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u/Sufficient_Net_4570

r/Tantra r/hinduism r/Tantrasadhaks r/shaivism
▲ 4 r/Tantrasadhaks

Do the Bhairava Sadhana in Shakta tantra have Shaiva elements ?

Is Bhairava worshipped independently and is considered Paradevatha ?

PS: Asking this after the videos I've come across the internet. There's no citations if the Sadhanas are from Shaiva/ ShaktAgamas.

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u/Sufficient_Net_4570 — 10 days ago
▲ 4 r/hinduism

Bhakti and prescribed rituals

I've noticed that on posts about prescribed rituals, some people simply say, Bhakti and/ bhava are enough.

If our Acharyas have written extensively on how these rituals should be performed, with references from the Vedas, Agamas and other shastras shouldn't that indicate that the prescribed method also matters? At the very least, if one chooses to perform a ritual, shouldn't it be done as correctly as possible according to Shastras?

I'm asking this as a genuine question and would appreciate scriptural perspectives.

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u/Sufficient_Net_4570 — 21 days ago
▲ 8 r/shaivism+1 crossposts

When people refer to "Bhairava Sadhana" today, does it usually mean a practice rooted in Shaiva Tantra (especially Kashmir Shaivism), or in Shakta Tantra?

Also, Do contemporary teachers of the Sadhana generally remain faithful to their traditional marga, or do they tend to adapt and synthesize practices from different traditions?

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u/Sufficient_Net_4570 — 1 month ago
▲ 9 r/shaivism

The Devotee of Sakha Marga

By the grace of Shiva, I offer a few brief accounts of the 63 Nayanmars.

63. Nambi Arurar Nayanar (Sundarar)

Among the four great saints of Shaivism in south, collectively known as the Nalvar (meaning "The Four"),  Nambi Arurar was one.

Below I list few key moments from the life of this nayanar -

  1. As a Shiva Gana, named Alala Sundara in Kailash. Once, while gathering flowers for worship, he glanced with affection at two handmaidens of Parvati, named Aninditi and Kamalini. Seeing this earthly desire arise, Shiva decided he should take birth on Earth and experience human life.
  2. Nambi Arurar (commonly called, Sundarar) was born in Thirunavalur to a devoted couple, who were later honored among the Nayanars. As a child he was exceptionally handsome and charming. The local chieftain Narasinga Munaiyaraiyar adopted him and raised him like a prince while ensuring he was educated in the Vedas and Shaivite traditions.
  3. When Sundarar reached marriageable age, his family arranged a wedding. Just as the ceremony began, an old Brahmin appeared claiming Sundarar was his ancestral servant. He produced a palm-leaf document supposedly signed by Sundarar’s grandfather. Angry, Sundarar called him “Pithan"(madman), but the village elders confirmed the document’s authenticity. The old man led Sundarar to the temple at Thiruvennainallur, where he vanished inside the sanctum revealing himself as Lord Shiva.
  4. Seeing the old man vanish inside the sanctum sanctorum, a divine voice told Sundarar to sing in devotion. When Sundarar asked how to begin, the Voice told him to use the same word he had used to scold him: “Pithan”. Thus Sundarar sang his first hymn, “Pitha Pirai Soodi”. From that moment he became one of the greatest poet-saints devoted to Shiva.
  5. During his travels to various temples, Sundarar arrived at Tiruvarur, a great center of Shaivite worship. There he met Paravai Nachiyar, a devoted temple dancer who was the earthly incarnation of Kamalini. With Shiva Himself acting as a mediator, Sundarar married her and she became his loving spiritual companion.
  6. Later Sundarar traveled to Thiruvottriyur, where he met Sangili Nachiyar. He married her after promising that he would never leave the city. For some time he lived there peacefully honoring that promise.
  7. Unable to bear the pain of separation from his beloved Lord Chandrashekara, Sundarar longed to return to Tiruvarur for the sacred festival, thereby breaking the promise he had made to Sangili. As a consequence of this broken vow, he suddenly lost his eyesight. Filled with remorse, he wandered from temple to temple singing hymns of repentance to Shiva, and through the boundless grace of Mahadeva, his vision was gradually restored.
  8. When Sundarar returned to Tiruvarur, Paravai Nachiyar learned of his second marriage and, hurt by the news, refused to forgive him or allow him into her home. In distress, Sundarar prayed to his eternal friend, Shiva, for help. In a remarkable act of grace, Shiva walked through the streets of Tiruvarur at midnight as Sundarar’s messenger to plead his case before Paravai, eventually revealing His divine form and bringing about their reconciliation. Because of this intimate bond with the Lord, Sundarar came to be known as "The Friend of the Lord".
  9. Sundarar often prayed to Shiva for resources to feed devotees. Shiva would miraculously provide gold whenever needed. On one occasion Sundarar threw gold into a river and later retrieved it from a temple pond in Tiruvarur.
  10. Sundarar developed a deep spiritual friendship with Cheraman Perumal Nayanar, the king of Kerala. The king revered Sundarar as a great saint and traveled with him to many temples. Together they spread devotion to Shiva through hymns and pilgrimage.
  11. Eventually Sundarar felt his earthly mission was complete. While in Thiruvanchikulam, Lord Pashupati sent the divine white elephant to bring him back to Kailash. Sundarar ascended on the elephant toward the heavens. Seeing this, Cheraman Perumal followed on horseback after whispering the sacred Panchakshari mantra into the horse’s ear so it could fly. Both finally reached Kailash, where Sundarar returned to his eternal service of Lord Shiva.
u/Sufficient_Net_4570 — 6 months ago