Shaivism:  An Introduction

Shaivism involves both the worship (as the religion of Shaivism) of the God Shiva, or Siva, and the practice of evolving the soul to liberation and union with Shiva (transcendent consciousness). Shiva is one of the principal gods recognized in Shaivism and Hinduism (and Shaivism), with millions of followers. He is known by at least 1,008 names, and is often called "Shiva the Destroyer," referring to his ability to destroy illusion, delusion, and error, which are the obstacles to realization of Self and God. The worship of Shiva can be traced back to the figure of Rudra in the Rig Veda (1200 B.C.) and extends to every part of India, Hindu sections of Southeast Asia, and recently to isolated parts of Europe and North America. Shiva, is also represented by the lingam (a phallic symbol), as the creative life force and the energy that is utilized for attaining union with God (not typically representing the worship of the sex act or the penis, as it is often mistakenly thought to in the West).

An overview of Shaivism shows it is primarily theistic and monistic, and is often characterized by various forms of asceticism. For most Shaivites, Shaivism is not a philosophy, but is life itself. Temples are erected and holy sacraments are performed. Shiva is viewed as both immanent and transcendent. Forms of worship and practice include pilgrimages, daily prayer, singing hymns, and reciting scripture, by devotional followers and by daily meditations and yogic disciplines by yogis.

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