The Mysterious Founder Of A Mysterious Shaivite Sect

Lakulisa Pasupata is a Shaivite sect of Hinduism that originated in South India approximately 1,000 years ago. It is one of the most ancient sects of Saivism and is still relevant today, although not as widely practiced as it once was. They worship Lord Shiva through the use of mantras, rituals, and spiritual exercises. They also practice austerities such as fasting, yoga, and meditation. The Pashupata sect is also renowned for its ritualistic worship of weapons, which is said to increase the spiritual power of the devotee.

Lakulisha statue, Pratihara, 9th century CE. Source: Wikipedia

Lakulisha Pashupata is a Hindu sect that originated in India. It is also known as the Pashupata sect, or the Lakulisha sect. It is closely related to the Shaiva sect, and is centered around the worship of the god Shiva. They re-established the earliest Indus Valley culture of sacrifices and emphasized hathayoga and tantric practice. They also violently opposed Buddhism, Vedism and Jainism. The sect is believed to have been founded by Lakulisha, a sage who is thought to have lived in the 2nd century CE.

Lakulisha, is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is believed to have been a great teacher and philosopher who wrote the Pashupata Sutra, a text that is still studied today by adherents of this sect. The Pashupata Sutra contains the foundational doctrines and practices, and its chapters are called 'cause', 'work/task', 'divisibility', 'method' and the yoga section is referred as 'end of suffering'.

The sutra emphasizes the importance of devotion to Lord Shiva, the practice of meditation, and austerities such as fasting. The Pashupata Sutra also contains the philosophical tenets of this sect, which are based on Shaivite principles. These include the belief in the existence of one Supreme Being, the idea of karma, and the concept of moksha or liberation. Some of their practices included bathing in ashes thrice a day, chanting Om, loudly singing Shiva's praise.

Lakulisa is depicted in art as holding a club (lakuta) in his right hand and a small hand-drum (damaru) in his left hand. He is often accompanied by two attendants, Bhringi and Nandikesvara. The puranas predicted that Shiva would incarnate as Lakulin or Nakulisha, a travelling monk, and that he would have four followers named Kushika, Garga, Mitra, and Kanrushya who would revive the Pashupati religion of the past and therefore be known as Pashupata. These divine prophecies came true through Lakulisha. According to the Vayu Purana, Lakulisha lived in the same era as Vyasa and Krishna.

According to some legends, Lakulisha was born from a stone and was the son of Sage Bharadvaja. He is said to have been the incarnation of Lord Shiva, who appeared in South India in order to restore morality and orthodoxy in the region. Lakulisha was born in the small village of Pushpagiri, near modern-day Rajasthan. His parents were Brahmin, and he was raised in an orthodox Hindu family. He was deeply devoted to the Vedic religion and practiced its teachings from an early age. He eventually became a teacher and began to preach his own interpretations of the Vedic religion.

In addition to his teachings, Lakulisha is also known for the many miracles he performed. He is said to have cured a number of diseases, caused rain to fall, and even brought the dead back to life.

Lakulisha is said to have been a great philosopher and teacher, who travelled throughout the country preaching his message. He is credited with introducing a number of religious and philosophical concepts, such as the idea of reincarnation, to the Indian public. His teachings were based on a dualistic approach to the universe, in which the material and spiritual realms were seen as two sides of the same coin. He believed in the importance of meditation and yoga, and taught his followers to strive for spiritual enlightenment..

Pashupati seal from Indus Valley. Some say this is Adiyogi, a form of Shiva Source: Wikipedia