Kashmir Shavaism: A Brief Introduction to the History, Literature and Shaiva Philosophy of Kashmir

The first beginning of what has been called Kashmir Shaivaism’, to distinguish it from other forms of Shaivaism known and still practiced in different parts of India, may have to be the Shiva Sutras. Its teachings and practices are given, in the literature of the system, the distinctive name of Trika-shasana, Trika-Shastra or simply Trikas; and are often referred to as the Rahasya-Sampradaya, while Shaivaism in general is spoken of as Shiva-Shasana or Shivagama.

Although the Trika form of Shaivaism would seem to have made its first appearance in Kashmir at the beginning of the ninth, or perhaps towards the end of the eighth century of the Christian era, Shiva Shasana or Shivagama that is Shaivaism as such, is far older than this date. Indeed we may have to trace its beginnings in the Vedic Revelations. In Kashmir itself-where even the most orthodox followers of the Shivagama admit that the Trika-Shasana first appeared (or, as they put it, reappeared) about the beginning of the ninth Christian century-Shivagama is regarded as of high antiquity, indeed of eternal existence like the Vedas.