Siddhanta Puns

Has anyone here done the Master Course from Himalayan Academy? Either in full or part?

I want to hear more about people's experiences with Himalayan Academy (other than just reading their books).

Thanks!

• Why do you prefer the one you do?
• Have you noticed more accuracy with one over the other?
• How might the planetary model used to generate charts effect one who is learning from sources such as BPHS, Hora Sara, Saravali?

Part 2 and 3 are available in archive.org, but I am unable to find part one in pdf format. If anyone can help, it would be great.

Har Har Mahadev! Aum Namah Siva!

So, reading about Shaiva Siddhanta, from what i understood, in terms of practice, this religion has four paths or margas:

1. charyamarga or dasa-marga - the path of service/ritual or path of the servant, focused on external acts of devotion
2. kriyamarga or sat-putra-marga - the path of inner devotion or path of a good son, focused on more internal and emotional acts of devotion to Siva
3. yogamarga or sakha-marga - the path of yoga or the path of a good friend, focused on the practice of raja/ashtanga yoga
4. jnanamarga or sat-marga - the path of knowledge or path of truth, closest and most direct path to the Ultimate Truth

According to an article on Saivism.net, "Siddha Saivism, Philosophy and Practice"*, these four paths are sepparate and non-complimentary, the choice of which is best conducted by a Guru, with observation of the character and qualities of the yogi/bhakta. Or, as it is written in the article: "These four paths are not complimentary. A guru decides the suitable path based on his study and observation of his disciple and according to the latter's ability and inclination."

But i have also read, in another source**, that these are indeed four aspects on one process and one path. The article states that Saiva Siddhanta is essentially based on loving-devotion/bhakti to God, and everything else is just various expressions of this experience. Charya is bhakti through external means, which eventually morph into a more inward experience (kriya). Once one has come closer to God, the practice of yoga is undertaken to deepen intimacy of this connection, eventually culminating in wisdom (jnana). All four methods interpenetrate eachother - there is kriya, yoga and jnana in charya, and so on.

As it is writen in the article, "Set on a God-centred life, the aspirant follows Carya, Kriya, Yoga and Jnana margas. Each of these four paths consists of two stages upayanilai and unmainilai-the latter characterized by more intense bhakti than the former. Again, in each of these four margas, there is a four fold phase. Thus there is carya in carya, kriya in carya, yoga in carya and jnana in carya and so on with the rest." Thus, in this perspective, the four margas aren't sepparate and distinct, but different stages and methods on a single path.

So, the question is, which one of these perspectives you agree with most, and why?

Should a yogi choose one marga and follow it to the end goal of jnana/mo

... besides the non-dual/dualism aspect?

First off sorry for my ignorance. I'm still learning and find many of the different schools of Vedanta confusing.

To me both seem to have qualified-dualism in their teachings and don't believe jivas lose their individuality completely. The only real difference I've seen in the reading I've done is that Sri Vaishnavism focuses on Vishnu, his incarnations, and bhakti yoga as best means for obtaining moksha while Siva Siddhanta focuses on Shiva as Supreme, no incarnations, and jnana yoga as the best means. What are the basic differences between the two besides the ones mentioned? I'm drawn towards Sri Vaishnavism but would prefer to learn more about both.

I have been reading about Shaiva Siddhanta and how it places more emphasis on Shiva Bhakti, something i can appreciate and would like to explore by myself. However, and this is something that remains a deeply rooted personal conviction in me for a very long time - i tend to accept and embrace a non-dual and monistic view of the Ultimate - in any way... to me the 5 acts of Lord Siva (creation, preservation, destruction, concealment, revelation) resemble the Visnu or Krisna Lila - the dance of God - the One God pretending to be many, in a game or sport of hide-n-seek. I am aware of Trika Shaivism (Kashmiri) expounding pure monism, however, it is one rooted in raja-jnana yoga (meditation and realization), sidestepping the aspect of devotion (bhakti) which i see as a relevant aspect of practice.

2285 Further Beyond Para Siva State is Paramam , Paramparam and Para Maha Sivam Beyond Para Siva is Paramam; Beyond Paramam is Paramparam; Thus are states ascending; From Para Siva Jagra, to Para Siva Svapna, and to Para Siva Sushupti The Jiva that has Para Siva become reaches The Finite Truth that is Para Nandi.

2274 In Para-atita Turiya State Jiva Becomes Beyond-Param In desire bereft of desires As Jiva aspires to Para-atita-turiya State And steadfast perseveres in it, He becomes Beyond-Param (Siva); The tapasvins who practise not Will never Param become; They are forever fettered In Pasas several.

Please explain me what is Rudra,Mahesh,Sadashiva,Parashiva,Param,Paramam,Paraparam and Paramahashivam in Tamil Saiva Siddhanta??

Few excerpts from Surya Siddhanta :
**********************************************

The average length of the tropical year as 365.2421756 days, which is only 1.4 seconds shorter than the modern value of 365.2421904 days !

The average length of the sidereal year, the actual length of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun, as 365.2563627 days, which is virtually the same as the modern value of 365.25636305 days. This remained the most accurate estimate for the length of the sidereal year anywhere in the world for over a thousand years!

Not content to limit measurements to Earth, the Surya Siddhanta also states the motion, and diameters of the planets! For instance the estimate for the diameter of Mercury is 3,008 miles, an error of less than 1% from the currently accepted diameter of 3,032 miles. It also estimates the diameter of Saturn as 73,882 miles, which again has an error of less than 1% from the currently accepted diameter of 74,580.

Aside from inventing the decimal system, zero and standard notation (giving the ancient Indians the ability to calculate trillions when the rest of the world struggled with 120) the Surya Siddhanta also contains the roots of Trigonometry.

It uses sine (jya), cosine (kojya or “perpendicular sine”) and inverse sine (otkram jya) for the first time!

“Objects fall on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth. therefore, the earth, the planets, constellations, the moon and the sun are held in orbit due to this attraction”. (this was also discussed in Prasnopanishad
It was not until the late 17th century in 1687, that Isaac Newton rediscovered the Law of Gravity.

The Surya Siddhanta also goes into a detailed discussion about time cycles and that time flows differently in differently circumstances, the roots of relativity. Here we have a perfect example of Indian philosophy’s belief that science and religion are not mutually exclusive. Unlike, Abrahamic religions, one does not have to dig and try all ways to force scientific truth from scriptures. By contrast it is stated in cold hard numbers by the Sun God, Surya.

This work shows that spirituality is all about the search for Truth (Satya) and that Science is as valid a path to God as living in a monastery. It is the search for ones own personal Truth that will lead one ultimately to God.

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