The Twelve Beliefs Of Saivite Hindus
- Only one all-Pervasive Supreme God
- Existence of unseen spiritual worlds
- Holy Scriptures is the ancient Vedas and Agamas
- Existence of the soul (atma)
- In the law of karma
- Reincarnation
- Need for the personal experience of God
- In the inherent spiritual laws to govern the spiritual and physical universe (dharma)
- In repeating cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution (yugas)
- In non-violence in thought, word and deed as a cardinal virtue of life (ahimsa)
- In the need for a guru to guide
- In the acceptance of other genuine religions and spiritual persuasions
Five Basic Practices for Saivites
The five consistent duties are the, “Pancha Nitya karmas” to guide our daily and yearly religious life. These five obligatory religious practices are simple and applicable for all Saivites.
1. VIRTUOUS LIVING
Proper conduct for a Saivite is living a life of duty and good conduct. We learn to be selfless by thinking of others first, being respectful to parents, elders and gurus, following divine laws as set in the Thiru Kural, especially – mental, emotional and physical non-injury toward all beings (ahimsa). Thus we resolve karmas.
2. WORSHIP
A Saivite’s personal worship includes daily worship in the home shrine, sadhana, devotional singing, yoga asanas, dhyana and scriptural study. We become secure through devotion in our home and the temple, bringing forth love and blessings of the God and preparing our mind for serene meditation.
3. HOLY DAYS
The observance of Saivite festivals in the home and temple, including guru puja days, brings deep communion with God during highly spiritual times of the year. This includes fasting and attending the temple on Fridays, the Hindu holy day.
4. PILGRIMAGE
At least once each year every Saivite must make a pilgrimage to a holy place, whether near or far. This is a time when all worldly matters are set aside and God becomes the central and singular focus of life.
5. SACRAMENTS
Sacraments are special ceremonies which mark every Saivite’s passages in life and sanctify these experiences. They include the rites of birth, first feeding, learning, marriage and death.