Early history of Shaivism is difficult to determine. However, the Śvetāśvatara Upanishad (400 – 200 BCE) is considered to be the earliest textual exposition of a systematic philosophy of Shaivism. Shaivism is represented by various philosophical schools, including non-dualist (abheda), dualist (bheda), and non-dualist-with-dualist (bhedābheda) perspectives. Vidyaranya in his works mentions three major schools of Shaiva thought— Pashupata Shaivism, Shaiva Siddhanta and Pratyabhijña (Kashmir Shaivism). COUNT 5
QSN1 In what text is Shaivism recounted? ANS1 Śvetāśvatara Upanishad QSN2 When was the text on Shaivism written? ANS2 400 – 200 BCE QSN3 Who reported the major schools of Shaivism? ANS3 Vidyaranya QSN4 How many major schools of Shaivism did Vidyaranya mention? ANS4 three QSN5 What is the Kashmir Shaivism mentioned by Vidyaranya? ANS5 Pratyabhijña