SAIVA-SIDDHANTA

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The
Dr. Ananda K.
THE MVA RELIGION. 295
Kumarasvami in his paper
torical Congress of Oriental Religions
read before the His
in which he shows
that it is the least anthropomorphic of symbols,) takes the A j
place of Rudra Pasupati and its form is that of the Pranava* j
and there is the Balipitha at the entrance to the temple with
the Yupastambha f and the Pasu or animal offered in sacrifice
in the form of the Bull. Every Brahmotsava still commences
with a sacrifice, (the blood sacrifice is altogether given up in
the South Indian Temples) and the Pasu, in effigy in cloth, is
tied up to the Yupastambha and after the festival is taken
down. The position of the bull or Pasu will be found to be on
the other side (God side) of the Balipitha and Stambha, and it
is not called Pasu but Nandi (Blissful), God. Because, accord
ing to the phraseology of Saivaism, the Jiva or soul, once it
had become freed, is no more called Jiva but Siva or Brahman.
What had to be offered in sacrifice was not an animal but the
Jiva; the soul called also the Ejaman of the sacrifice, had to/1
offe^r his jlvtavam,, his animal part of himself, his individuality)
or Ahankara or Avidya or Ignorance, and the Naivedyam in
all temples is now interpreted as this Pautvam, or Pasubhodham
as it is called. As soon as he enters the temple, he is
asked to prostrate in front of the Yupastambha. This is his
the High Devahood of Sri Sarikara. In the Atharva Veda Samhita, the
sacrificial cows are also praised with the attributes of the Brahman. In
the iLiriga Parana, the same hymn is expanded in the shape of stories
meant to establish the glory of the great Stambha and superiority of
Mahadeva. Later on, he says, the explanation of the Siva Lirigam as a
Phallic emblem began
in India in her most thoughtless and degraded
times.
*
"
whole Linga
is the Omkara filled by Nada and Bindu. The
base is Akara. The Kanta is Makara, and the round form Ukara".
Tintmantiram.
t qidw s^fclMlxW ^g .^T^fcf^JcT*.
I
Ajitagama.
j
The standard pole represents Pati, The flag or piece of cloth that is/
being raised to the top represents Pasu and the cord (made of grass/
represents Pasa,