SAIVA-SIDDHANTA

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THE SAIVA RELIGION. 313
his conduct accordingly (Karma). In each condition therefore,
Karma, Bhakti and Jnana are all together essential, and front
theT5asa to The San mar gi this Karma, Bhakti and Jnana are
progressive. There is no opposition, there is no parting away
with one to follow another. So the practical Religion offered
by Saivaism is all in all and for all.
SAIVAISM IS AN ECLECTIC PHILOSOPHY AND
AN UNIVERSAL RELIGION.
j Saiva Siddhanta, as representing
the old Hinduism and
with its chief scripture the Svetasvatara Upanishat and the Git a,
claims to be an eclectic philosophy and an universal Religion;
and the various points
I have brought out above will show
how it
brings itself into agreement with every shade of opinion,
Religion and Philosophy.
It describes Philosophy accord
ingly by such terms as Sara ,
Samarasa ,
Siddhanta meaning
essence of all, true end, the Truth . And we invite the kind
attention of every religionist assembled here to the definition
of an Universal Religion given by St. Arul Nandi several
centuries ago.
"Religions, postulates
and text books are various and
conflict one with another. It is asked : which is the true
religion, which the true postulate and which the true
book? That is the True Religion and postulate and book,
whfch not possessing the fault of calling this false and this
true and not conflicting with them, comprises reasonably every
thing within its fold. Hence all these are comprised in the
Vfcdas and Agamas. And these are embedded in the Sacred
Foot of Hara."
And we will close this paper with culling a few opinions
of European Students of Saiva Siddhanta.
The late Rev. Dr. G. U. Pope remarks It is the choicest
:
product of the Dravidian (Indian) The intellect." Saiva Sid
dhanta is the most elaborate, influential and undoubtedly the
most intrinsically valuable of all the religions of India."
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