoples.
Śaivism is a form of nondual spiritual practice and philosophy originating in India. Śaivites believe that the entire creation is both an expression of conscious divinity and is non-different from that divinity which they call "Śiva". Because he is simultaneously the created and the creator, Śiva is both immanent and transcendent. This concept contrasts with many semitic religious traditions in which God is seen as fundamentally different from the creation and transcendent, or "higher" than the creation. As in all Hindu denominations, Śaivism acknowledges the existence of many other deities. These deities are expressions of the Supreme One. This type of spiritual view is called Monistic Theism: the cosmos is a "monad" or single consciousness that expresses itself dualistically, but is fundamentally one. This philosophy is known in Sanskrit as Advaita Ishvaravada.
Full Article: Shaivism - The worship of Lord Shiva
Sunday, February 3, 2008
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