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Hindu Philosophy and Temple System for APPSC Executive Officer · Chapter 8

Saiva Agamas: Smarta, Adi Saiva, Veera Saiva, Jangama, Kapalika; Sakteyam

What to remember

  • Saiva Agamas number 28 in the main Saiva Siddhanta list. They are grouped into 10 Shiva-bheda and 18 Rudra-bheda Agamas. Kamika is the best-known.
  • Shaiva worship in Andhra Pradesh has several streams: Smarta, Adi Saiva, Veera Saiva (Lingayat) with Jangama priests, and the old Kapalika ascetics. Sakteyam (Shakta tradition) is the worship of the Goddess as Shakti.
  • Srisailam is a key place for Shaiva and Shakta tradition: it has a Jyotirlinga (Mallikarjuna) and a Shakti Peetha (Bhramaramba).

Saiva Agamas

  • The Saiva Agamas teach the worship of Shiva and are held to have come from the five faces of Shiva: Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha and Ishana.
  • A standard list of 28 includes: Kamika, Yogaja, Chintya, Karana, Ajita, Dipta, Sukshma, Sahasra, Amshuman, Suprabheda (Shiva-bheda group, ten in all) and Vijaya, Nihshvasa, Svayambhuva, Anala, Vira, Raurava, Makuta, Vimala, Chandrajnana, Bimba, Prodgita, Lalita, Siddha, Santana, Sarvokta, Parameshvara, Kirana and Vatula (Rudra-bheda group, eighteen).
  • Each Agama has four padas: Vidya or Jnana, Yoga, Kriya and Charya. Kriya Pada covers temple building and rites; Charya Pada covers daily puja and festivals.
  • The Linga is the main form of Shiva in a Shaiva temple, along with the Nandi, the bull, facing the sanctum. Shaiva worship uses Panchakshari mantra (Namah Shivaya) and ritual bath (abhisheka) with water, milk, curd, honey and other items.
  • Five great Lingas of the elements (Pancha Bhuta Lingas): Kalahasti (air, in Andhra Pradesh), Kanchipuram (earth), Tiruvanaikka (water), Tiruvannamalai (fire) and Chidambaram (space).
  • Other well-known Shiva places in Andhra Pradesh are Srisailam, the Pancharama kshetras (Amaravati, Draksharamam, Samarlakota, Bhimavaram and Palakollu), Srikalahasti and Lepakshi.

Streams of Shaiva worship

StreamMain ideaNote
SmartaFollows Smriti texts and Adi Shankara's Advaita; worship of five deities (Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, Devi)Called Panchayatana puja; priests are Smarta Brahmins who also do Shiva worship
Adi SaivaTemple priests who follow the Saiva AgamasCalled Shivacharyas; hereditary archakas in Shaiva temples
Veera Saiva (Lingayat)Worship of Ishtalinga worn on the body; founder tradition linked with BasavaStrong in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
JangamaVeerashaiva priests and teachers; moving (jangama) holy menPerform rites for Veerashaiva families
KapalikaExtreme ascetic worship of Bhairava, with skull (kapala) symbolsAn old Atimarga sect; linked with Srisailam in old texts

Smarta and Adi Saiva

  • Smarta: "of the Smriti". Smarta Brahmins follow the Dharma Shastras and the Vedic rites, and usually the Advaita of Adi Shankara. Their worship is called Panchayatana: the five deities are worshipped, and one is chosen as the preferred (ishta) deity.
  • Adi Saiva: priests of Shiva temples who are trained in the Saiva Agamas. They are called Shivacharyas or Adi Shaivas. They do the daily puja in temples using Agama rules (such as Kamika, Karana or Suprabheda). In Andhra Pradesh, many Shiva temples have Adi Saiva or Smarta archakas.
  • Adi Shankara is credited with Panchayatana worship and the four maths (mutts).

Veera Saiva, Jangama and Basava

  • Basava (Basaveshwara, 12th century) is the great teacher of Lingayatism. He taught devotion, equality and service, and opposed caste and ritual excess.
  • The Ishtalinga is a small Linga worn on the body. It is the key symbol.
  • The Veerashaiva path has the Ashtavarana (eight shields): guru, linga, jangama, vibhuti, rudraksha, padodaka, prasada and mantra. It also has Panchachara (five codes of conduct) and Shatsthala (six stages of the soul's progress).
  • Jangama is a "moving" Linga, meaning the Veerashaiva guru or priest. A Jangama is revered like a living Shiva. The Jangama priests lead rites such as initiation (diksha) and funeral rites among Veerashaivas.
  • The five seats (Pancha Peethas) of Veerashaiva tradition are named as Rambhapuri, Ujjaini, Kedar, Srisailam and Kashi.
  • Telugu connection: Palkuriki Somanatha (13th century) wrote the Basava Puranamu and Panditaradhya Charitra in Telugu. Panditaradhya (Mallikarjuna Pandita) is a Shaiva teacher in the Srisailam tradition.

Kapalika

  • The Kapalikas were ascetics who worshipped Shiva as Bhairava, carrying a skull-bowl (kapala). They belonged to the old Shaiva groups called Atimarga (outside the mainstream Vedic path).
  • Their practices were rejected by the temple Shaiva schools and by Advaita teachers. Classical Sanskrit works, such as the drama Malatimadhava, describe Kapalikas at Srisailam (Shriparvata).
  • Exam tip: Kapalika is a historical sect with strong rituals, not a temple-priest class.

Sakteyam (Shakta tradition)

  • Shakti is the Divine Mother, the active power. The Shakta tradition worships the Goddess as Durga, Lalita (Tripurasundari), Kali and others.
  • Texts: the Devi Mahatmya (Markandeya Purana), the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Lalita Sahasranama (Brahmanda Purana), Tantras and Shakta Agamas.
  • Sri Vidya and the Sri Chakra worship are major forms. Paths are often grouped as Kaula and Samaya.
  • Shakti Peethas: holy sites where, in the legend, parts of Sati's body fell. A common list counts 51 or 108 Peethas; the list of Ashtadasha (18) Shakti Peethas is popular. Several in the Telugu country are Srisailam (Bhramaramba), Draksharamam (Manikyamba), Pithapuram (Puruhutika) and Alampur (Jogulamba, in Telangana).
  • Festival: Dasara (Navaratri) is the great Devi festival; at Vijayawada it is celebrated at Kanaka Durga temple.
  • Shiva and Shakti are not separate: Ardhanarishvara shows Shiva and Shakti as one form.

Table: key places

PlaceDeityImportance
SrisailamMallikarjuna and BhramarambaJyotirlinga and Shakti Peetha together
SrikalahastiKalahastishvaraVayu (air) Linga of the Pancha Bhuta
DraksharamamBhimeshvara and ManikyambaOne of the Pancharamas and a Shakti Peetha
PithapuramPuruhutika DeviA Shakti Peetha
VijayawadaKanaka DurgaFamous Durga temple

Shaiva philosophy in brief

  • Shaiva Siddhanta is the dualist-leaning tradition built on the 28 Agamas. Its three eternal realities are Pati (Shiva, the Lord), Pashu (the bound soul) and Pasha (the bonds: anava, karma and maya). Liberation is the soul becoming Shiva-like by Shiva's grace.
  • Kashmir Shaivism (Trika) is a non-dual tradition with Shiva and Shakti as one Reality; the world is the play of Shiva's power.
  • Pashupata is an early Shaiva path that worships Shiva as Pashupati, lord of the beings.
  • Veerashaiva teaching uses the Shatsthala path and says the soul and Shiva become one in the final stage (Aikya).
  • Tamil Shaiva saints, the Nayanmars (63), and the Tevaram hymns are part of the Shaiva Siddhanta heritage. Their songs are chanted in Shaiva temples.

Temple worship in a Shaiva temple

  • The Agamas fix six or more daily services (kala puja). Offerings begin with the morning bath and end with a night rite.
  • The Linga is bathed (abhisheka) and decorated with bilva leaves, ash (vibhuti) and flowers. Rudram from the Yajurveda is often chanted at the abhisheka.
  • Main festivals: Maha Shivaratri, Karthika Masa (month) worship, Pradosha puja, and the great annual Brahmotsavam. At Srisailam, Maha Shivaratri and Ugadi are among the biggest festival times.
  • Nandi, the bull, is the vehicle of Shiva. The main Shaiva symbols include the trident (trishula), the drum (damaru), the crescent moon, the Ganga in the matted hair, and the three-line vibhuti on the forehead.
  • Shiva has several forms: Nataraja (dancer), Dakshinamurti (teacher), Bhairava, Ardhanarishvara and Lingodbhava.

Shakta worship in temples

  • Shakti temples follow the Devi Agamas and Tantric forms. Devi is worshipped with kumkuma, turmeric and red flowers. Kumkuma archana and Lalita Sahasranama are common.
  • Navaratri (nine nights), especially Sharad Navaratri, celebrate the Devi's victory over Mahishasura. The tenth day is Vijaya Dashami.
  • The Goddess has many forms: Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati (the three together are the Tridevi), Kali, Parvati and Lalita.

Exam traps

  • Saiva Agamas are 28; they are not 18. The 18 refers to the Rudra-bheda subset (or to the Puranas).
  • Kamika is the best-known of the 28; do not mix with Vaikhanasa (a Vaishnava Agama).
  • Smarta uses Panchayatana (five deities); Adi Saiva uses Saiva Agama in temples.
  • Jangama is a Veerashaiva priest; Kapalika is a skull-carrying ascetic sect.
  • Basava is a 12th-century reformer; Adi Shankara is of the 8th century (c.).
  • The Ishtalinga is worn on the body by Veerashaivas; it is not the temple Linga.
  • Srisailam has both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
  • Kalahasti is the Vayu Linga; Kanchi is Prithvi; Chidambaram is Akasha.

One-liners

  • 1. The Saiva Agamas number 28 in the main list.
  • 2. Ten are Shiva-bheda and eighteen are Rudra-bheda Agamas.
  • 3. Kamika Agama is the best-known Saiva Agama.
  • 4. Each Agama has four padas: Jnana, Yoga, Kriya and Charya.
  • 5. Shiva's five faces are Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha and Ishana.
  • 6. Adi Saiva priests are also called Shivacharyas.
  • 7. Smarta worship is Panchayatana puja of five deities.
  • 8. Basava is the leading teacher of Veerashaivism.
  • 9. The Ishtalinga is the Linga worn on the body.
  • 10. Srisailam is a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
  • 11. Kalahasti is the Vayu Linga.
  • 12. The Devi Mahatmya is in the Markandeya Purana.

Practice questions

  1. How many Saiva Agamas are in the main Saiva Siddhanta list?

    1. 18
    2. 108
    3. 28
    4. 10
    Answer

    C. 28

    The standard list has twenty-eight.

  2. In the Saiva Agama list, the Rudra-bheda group has how many Agamas?

    1. 8
    2. 10
    3. 28
    4. 18
    Answer

    D. 18

    Ten are Shiva-bheda and eighteen are Rudra-bheda.

  3. Which is the best-known Saiva Agama?

    1. Paushkara
    2. Sattvata
    3. Jayakhya
    4. Kamika
    Answer

    D. Kamika

    Kamika is the best-known Saiva Agama.

  4. Which of the following is one of Shiva's five faces?

    1. Sadyojata
    2. Aniruddha
    3. Vasudeva
    4. Pradyumna
    Answer

    A. Sadyojata

    The faces are Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha and Ishana.

  5. Srikalahasti is the Pancha Bhuta Linga of

    1. earth
    2. water
    3. air (Vayu)
    4. fire
    Answer

    C. air (Vayu)

    Kalahasti is the Vayu Linga.

  6. Kanchipuram's Ekambareshvara is the Linga of

    1. air
    2. earth (Prithvi)
    3. fire
    4. space
    Answer

    B. earth (Prithvi)

    Kanchi is the Prithvi Linga.

  7. Chidambaram is the Pancha Bhuta Linga of

    1. earth
    2. water
    3. space (Akasha)
    4. air
    Answer

    C. space (Akasha)

    Chidambaram represents Akasha.

  8. Tiruvannamalai is the Pancha Bhuta Linga of

    1. fire (Agni)
    2. air
    3. earth
    4. water
    Answer

    A. fire (Agni)

    Tiruvannamalai is the Agni Linga.

  9. Tiruvanaikka (Jambukeshvara) is the Linga of

    1. fire
    2. space
    3. air
    4. water (Apu)
    Answer

    D. water (Apu)

    Tiruvanaikka is the Apu (water) Linga.

  10. Srisailam is notable for having

    1. only a Vaishnava Agama temple
    2. a Pancha Bhuta Linga
    3. a Divya Desam
    4. a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha
    Answer

    D. a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha

    Mallikarjuna (Jyotirlinga) and Bhramaramba (Shakti Peetha).

  11. The Shakti of Srisailam is

    1. Jogulamba
    2. Bhramaramba
    3. Kanaka Durga
    4. Manikyamba
    Answer

    B. Bhramaramba

    Bhramaramba is the Goddess at Srisailam.

  12. Which deity is NOT part of the Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition?

    1. Hanuman
    2. Devi
    3. Surya
    4. Ganesha
    Answer

    A. Hanuman

    The five are Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi.

  13. Smarta tradition mainly follows the Smriti texts and the Advaita of

    1. Madhva
    2. Adi Shankara
    3. Basava
    4. Ramanuja
    Answer

    B. Adi Shankara

    Smarta worship is linked with Adi Shankara.

  14. Adi Saiva temple priests are also called

    1. Alvars
    2. Vaikhanasas
    3. Shivacharyas
    4. Kapalikas
    Answer

    C. Shivacharyas

    Shivacharyas are Agama-trained Shaiva priests.

  15. The founding teacher of the Veerashaiva (Lingayat) movement is

    1. Vikhanas
    2. Basava
    3. Madhva
    4. Ramanuja
    Answer

    B. Basava

    Basava (Basaveshwara) is the great 12th-century teacher.

  16. The Ishtalinga of the Veerashaivas is

    1. a temple Linga only
    2. a small Linga worn on the body
    3. a stone in a tank
    4. a Pancha Bhuta Linga
    Answer

    B. a small Linga worn on the body

    It is carried on the body.

  17. The Ashtavarana of Veerashaivism means

    1. eight Agamas
    2. eight temples
    3. eight shields (aids to faith)
    4. eight forms of marriage
    Answer

    C. eight shields (aids to faith)

    Guru, linga, jangama, vibhuti, rudraksha, padodaka, prasada and mantra.

  18. Panchachara means

    1. five codes of conduct
    2. five Agamas
    3. five fires
    4. five temples
    Answer

    A. five codes of conduct

    Panchachara is the five-fold conduct of a Veerashaiva.

  19. Shatsthala means

    1. six festivals
    2. six kinds of priests
    3. six Agamas
    4. six stages of the soul's progress
    Answer

    D. six stages of the soul's progress

    It is the six-stage path in Veerashaivism.

  20. A Jangama in the Veerashaiva tradition is

    1. a skull-carrying ascetic
    2. a Vaishnava saint
    3. a Pancha Bhuta Linga
    4. a priest or guru regarded as a living Shiva
    Answer

    D. a priest or guru regarded as a living Shiva

    Jangama means moving Linga, the holy teacher.

  21. Kapalikas were ascetics who worshipped Shiva as

    1. Nataraja in temples
    2. Ardhanarishvara
    3. Bhairava, carrying a skull-bowl
    4. Dakshinamurti
    Answer

    C. Bhairava, carrying a skull-bowl

    Kapalika means skull-bearer.

  22. The Sanskrit drama that describes Kapalikas at Srisailam is the

    1. Malatimadhava
    2. Mrichchhakatika
    3. Shakuntala
    4. Mudrarakshasa
    Answer

    A. Malatimadhava

    Malatimadhava mentions Kapalikas at Shriparvata.

  23. Who wrote the Basava Puranamu in Telugu?

    1. Pothana
    2. Nannaya
    3. Tikkana
    4. Palkuriki Somanatha
    Answer

    D. Palkuriki Somanatha

    Palkuriki Somanatha wrote Basava Puranamu.

  24. Panditaradhya is associated with the Shaiva tradition of

    1. Tirumala
    2. Srirangam
    3. Srisailam
    4. Dwaraka
    Answer

    C. Srisailam

    Mallikarjuna Pandita (Panditaradhya) is linked with Srisailam.

  25. The Goddess at Draksharamam is

    1. Bhramaramba
    2. Manikyamba
    3. Jogulamba
    4. Kamakshi
    Answer

    B. Manikyamba

    Draksharamam has Bhimeshvara and Manikyamba.

  26. The Shakti Peetha at Pithapuram is

    1. Puruhutika
    2. Manikyamba
    3. Bhramaramba
    4. Kamakshi
    Answer

    A. Puruhutika

    Puruhutika is the Pithapuram Peetha.

  27. The Shakti Peetha at Alampur has the Goddess

    1. Puruhutika
    2. Jogulamba
    3. Manikyamba
    4. Kanaka Durga
    Answer

    B. Jogulamba

    Alampur has Jogulamba.

  28. Sakteyam is the tradition of worshipping

    1. Vishnu as Narasimha
    2. Shakti, the Divine Mother
    3. the Sun only
    4. Ganesha only
    Answer

    B. Shakti, the Divine Mother

    Shakta means worship of Shakti.

  29. The Devi Mahatmya belongs to the

    1. Brahma Purana
    2. Agni Purana
    3. Markandeya Purana
    4. Linga Purana
    Answer

    C. Markandeya Purana

    It is in the Markandeya Purana.

  30. Ardhanarishvara represents

    1. Shiva and Shakti in one form
    2. Vishnu and Lakshmi together
    3. Brahma and Saraswati
    4. Rama and Sita
    Answer

    A. Shiva and Shakti in one form

    The half-woman form joins Shiva and Shakti.

  31. The bull seated facing the sanctum in a Shiva temple is

    1. Airavata
    2. Hamsa
    3. Garuda
    4. Nandi
    Answer

    D. Nandi

    Nandi is Shiva's vehicle.

  32. The Panchakshari mantra is

    1. Namah Shivaya
    2. Gayatri
    3. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
    4. Om Namo Narayanaya
    Answer

    A. Namah Shivaya

    Panchakshari means the five-syllable mantra of Shiva.

  33. In Shaiva Siddhanta, the three eternal realities are Pati, Pashu and

    1. Pasha
    2. Prakriti
    3. Purusha
    4. Maya only
    Answer

    A. Pasha

    Pati is the Lord, Pashu the soul and Pasha the bonds.

  34. The Nayanmars were

    1. Vedic priests
    2. Vaishnava saints
    3. Kapalika kings
    4. Shaiva saints of the Tamil country
    Answer

    D. Shaiva saints of the Tamil country

    The 63 Nayanmars are Shaiva saints.

  35. At which Durga temple is Dasara celebrated with great festival at Vijayawada?

    1. Bhramaramba temple
    2. Manikyamba temple
    3. Kanaka Durga temple
    4. Jogulamba temple
    Answer

    C. Kanaka Durga temple

    Vijayawada's Kanaka Durga temple is famous for Dasara.

  36. Which Agama pada deals with temple building and image rites?

    1. Yoga
    2. Charya
    3. Kriya
    4. Jnana
    Answer

    C. Kriya

    Kriya pada covers temple construction and rites.

  37. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Srisailam has a Jyotirlinga. 2. Srisailam has a Shakti Peetha.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  38. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Kamika is a Saiva Agama. 2. Kamika is a Vaishnava Agama.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    It is Saiva.

  39. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Kapalikas were hereditary Adi Saiva temple priests. 2. Kapalikas worshipped Bhairava.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    They were ascetics, not temple priests.

  40. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Basava lived in the 8th century. 2. The Ishtalinga is kept only inside the temple.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    Basava is of the 12th century; the Ishtalinga is worn on the body.

  41. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Smarta worship is Panchayatana puja. 2. Adi Saiva priests follow the Saiva Agamas.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  42. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Kalahasti is the Vayu Linga. 2. Chidambaram is the Prithvi Linga.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Chidambaram is Akasha.

  43. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Rudra-bheda Agamas number ten. 2. Shiva-bheda Agamas number ten.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Rudra-bheda are eighteen.

  44. Which is one of the Pancharama kshetras of Shiva in Andhra Pradesh?

    1. Kanchipuram
    2. Chidambaram
    3. Tiruvanaikka
    4. Samarlakota
    Answer

    D. Samarlakota

    Amaravati, Draksharamam, Samarlakota, Bhimavaram and Palakollu are the Pancharamas.

  45. Abhisheka of a Shiva Linga means

    1. a flag hoisting
    2. a ritual bath with water, milk and other items
    3. the festival chariot
    4. the closing of the temple
    Answer

    B. a ritual bath with water, milk and other items

    Abhisheka is the sacred bathing of the image.

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