(
Hindusim)
Shaivism is the other main tradition in Hinduism asides from
Vaishnavism. It is particularly practised in the south of India,
i.e. Dravidia, Tamil Nadu. Shaivism was particularly
encouraged during the moghul invasion of India when many
heterodox sects flourished. This write-up will not focus on the practice of
Shaivism since I know very little of it, however I do know of the
Vaishnavite-Shaivite Conflict in Hindu Religious History.
In the Scriptures, the conflict of Shiva with Vishnu
assumes deadly proportions. Shaivite texts says that Shiva's demon killed
Vishnu, whereas Vaishnava texts claim Vishnu wounded Shiva. In fact
this is the reason why Vaishnavas (in India), so tolerant otherwise, are
so hostile to anything Shaivite:
The conflict described between Vibhadra, a giant created by Shiva to
destroy his father-in-law's sacrifice, and Vishnu is narrated in many texts.
In the Linga Purana, Vishnu is beheaded by Vibhadra, and
Vishnu's head is blown by the wind into the fire. The Shaivite Kasi
Khanda of the Skanda Purana, described Vishnu as defeated and at
the mercy of Vibhadra, who is prohibited by a voice from heaven from
destroying his antagonist. In the Vaishnavite Harivamsa, Vishnu
compels Shiva to fly, after taking him by the throat and nearly strangling
him. The blackness of Shiva's neck arose from this throttline, and not, as
elsewhere described, from his drinking the posion produced at the churning of
the milk ocean. The Kurma Purana, although a Shaivite Purana,
is less irreverent towards Vishnu, and after describing a contest in which
both parties occasionally prevail, makes Brahma interpose, and separate the
combatants.
H.H. Wilson, in his 1840 description
of the Vishnu Purana (paraphrased)
Thus
Shiva, unlike other Gods of
India, was never even attempted to be
absorbed as an incarnation; his practices were against everything
Vaishnava.
In fact, it is difficult to imagine two
world-views more different than
Vaishnavism and
Shaivism. One is the opposite of the other. All the other
gods are also mutilated by
Shiva's demons:
Their exploits (i.e. those of Vibhadra and his demons) are specified
in the Linga, Kurma, and Bhagavata Puranas. Indra is knocked down and trampled on;
Yama has his staff broken; Sarasvati and the Matris have their noses cut
off; Mitra or Bhaga has his eyes pulled out; Pusha has his teeth knocked
down his throat; Chandra is pummeled, Vahni's hands are cut off; Bhrigu
loses his beard; the Brahmans are pelted with stones; the Prajapatis are
beaten; and the gods and demi-gods are run through with swords or struck with
arrows.
H.H. Wilson
In the
Vaishnava Bhagavatapurana,
Shiva is
described as present at his father-in-law's (
i.e. Daksha's) assembly,
where
Daksha censured him before the guests, and in consequence
Shiva
departed in rage. His follower
Nandi curses the company, and
Bhrigu
retorts:
May all those who adopt the worship of Bhava [Shiva], all those
who follow his practices of his worshippers, become heretics and oppugners
of holy doctrines; may they neglect the observances of purification; may they
be of infirm intellects, wearing clotted hair, and ornamenting themselves with
ashes and bones; may they enter the Shaiva initiation, in which
spirituous liquour is the libation.
from the Srimad Bhagavatam
The sacrifice of
Daksha in legend is obviously intended to intimate a
struggle between the worshippers of
Shiva and
Vishnu, in which at first
the latter, but finally the former, gain the ascendancy. It is also a favourite
subject, especially, of
Shaivite sculpture.