Shaivism

Shiva (; , , , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , [mɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh], ) and Hara (, ), is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism.

Tantra (; ) is an esoteric yogic tradition that developed in the Indian subcontinent, beginning in the middle of the 1st millennium CE, initially within Shaivism and Shaktism, and subsequently in Mahayana Buddhism and Vaishnavism. Tantra presents complex cosmologies, viewing the body as divine and typically reflecting the union of Shiva and Shakti. Tantric goals include Siddhi (supernatural accomplishment), bhoga, and Kundalini ascent; while also addressing states of possession (āveśa) and exorcism.

Shaivism (; ) is an umbrella-term for a number of Hindu religious traditions, which worship Shiva as the supreme being. The followers of Shaivism are called Shaivas or Shaivites, numbering about 385 million people, across South Asia predominantly in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

Ujjain (, , ), also known as Ujjayini, is a city in Ujjain district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the fifth-largest city in Madhya Pradesh by population and is the administrative as well as religious centre of Ujjain district and Ujjain division. It is one of the Hindu pilgrimage centres of Sapta Puri famous for the Kumbh Mela (Simhastha) held there every 12 years. The ancient and world famous temple of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is located in the center of the city. The city has been one of the most prominent trade and political centres of the Indian subcontinent from the time o

Haridwar (; ; formerly Mayapuri) is a city and municipal corporation in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. With a population of 228,832 according to 2011 census, it is the second-largest city in the state and the largest in the district. Haridwar is located at the south western part of the state.

Kartikeya (), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha or Muruga(n), is the Hindu god of war. He is generally described as the son of the deities Shiva and Parvati and the brother of Ganesha.

thumb|right|A lingam with tripundra, projected on a [[yoni base]]

Hindu festival for contemplation of self and Shiva

Ideological creature in Hinduism and Indic religions, usually depicted as a Bull

Hindu temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

district of Uttarakhand, India

Hindu temple in India

Mahākāla (, ) is a deity common to Hinduism and Buddhism.

Hindu mantra

temple

Aihole (ಐಹೊಳೆ), also referred to as Aivalli, Ahivolal or Aryapura, is a historic site of ancient and medieval era Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments in Karnataka, India that dates from the sixth century through the twelfth century CE. Most of the surviving monuments at the site date from the 7th to 10th centuries. Located around an eponymous small village surrounded by farmlands and sandstone hills, Aihole is a major archaeological site, featuring over 120 stone and cave temples spread along the Malaprabha river valley, in Bagalakote district. thumb|Relief of sleeping Vishnu, now in Mumbai

thumb|A Shiva Nataraja idol in Tamil Nadu, India

Hindu temple in Rameswaram island in the state of Tamil Nadu, India

thumb|The Pashupati seal, showing a figure surrounded by animals who is thought to be Shiva; circa 2350-2000 BCE. It is preserved in [[National Museum, New Delhi]]

temple in India

Shiva ( Jyotirlinga) temple in Maharashtra, India

Shiva ( Jyotirlinga) temple in Maharashtra, India

Hindu temple, One of the twelve Jyotirlingas

temple

shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva

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thumb|280px|The mahasiddha Virūpa, 16th century Siddha (Sanskrit: ''; "perfected one") is a term that is used widely in Indian religions and culture. It means "one who is accomplished." It refers to perfected masters who have achieved a high degree of perfection of the intellect as well as liberation or enlightenment. In Jainism, the term is used to refer to the liberated souls. Siddha'' may also refer to one who has attained a siddhi, paranormal capabilities.

Dadhichi (), also rendered Dadhyanga and Dadhyancha, is a sage in Hinduism. He is best known for his sacrifice in the Puranas, where he gives up his life so that his bones could be used to manufacture the Vajra, the diamond-like celestial thunderbolt of the deity Indra, in order to slay Vritra.

Tradition or Holy Custom of Hindu religion

thumb|Shiva drinks the kalakuta poison Halāhala (Sanskrit हलाहल) or Kālakūṭa (Sanskrit कालकूट, ) is the name of a poison in Hindu mythology. It was created from the Ocean of Milk when the devas and the asuras churned it (see Samudra Manthana) in order to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality.

Hindu temple

Shaktipata () or Shaktipat refers in Hinduism to the transmission (or conferring) of spiritual energy upon one person by another or directly from the deity. Shaktipata can be transmitted with a sacred word or mantra, or by a look, thought or touch – the last usually to the ajna chakra or agya chakra or third eye of the recipient.

Jalandhara (Sanskrit: जलन्धर, lit. he who holds water), also known as Chalantarana (Sanskrit: चलन्तरण, lit. he who walks and swims) is an asura in Hinduism. He was born when Shiva opened his third eye in his fury when Indra struck him with his thunderbolt. However, Indra was saved, and the energy emitted from the eye was sent into the ocean. The energy developed into a boy and was raised by Varuna, and eventually, by Shukra. When he grew up, he conquered the three worlds - Svarga (heaven), Bhuloka (earth), and Patala (underworld). He married Vrinda, the daughter of Kalanemi. He was slain by hi

thumb|A Yakshagana dancer with tripundra on her forehead Tripundra ( tripuṇḍra "three marks") is a Hindu Shaivite tilaka, worn by Shaivas as an indication of their affiliation with Shiva. It is also one of the tilakas worn by Smarta Hindus. It consists of three horizontal lines (and sometimes a dot) on the forehead, usually made with sacred ash, and has spiritual meanings in the Shaivite traditions of Hinduism. The Vaishnava counterpart of this tilaka, consisting of vertical lines, is called the Urdhva Pundra.

text in Kashmir Shaivism

festival of lights

Indian mythological television series

thumb|A group of Jangam, moving in street of Mohali city near [[Chandigarh, 17 th May 2022 ]] The Jangam or Jangamuru or veerashaiva Jangam a Shaiva order of religious monks. They are the priests (Gurus) of the Veerashaiva or Lingayatism, and are disciples of Shiva as mentioned in Basava Puranas. Jangamas were originally Vedic Shaiva Brahmins, from the same background as Basavanna, who is also identified as a Shaiva Brahmin. In the 12th century, these Brahmins became priests of the emerging Lingayat faith, and over time this Brahmins become known as Jangamas.

8th-century rock cut stone temple and ruins in Masrur–Lahalpur Himachal Pradesh

The Kalamukha were a medieval Shaivite sect of the Deccan Plateau who were among the first professional monks of India. Their earliest monasteries were built in Mysore.

hindu hymn

Rudrani () is the consort of Rudra, a Vedic deity regarded to be a form of Shiva in contemporary Hinduism. Rudrani is an epithet of Parvati, the consort of Shiva.

early 13th century Shiva temple

ancient Indian Hindu temples

thumb|A Gupta era one-faced mukhalinga, [[Bhumara]] thumb|A four-faced mukhalinga, 10th century, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco|Asian Art Museum

1008 names of God in Shaivism

thumb|Kubjikā Mātā

12th-century school of Hindu philosophy

Nine Hindu saints of the Navnath lineage

mythological event in which the god Daksha arranges for his daughter Sati to immolate herself

Thiruvasagam () is a volume of Tamil hymns composed by the 3rd century Shaivite bhakti poet Manikkavasagar. It contains 51 compositions and constitutes the eighth volume of the Tirumurai, the sacred anthology of the Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta.

thumb|Upper part (oval stone) of Lingam|Shiva lingam represents Parashiva

temple in India