Introduction to Saivism

India has a long, rich, and diverse tradition of philosophical thought and practice, spanning some two and a half millennia and encompassing several major religious traditions. Saivism, Vaisnavism, and Sakta tradition being the three most important.

Saivas are devotees of the Hindu god Shiva. While Saivism contains within it a number of traditions and theologies, Saivas will regard Shiva as the transcendent Lord who creates the cosmos, maintains it and destroys it over and over again. He also conceals himself through his magical power (maya) and reveals himself through grace. Most Saivas believe in the standard Hindu doctrine that the soul travels through many lifetimes in the cycle of reincarnation (samsara) and that the kind of rebirth the soul experiences is determined by its action (karma). The ultimate goal of life is salvation or liberation (moksha) from the cycle of reincarnation attained by a degree of effort but ultimately through Shiva’s grace.

This new series of Short Introductions is designed to familiarize the readers with the basic concepts. This concise manual will initiate the reader to the more sophisticated and mystical aspects related to Saivism.