Veera Shaivism and the Holy Rudraksha Part II of II

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends

 

As stated in Part I........... In Veera Shaivism the the goal in life is

accomplished when soul and God are fused in a final state of perpetual Shiva

Consciousness by way of Shatshala that is a progressive 6 stage path of devotion

and surrender

 

Attainment of this goal depends on the successful practice of Panchachara (

The Five Codes of Conduct ) and The AshtaAavarana ( The Eight Shields or

Protections ) to protect the body as the abode of Shiva

 

The Panchachara or Five Codes of Conduct are

 

Lingachara ( Daily worship of the ShivaLinga )

 

Sadachara ( attention to vocation and duty )

 

Sivachara ( acknowledgeing 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 of Belief )

 

The AshtaAavarana or Eight Protections are

 

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

sacramentally of what is left over )

 

Vibhuti or Ghasma ( smearing of the sacred ash )

 

Rudraksha ( wearing of the Sacred Rosary Beads )

 

Mantra ( chanting the five syllabled formula Aum Namah Shivaya )

 

Today Veera Shaivism is a vibrant compassionate Faith and Belief System that

has been credited with championing the cause of the down trodden and in past

history rebelling against a powerful brahminical system that had promoted

social inequality through a caste system that branded a whole class of people as

polluted

 

Veera Shaivism teaches a monistic theistic doctrine named Shakti

Vishishtadvaita that rejects duality of God and Soul, multiplicity of Gods,

caste

heirarchy, animal sacrifice and karmic bondage

 

One of the things I have found remarkable about Veera Shaivism is that deeple

imbedded in their Eight Protections to protect the body as the Abode of Shiva

is the wearing of the Holy Rudraksha Beads

 

Aum NamaSivaya Sivaya Nama Aum

 

 

Rudra Center India and America

 

DharmaDev Arya