Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)
by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words
This page relates ‘Conclusion� of the study on the Shaiva Upanishads in English, comparing them with other texts dealing with the Shiva cult (besides the Agamas and Puranas). The 貹Ծṣa are ancient philosophical and theological treatises. Out of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad, 15 are classified as Saiva-Upanisads.
Chapter 7 - Conclusion
The Śśٲ ܱ貹Ծṣa gives t There is aVedic dictum [...] A Supreme being is one and the learned people have given different names to that. Vedic Sages have called him in the name of Indra, ղṇa,Yama etc. The philosophers have called that as one beyond description, and they have termed that as Brahman. The Saivas perceived that as Ś the Supreme Being. Likewise people have conceived that Supreme being in various names. Each group of people have been offering prayers following certain customs and manners traditionally handed over by the ancestors.
The existence of that abstract supreme power has been recognized by all those who are in the spiritual pursuit. The creation as well as the destruction process of the universe is discussed at length by the philosophers of Bhakti Schools.
The Ś schools of philosophy highlight Ś, originally conceived as Rudra prior to yajurveda. ṃk is a common factor or 岹 the sound form of the Supreme being. Therefore the followers of Ś described ʰṇa to be the form of Ś. Then gradually the worship of Siva through Mantras and through Idols became the ideal manner of Śٱ. The purpose of worshipping Ś as in the case of other schools is to aspire for dharma, artha, 峾 and ǰṣa the ultimate aspirations of every soul.
The devotees of Ś apart from following the Ś Tattvas realize the presence of Lord Ś through meditation on ʰṇa or on ṅg or any form of Ś. In that respect they conceived Ś with faces each one bestowing different kinds of special grace of Lord Ś on devotees. To receive, the grace of Lord Ś the devotees scientifically and reasonably created a discipline to worship Ś. So they made it essential for a devotee of Ś to wear Bhasma and ܻṣa etc.
Though there are various external worship of Ś followed by the devotees, some are outdated such as worship.
From the study of Ś Upanisads it is clear that the worship of Ś is of a different kind. Meditating on the lines of yoga is suggested as the means to realize Siva within one's heart. Thus, the saying �devo devālayaprokta� ī� prokto ٲԲ�� also testifies and justifies the Ś Upaniṣadic approach of Lord Ś the all powerful Almighty. Lord Ś is the ultimate being and the merging of every individual with Him is the objective of every being of this universe.
Though elobarate discussions are found on the philosophical lines in Kāsmīrian Ś and a few other Śپ school, Ś 貹Ծṣa mainly concentrate on the realization of Lord Ś as the Supreme Brahman, the Omnipotent, Omniscient and the Omnipresent.
May that Ś be courteous to accept every soul and show the path of wisdom to realize Him, �īśvarāt jñānam anvichet�; I have tried my level best to bring out crisply and critically evaluated the thoughts expressed by seers in the Ś 貹Ծṣa. This study must be fascinating to all the readers and will be quenching the thurst of devotees of Ś and the curiosity to know the quintessence of Ś 貹Ծṣa.