tman_and_moksa

SR No.: 020053
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: G N Joshi
Publisher: Gujarat University
Publication Year: 1965
Total Pages: 901
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 640

Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
608
Atman and Moka
came to anything which inspired awe and terror, Rudra was the God thought of and prayed to protect."'! S'iva is supposed to be a powerful God wielding superior power over all the evils like epidemics, diseases, poisons, serpents, storms, thunderbolt and other awe-inspiring phenomena of nature. Macnicol believes that S'iva is mainly not an Aryan but an aboriginal God. The adoption of the euphemistic name (S'iva, the auspicious) is itself an indication of an attempt to civilize a deity always terrible, but not always worthy of reverence. His aboriginal name may have been Bhairava. S'iva by His very force and fury was fitted not inaptly, to represent that power in the universe which causelessly destroys and causelessly creates.? He is taken to be an antidote against all such evils, and therefore, men approached Him to appease Him and to secure from Him protection, security, and happiness against the evil forces of the world. Men approach S'iva out of fear while Visnu is approached out of love and admiration being attracted by His good and auspicious qualities and men seek to achieve from Him perfection, bliss, peace, and everlasting joy. The sentiment of love, admiration, and worship is at the root of Vaişnavism, while in Rudra-S'aivism the sentiment of fear is more predominant, both being monotheistic in nature.3
The philosophy of the Saiva-creed is known as the Saiva-Siddhānta. Saivism looks upon God as the . 1 Bhandarkar R. G.: Vaisnavism, S'aivism and Minor Religious Systems, p. 106.
2. Nicol Macnicol : Indian Theism, p. 161.
3 Bhandarkar R. G. : Vaisnavism, S'aivism and Minor Religions Systems, p. 106,
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