| Sadasiva | |
|---|---|
Para Brahman, the Supreme Being Primordial -Ultimate Reality God of Grace, Obscuration,Creation,Preservation,Destruction,Time | |
 Sadasiva from West Bengal. 11th c. CE | |
| Affiliation | Parameshvara,Shiva,Rudra,Mahakala,Pashupati,Batara Guru |
| Abode | Sadakya Tattva,Mount Kailash |
| Mantra | Panchakshari mantra |
| Weapon | Trishula (Trident) |
| Symbols | Mukhalinga |
| Consort | Adi Parashakti (according toShaivism) |
Sadasiva (Sanskrit:सदाशिव,Sadāśiva), is theSupreme Being in theShaiva Siddhanta tradition ofHinduism. Sadasiva is the omnipotent, subtle, luminous absolute, the highest manifestation ofShiva. Sadasiva is believed to bestowanugraha andvilaya, or grace and obscuration ofpasha, which are the fourth and fifth of thePanchakritya, or the "five holy acts" of Shiva. Sadasiva is usually depicted having five faces and ten hands, and is considered one of the25 forms of Shiva.Shiva Agamas conclude that thelingam, especially themukhalingam, is another form of Sadasiva.[1]
The concept and form of Sadasiva initially emerged from South India, although many ancient sculptures of Sadasiva were obtained from various parts of India and South East Asia.[2] It is believed that the cult of Sadasiva was widespread in the region ofBengal during the period ofSena dynasty who traced their origin inSouth India.[3] Sadasiva is usually represented in the form of aMukhalinga with the number of faces varying from one to five. The first ever sculpture of Sadasiva as a lingam with five faces was found in Bhita, nearPrayagraj, and dates to the 2nd century CE.[2] His five faces,Ishana, Tatpurusha, Vamadeva, Aghora andSatyojata are known asPanchabrahmas (five creators), the emanations towards the four directions and upwards from thenishkala (formless)Parashiva. Kamiga Agama, the first Agama of 28Sivagamas depicts Sadasiva as having five faces and ten arms. His five right hands holdTrishula,Axe,Katvanga,Vajra andAbhaya while his five left hands holdSnake,Matulunga fruit,Nilotpala,Damaru,Rudraksha rosary andVaradam.[4] The consort of Sadasiva is goddessMahagayatri, a form of Parvati often known asManonmani in Agamic texts.[5][6] She is sometimes depicted having two arms and residing in the lap of Sadasiva.
According to Shaivite texts,[which?] the supreme beingParashivam manifests as pentads, rather than thetrinity of other Hindu sects - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. His five deeds, known "Panchakrityas" (five holy acts), are assigned toPanchamurti, his five aspects, viz.,Brahma,Vishnu,Rudra,Mahesvara and Sadasiva (Mahesvara and Sadashiva are forms of Shiva, Rudra is also refers as Shiva ). Creation, Preservation, Destruction, Obscuration and Grace are done by these five manifestations respectively. The five faces of Parashiva which emanate these five aspects are praised as "Panchabrahmas", the five creators or the five realities). The Panchamurtis of Shaivism are absorbed within Shaktism and named as "Panchapreta" (five bodies).[citation needed]
The five faces of Sadasiva are sometimes identified with Mahadeva,Parvati,Nandi,Bhairava and Sadasiva himself.[7] The ten arms of Sadasiva represent the ten directions.[6] Another variation of Sadasiva later evolved into another form of Shiva known as Mahasadasiva, in which Shiva is depicted with twenty-five heads withseventy-five eyes[citation needed] and fifty arms. Given accounts relating to Sadasiva are collected from Kamika Agamam[4] and Vishnudharmottara Purana.[2]
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