parashiva

{{main|Shaiva Siddhanta}}

According to the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition, which is a major school of Shaivism, Parashiva is absolute reality which is beyond human comprehension and is beyond all attributes. According to Mahamahopadhaya Gopinath Kaviraj, in this aspect Shiva is both formless and with forms. He is beyond both dvaita and advaita.{{Cite book|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/ch02_01.html|title=Dancing with Siva|pages=ŚLOKA 16 (What Is the Nature of Our God Śiva?)}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/ch02_02.html|title=Dancing with Siva|at=ŚLOKA 17(https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/ch02_02.html)}} In Shaivite theology, Parashiva is both the source and the destination of everything in the existence.

According to the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition, the other two aspects of Shiva are Parashakti and Parameshwara.{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/ch02_03.html|title=Parashakti}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/ch02_04.html|title=Parameshwara}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/glossary_c.html|title=Dancing with Siva|date=30 June 2003 |publisher=Himalayan Academy|isbn=0945497946|at=search 'परमेश्वर ' and 'पराशक्ति '}}

The upper part (oval stone) of Shiva Lingam represents Parashiva while lower part (pedestal) represents Parashakti.{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/r7_14.html|title=Hinduism for Children|at=Search for "Śivaliṅga"}} Parashiva is beyond all of the 36 tattvas mentioned in Shaivism philosophy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/r7_25.html|title=36 tattva}}

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{{Main|Kashmir Shaivism}}

Kashmiri Shaivism describes how all of reality, with all of its diversity and fluctuation, is the play of the single principle, Paramashiva. The two aspects of this single reality are inseparably united: Shiva and Shakti.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1438108737 | title=Critical Companion to George Orwell | publisher=Infobase Publishing | author=Edward Quinn | year=2014 | pages=229 | isbn=9781438108735}} Paramashiva appears as the world through his creative power, Shakti. The ontological nature of Paramashiva is beyond human knowledge and articulation, yet it can be experienced directly through mystical intuition.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ErhIBHJEkwC | title=Kashmir Shaivaism | publisher=SUNY Press | author=Jagadish Chandra Chatterji | year=1914 | pages=viii | isbn=9780887061790}}

The Kashmir Shaivism tradition, also called Trika Shaivism, is a non-dualist branch of Shaiva-Shakta Tantra Hinduism that originated in Kashmir after 850 CE.[http://www.iep.utm.edu/kashmiri/ David Peter Lawrence, Kashmiri Shaiva Philosophy, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]Wallis, Christopher; Tantra Illuminated, chapter II, The History of Śaiva Tantra In its place of origin in Kashmir, this tradition is commonly referred to as "Kashmiri Shaivism." It later spread beyond Kashmir, with its great scholar Abhinavagupta calling it "Trika" (meaning "the Trinity"). It particularly flourished in the states of Odisha and Maharashtra.Carl Olson, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RVWKClYq4TUC&dq=Pratyabhij%C3%B1a+%2B+trika&pg=PA237 The Many Colors of Hinduism], Rutgers University Press, 2007, page 237 Defining features of the Trika tradition are its idealistic and monistic Pratyabhijna ("Recognition") philosophical system, propounded by Utpaladeva (c. 925–975 CE) and Abhinavagupta (c. 975–1025 CE), and the centrality of the three goddesses Parā, Parāparā, and Aparā.

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• Brahman
• Krishna
• Mahaganapati
• Mahavishnu
• Nirguna Brahman

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{{HinduMythology}}

Category:Forms of Shiva

Category:Shaivism

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