The Shaiva Upanishads are minor Upanishads of Hinduism, specific to Shiva theology (Shaivism). There are 14 Shaiva Upanishads in the Muktika anthology of 108 Upanishads. They, along with other minor Upanishads, are generally classified separate from the thirteen ancient Principal Upanishads rooted in the Vedic tradition.
The Shaiva Upanishads also contrast from other groups of minor Upanishads, such as the Samanya Upanishads which are of a generic nature, the Sannyasa Upanishads which focus on the Hindu renunciation and monastic practice, the Yoga Upanishads related to Yoga, the Vaishnava Upanishads which highlight aspects of Vishnu, and the Shakta Upanishads which highlight Shaktism.
The Shaiva Upanishads extol Shiva as the metaphysical Brahman and the Atman (soul, self). A few texts such as Atharvashiras Upanishad include alternate terms such as Rudra, and assert all gods are Rudra, everyone and everything is Rudra, and Rudra is the principle found in all things, their highest goal, the innermost essence of all reality that is visible or invisible. Some Shaiva Upanishads include sections with symbolism about costumes, rites and objects of worship in Shaivism.
Date The Shaiva Upanishads and other minor Upanishads are a separate subgroup from the thirteen major Principal Upanishads considered to be more ancient dated to be between eighth and first century BCE; however, the estimates for the minor Upanishads vary. According to Mahony, the minor Upanishads are approximately dated to be from about 100 BC to 1100 AD. Patrick Olivelle states that sectarian Upanishads attached to Atharvaveda were likely composed in the second millennium, until about the 16th century.
One of the thirteen Principal Upanishads, namely the Shvetashvatara Upanishad mentions Shiva, Rudra, Hara and other Vedic deities, as well as Samkhya-Yoga and Vedanta philosophy.R Tsuchida (1985), Some Remarks on the Text of the Svetasvatara-Upanisad, Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies (印度學佛教學研究), Vol. 34, No. 1, pages 460–468, Quote: "The Svetasvatara-Upanisad occupies a highly unique position among Vedic Upanisads as a testimony of the meditative and monistic Rudra-cult combined with Samkhya-Yoga doctrines."Max Muller, Shvetashvatara Upanishad, The Upanishads, Part II, Oxford University Press, pages 238-241 Shvetashvatara is neither considered a Shaiva nor a minor Upanishad.Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 301–304, 317Robert Hume (1921), Shvetashvatara Upanishad, The Thirteen Principal Upanishads, Oxford University Press, pages 400–402 with footnotesM Chakravarti (1995), The Concept of Rudra-Śiva Through the Ages, Motilal Banarsidas, , pages 20–23 and Chapter 1
The Nilarudra Upanishad is an important Shiva-focussed Upanishad, remarks Deussen, from the group of five minor Upanishads which assert god Shiva as a symbolism for Atman (soul). These are ancient Hindu texts, with Nilarudra likely the oldest (composed closer to Shvetashvatara Upanishad), but Nilaruda is not included in the anthology of 108 Upanishads by Muktika like the other four of the five.
List of 14 Shaiva Upanishads + List of the Shaiva Upanishads according to Muktika anthology Title Muktika serial # Attached Veda Period of creation Kaivalya Upanishad 12 Krishna Yajurveda also Atharva Veda 300-100 BCE Atharvashiras Upanishad 22 Atharvaveda 300-100 BCE Atharvashikha Upanishad 23 Atharvaveda 5 BCE Brihajjabala Upanishad 26 Atharvaveda Post 12th Century AD Kalagni Rudra Upanishad 28 Krishna Yajurveda Unknown Dakshinamurti Upanishad 49 Krishna Yajurveda Unknown Sharabha Upanishad 50 Atharvaveda Unknown Akshamalika Upanishad 67 Rigveda Post 12th Century AD Rudrahridaya Upanishad 85 Krishna Yajurveda Unknown Bhasmajabala Upanishad 87 Atharvaveda Post 12th Century AD Rudrakshajabala Upanishad 88 Atharvaveda 10th Century AD Pancabrahma Upanishad 93 Krishna Yajurveda 7th Century AD Jabali Upanishad 104 Samaveda 200 BCE - 100 CE
See also Hindu texts Vedas
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