Chapter III

As stated in the last chapter it would be good to take a look at people today who are a modern example of ancient Shaivism and how the Holy Rudraksha is treated in their Spritual Teachings.

Although Veera Shaivism is one of the older sects of this belief system along with Shaiva Siddhaanta, Shivaadvaita and Kashmir Shaivism it is one of the most dynamic of modern day Shaivite Schools.

Religious homeland for Veera Shaivism is in Karnataka South Central India. About 40 million people live in this state and about one fourth or 10 million people are practicing this Faith there. There is hardly a village in the state without a jangama ( wandering monk ) or matha ( monastery ).

The earliest reference to Veera Shaivism is found in the ShivaAgamas and the adherents of this faith trace their beginnings back to the rishis of ancient times. It was made popular by the remarkable South Indian Brahmin Srhi Basavanna ( 1105 - 1167 ).

Veera "heroic" Shaivites are also known as Lingayats, "bearers of the Linga" and Sivasharanas. All members are to constantly wear a Linga encased in a pendant around the neck. Veera Shaivite belief is that wearing the linga on the body unites the soul with the Omnipresence.

The Veera Shaivites goal in life is accomplished when soul and God are fused in a final state of perpetual Lord Shiva Consciousness by way of Shatsthala that is a progressive 6 stage path of devotion and surrender.

• Bhakta sthala ( devotion )

• Mahesha sthala ( selfless service )

• Prasaadhi sthala ( earnestly seeking Sivas grace )

• Praana Linga sthala ( experience all as Shiva )

• Sharana sthala ( egoless refuge in Shiva )

• Aikya sthala ( oneness with Shiva )

Attainment of this goal depends on the successful practices of panchachara ( five codes of conduct ) and AshtaAvarana ( eight shields or protections ) to protect the body as the abode of Shiva.

Panchachara The Five Codes of Conduct

• Lingachara ( daily worship of the ShivaLinga )

• Sadachara ( attention to vocation and duty )

• Sivachara ( acknowledging Siva as the one God and maintaining equality among all members of the community regardless of caste, education or sex )

• Bhrityachara ( humility towards all creatures )

• Ganachara ( defense of the community and its tenets Ashta Aavarana

Ashta Aavarana The Eight Protections or aids

• Guru ( obedience to a teacher )

• Linga ( worship of the Divine Self )

• Jangama ( reverence for a person who moves from place to place )

• Paadodaka ( sipping the water in which the feet of a guru or jangama have been ceremoniously washed

• Prasaada ( offering food to a guru, jangama or linga and then partaking sacra mentally of what is left over )

• Vibhuti or Bhasma ( smearing of the sacred ash )

• Rudraksha ( wearing of the sacred rosary beads )

• Mantra ( chanting the five syllable formula Namah Shivaya )

Today Veera Shaivism is a vibrant compassionate faith that has been credited with championing the cause of the down trodden and rebelling against a powerful brahminical system which promoted social inequality through a caste system that branded a whole class of people as polluted.

They teach a monistic theistic doctrine named Shakti Vishishtadvaita that rejects duality of God and Soul, multiplicity of Gods, caste hierarchy, animal sacrifice and karmic bondage.

One of the things I have found remarkable about Veera Shaivism is that deeply imbedded in their Eight Protections that are linked to their Five Codes of Conduct to protect the body as the abode of Lord Shiva,  there is the wearing of the Holy Rudraksa.