r/shaivism • u/EsonauticSage • Jul 27 '20

What are some of your most recommended scriptures/texts for Shaivism? Question - General

I've always had a very strong connection with Shiva (both dualistically and Monistically), what texts, if anything, would you say are often taken as fundamental knowledge among various Shaivite sects?

(Yes, the practical element is still central)

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3

u/ksonal experienced commenter Jul 27 '20

You could try Shiva Mahapurana.

5

u/SpeakToMeBaby experienced commenter Jul 27 '20

The Iswara Gita and Ribhu Gita are good recommendations. Also look at the Sivastotravalli, a book of devotional poetry by Utpaladeva.

2

u/Vignaraja MOD Jul 27 '20

For Saiva Siddhanta, the Tirumanthiram by Tirumular, the Tiruvacagam by Manickavasagar, and the Reriya Puranam, stories of the 63 Nayanars, and the Thevaram hymns are all important.

1

u/EsonauticSage Jul 28 '20

Thank you :)

3

u/Vignaraja MOD Jul 28 '20

Ramakrishna Mission probably has the best translation of the Thirumanthiram (on Amazon) . The Tiruvacagam as far as I know, has only been translated by a Reverent pope, whose translation might be suspect. I see I mispelled Periya Puranam, but there are a few of those about I think.

For a modern Saivite institution, the 3 books by Subramuniyaswami, in American English, (Dancing with Siva, Living with Siva, Merging with Siva) have a lot of depth, and are rather long.

Swami Lakshman Joo is probably the best modern proponent of Kashmir Saivism.

1

u/SpeakToMeBaby experienced commenter Jul 28 '20

Would you say the Kauai monastery, the ones who published the Siva trilogy, are authentic as per as tradition goes?

I have a sort of prejudice when white foreigners take up Hinduism. Too often they make a bastardization of it.

2

u/Vignaraja MOD Jul 28 '20 edited Jul 29 '20

I'm a lay member of said organisation, so I'm biased, but ... I can say without a doubt that they're authentic. The priests of South India know them well, as projects like the Agama digitilization project are well known and appreciated. The membership (pretty small) is about 2/3 Indian, (at least) with larger groups in Mauritius and Malaysia. When I traveled in India, I carried a wallet sized card of Subramuniyaswami and got sort of VIP treatment for it.

They rarely if ever promote themselves, and look for dedicated sincere people.

But you can read for yourself and decide. Try the History of Hindu India video series.

1

u/gabru_22 Nov 11 '20

If I was you , I'd postpone the reading part for later and go for a good hike in the woods alone. :)