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When
its credibility gathered momentum, it encircled far off places both
in west and east and became a religion of supreme significance.
One of the oldest religions having its roots in the prehistoric
times. As a concept of culture and high living it exerted tremendous
influence in the dateless past, as a matter of fact. All but due to
the services of dedicated humanist pravaktas, who crossing oceans
and striding across the high peaks and unpassable deserts preached
and successfully converted the aliens to a commendable degree. What
all they believed, preached and practiced is - the much publicized
aspects of Satchit-Ananda are nothing but the manifestations of Lord
Siva. He is the TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE and BLISS, in other words LIFE,
LIGHT and LOVE, as some termed them. Saivates adore Siva as the
Supreme God, and He manifests as Sakti also. And all other worship
deities are none other tan Siva, they aver. He is the cause of all,
and as such true worshippers of Siva, it is observed, experience an
inexplicable thrill at the mention of His name and feel His grace
hovering over them increases to encompass their whole being.
It is no exaggeration to say that momentary pleasure transforms
itself into permanent bliss ending in Sayujya mukti - merging of
individual self into that Universal Self. Several saint - seers and
celebrated philosophers advanced their own findings to instill this
truth through devotion that can be obtained by rituals and h and
hence the emergence of many cults, creeds, and schools oft very same
philosophy like Advaitha, Pratyabhijna darsana, Pasupatha, Virasaiva,
Hatakeswar, Saiva Siddhanta etc., to mention a few. As the terms
they used are manyy, so are the ways they suggested. Technical terms
such as chit, achit and Iswara signifying soul, prakrit and ,purusha
by advaitha school, come nearer to pati, pasu and pasa in Saiva
Siddantha standing for God; soul and bondage respectively. Each sect
has its own distinct phraseology and it tries to establish its
supremacy. The goal, of course, remains constant - emancipation of
soul. Let us have a bird's eye view of the major creeds and their
relative claims for superiority. Better begin with Saiva Siddhanta,
the most popular one in Tamil Nadu.
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