Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)
by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words
This page relates ‘The Concept and Worship of Shiva in the Upanishads� 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Ծṣas are ancient philosophical and theological treatises. Out of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad, 15 are classified as Saiva-Upanisads.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
7. The Concept and Worship of Ś in the 貹Ծṣas
[Note: Cf. Ś in the Vedic texts]
In the Śśٲ 貹Ծṣa Lord Ś was elevated to the status of Brahman, by the sage who composed it, after he had a vision of Lord Ś as the Absolute and Supreme Brahman. He is described as the god who wields the power of or delusion by which he controls the world. He is also the indweller (Գٲٳ) of all. Some basic concepts of Ś are clearly mentioned in the 貹Ծṣa. Another important 貹Ծṣa, though belonging to a much later date than the Śśٲ 貹Ծṣa is the Atharvaśira 貹Ծṣa which mentions the many names of Ś and recommends the performances of certain rituals such as smearing of the ashes to obtain the grace of Ś and achieve liberation from earthly life. Bṛhajjābāla 貹Ծṣa and Bhasmajābāla 貹Ծṣa are other minor Ś 貹Ծṣas dealing with some important concepts and aspects of worship of Ś.
The other Ś 貹Ծṣas[1] continue the same thought and identify Rudra with the absolute. He is the lord (pati) of souls (貹ś). There is no real difference between God and soul. The difference is only apparent, brought about by . At the onset of knowledge, ignorance disappears, and the individual recognizes his real self as Ś. A good part of these 貹Ծṣas is taken up with a detailed description of the visible marks of a Ś, viz., the rosary of ܻṣa - beads and the sacred ash; the mode of wearing them and the mantras to be used are explained. These external marks are regarded as auxiliaries to the Brahman-intution. They are helpful in the path to perfection.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
貹Ծṣas page 223-233.