Part 1.2 - Different sects and cults in the Saura-purāṇa

A good number of various religious sects, sub-sects and cults can be known from the

Puranic literature, such as Śaivism and its sub-sects like Pāśupata, Kāpālika; Vaiṣṇava; Vaikhānasa, Saura, Śākta, Gāṇapatya; Buddhism, Jainism; cults of Nṛsiṃha, Hayagrīva, Kārtikeya, Dattātreya etc. In the Saura-purāṇa, familiarity of the most of the mentioned sects and cults is reflected. Moreover, by mentioning of the worshippers of Candra, Agni or Indra, this Purāṇa indicates their availability.^[1] Among the mentioned sects, according to the scholars, Vaiṣṇavism (including the cults of Narasiṃha, Vāmana, Rāma etc.), Śaivism, Śāktism (including the schools of Śrīkula, Kālīkula etc.), Saura and Gāṇapatya are most prominent and popularly practised till date in larger part of the Indian subcontinent. Therefore we have focused mainly on these five particular sects in the light of the Saura-purāṇa

However, we have already discussed in the fifth chapter of our thesis about the approach of the Saura-purāṇa in respect of the non-Vedic atheistic sects like Buddhism, Jainism, Ājīvakas etc. Moreover, we have also discussed elaborately in the fourth chapter about Śaivism especially the Pāśupata Śaivism including its philosophy, theology rituals, and have shown the importance of the Saura.p, a work of the Pāśupata Śaivas. In that chapter we also have mentioned attitude of this Purāṇa towards the Tantric sects like Kāpalikas, Kaulas etc.

As per this Purāṇa, the power of Śiva is exposed by the three forms–Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara.

So, according to the Vedas, Śiva is superior to them:

“tasyaiva śaktayastisro brahma-viṣṇu-maheśvarāḥ|
sarvasmād adhikastābhyaḥ śūlapāṇiriti śrutiḥ||”^[2]

The Saura-purāṇa also states that, only Śiva fulfills the wishes of the devotees even by assuming the forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, Vāyu, Indra, Sūrya, Agni, Yama, Varuṇa etc. 

The Purāṇa states—

“ekameva mahādeva vadanti vahudhā janāḥ”.

Apparently this statement sounds alike to the aforesaid mantra of the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā.^[3]  

But the latter portion of this verse of the Saura-purāṇa suggests to worship only Sadā-śiva leaving the worship of other gods:

”brahmāṇaṃ śārṅgiṇaṃ rudraṃ vāyumindraṃ raviṃ śaśīṃ|
agniṃ yamañca varuṇaṃ janaṃ bhedadṛśo janāḥ||
tattadrupaṃ samāsthāya bhagavāneva śaṃkaraḥ|
phalaṃ dadāti sarveṣāṃ sarvaśaktimayaḥ śivaḥ||
tasmāt sarvān parityagya yajedekaṃ maheśvaram|”^[4]

And by this comment this Purāṇa confirms its sectarian characteristics.

The Saura-purāṇa, the work of Puranic Pāśupata Śaiva sect has the core sectarian characteristics and obviously shows biasness towards other religious sects. This Purāṇa considers Śiva as superior to the other gods like Viṣṇu, Brahmā etc.^[5]  

The concept of the superiority of Śiva is a falsehood like a visionary project or a hare’s horn or hair of the tortoise:

“nāsti mahādevādadhikaṃ daivataṃ param|
na yathā kūrmaromāṇi śṛṅgaṃ na śaśa-mastake|
na yathāsti viyatpuṣpaṃ tathā nāsti harāt param_||”^[6]

Not only this, the other gods have been mentioned just as “kiṅkarāḥ” of Śiva.^[7] As per the Saura.p, the king who is devoted to the other gods except Śiva, is similar to that person who being attracted to other women leaves his own young wife.^[8] Naturally, this kind of approach is not favourable to the worshipers except the Śaivas. 

This Purāṇa states that, one can attain liberation by killing a person who censures Śiva, and then commits suicide:

“śivanindākaraṃ dṛṣṭvā ghātayitvā prayatnataḥ|
hatvātmānaṃ punaryastu sa yāti paramāṃ gatim_||”^[9]

The approach towards other sects also like the Saura, Vaiṣṇava etc. are revealed in this Purāṇa. Moreover, according to this Purāṇa, the devotes of Śiva are described as greatest among the devotees of Viṣṇu, Sūrya and others. As the outer signs of a devotee of Śiva the mention of tripuṇḍra (auspicious sign of the Śaivas made on fore-head), rudrākṣa as necklace are found in the Saura-purāṇa^[10]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Saura-purāṇa, 11. 9. Also see footnote 92.

[2]:

Ibid.,33. 39.

[3]:

See footnote 1.

[4]:

Saura-purāṇa, 33. 40-43a.

[5]:

Ibid., 2. 41.

[6]:

Ibid., 2. 41b-42.

[7]:

Ibid., 2. 38a.

[8]:

“śivabhakto na yo rājā bhakto’nyeṣu sureṣu saḥ| svapatnīṃ yuvatīṃ tyaktvā yathaivānyāsu rajyate||” Saura-purāṇa, 48. 25.

[9]:

Ibid., 36. 32. Also see: 2. 40, 41.

[10]:

Ibid., 11. 8.