Living with Śiva

Yamas: Ten Classical Restraints

SŪTRA 46: NONINJURY AND TRUTHFULNESS

All devotees of Śiva practice ahiṁsā, not harming others by thought, word or deed, even in their dreams. Adhering to satya, truthfulness, they do not lie, deceive, betray promises or keep secrets from loved ones. Aum.§

SŪTRA 47: NONSTEALING AND SEXUAL PURITY

All devotees of Śiva uphold asteya, never stealing, coveting, cheating or entering into debt. They practice sexual purity, brahmacharya, controlling lust by remaining celibate when single and faithful in marriage. Aum.§

SŪTRA 48: PATIENCE AND STEADFASTNESS

All devotees of Śiva exercise kshamā, restraining intolerance with people and impatience with circumstances. They foster dhṛiti, steadfastness, overcoming nonperseverance, fear, indecision and changeableness. Aum.§

SŪTRA 49: COMPASSION AND STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS

All devotees of Śiva practice dayā, compassion, conquering callous, cruel, insensitive feelings toward all beings. Maintaining ārjava, they are straightforward and honest, renouncing deception and wrongdoing. Aum.§

SŪTRA 50: MODERATE APPETITE AND PURITY

All devotees of Śiva observe mitahāra, moderation in appetite, not eating too much or consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs. They uphold śaucha, avoiding impurity in body, mind and speech. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§

Niyamas: Ten Classical Observances

SŪTRA 51: REMORSE AND CONTENTMENT

All Śiva’s devotees, upholding the expression of hrī, remorse, are modest and show shame for misdeeds. They nurture santosha, seeking joy and serenity in life. Thus, theirs is a happy, sweet-tempered, fulfilling path. Aum.§

SŪTRA 52: CHARITY AND FAITH

All Śiva’s devotees practice dāna, tithing and giving generously, creatively, without thought of reward. They sustain an unshakable faith, āstikya, believing in God, Gods, guru and the Vedic path to enlightenment. Aum.§

SŪTRA 53: WORSHIP AND SCRIPTURAL STUDY

All Śiva’s devotees cultivate bhakti and family harmony in daily ritual and reflection, Iśvarapūjana. Upholding siddhānta śravaṇa, they hear the scriptures, study the teachings and listen to the wise of their lineage. Aum.§

SŪTRA 54: COGNITION AND VOWS

All Śiva’s devotees acquire mati, divine cognition and an indomitable will and intellect, under their satguru’s guidance. They observe vratas, religious vows, rules and observances, and never waver in fulfilling them. Aum.§

SŪTRA 55: INCANTATION AND SACRIFICE

All Śiva’s devotees do japa daily, counting recitations on rudrāksha beads. Embracing tapas through simple austerities, they sacrifice often, carry out penances as needed and perform sādhana regularly. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§

Ahiṁsā, the Foremost Discipline

SŪTRA 56: NONINJURY

Śiva’s devotees do not intentionally kill or harm any person or creature. Nonviolence, physically, mentally and emotionally, is their highest code. Full of compassion, they are never a source of fear or hurtfulness. Aum.§

SŪTRA 57: SUICIDE

Śiva’s devotees are forbidden to escape life’s experience through suicide. However, in cases of terminal illness, under strict community regulation, tradition does allow fasting as a means of mors voluntaria religiosa. Aum.§

SŪTRA 58: ABORTION

Devout Hindus all know abortion is, by Vedic edict, a sin against dharma fraught with karmic repercussions. Scripture allows it only to prevent the mother’s death, for it is a greater sin for a child to kill the mother. Aum. §

SŪTRA 59: PORNOGRAPHY

Śiva’s devotees are forbidden to speak of, listen to or look at exhibitions of pornography. This adharma is addictive, erodes self-esteem and teaches that degrading women, men and children is acceptable behavior. Aum.§

SŪTRA 60: PURITY OF SPEECH

Śiva’s devotees speak only what is true, kind, helpful and necessary. They never use profane language, bear false witness, engage in slander, gossip or backbiting, or even listen to such debasing talk. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§

Regrettable Exceptions to Ahiṁsā

SŪTRA 61: EXCEPTIONS TO AHIṀSĀ

Śiva’s devotees, when unable to observe ahiṁsā perfectly, may claim three exceptions to preserve one life over another. But these must be used sparingly, reluctantly, after the noninjurious options have been tried. Aum.§

SŪTRA 62: SELF-DEFENSE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

Śiva’s devotees faced with imminent danger may elect to injure or kill to protect their life or that of another, or to defend the community as a soldier or a law officer in the line of duty. This is ahiṁsā’s first exception. Aum.§

SŪTRA 63: PRESERVING LIFE AND HEALTH

Śiva’s devotees may elect to preserve the life and health of a person or animal under their care by forfeiting the life of organisms, such as worms or microbes, that pose a threat. This is the second exception to ahiṁsā. Aum.§

SŪTRA 64: PREDATORS AND PESTS

Śiva’s devotees may elect to protect the home, the village and the nation by eradicating predators, pests, bacteria and disease-carrying creatures that threaten health or safety. This is ahiṁsā’s third and last exception. Aum.§

SŪTRA 65: NONINJURIOUS SOLUTIONS

Śiva’s devotees uphold the principle not to kill even household pests, but to stop their entry, not to kill garden insects or predators, but keep them away by natural means. This is the highest ideal. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§

Reverence for the Environment

SŪTRA 66: PROTECTING CREATURES, DEFENDING RIGHTS

All Śiva’s devotees are stewards of trees and plants, fish and birds, bees and reptiles, animals and creatures of every shape and kind. They respect and defend the rights of humans of every caste, creed, color and sex. Aum. §

SŪTRA 67: HONORING THE VALUES OF OTHERS

All Śiva’s devotees think globally and act locally as interracial, international citizens of the Earth. They honor and value all human cultures, faiths, languages and peoples, never offending one to promote another. Aum.§

SŪTRA 68: PRESERVING THIS DIVINE ABODE

All Śiva’s devotees honor and revere the world around them as God’s creation and work for the protection of the Earth’s diversity and resources to achieve the goal of a secure, sustainable and lasting environment. Aum.§

SŪTRA 69: RESPECTING EARTH'S PLANTS AND ANIMALS

All Śiva’s devotees refuse to acquire or condone the use of endangered plants, animals or products from exploited species, such as furs, ivory, reptile skin, tortoise shell, or items produced using cruel animal testing. Aum. §

SŪTRA 70: CONSERVING THE GIFTS OF NATURE

All Śiva’s devotees are frugal and resourceful, avoiding waste and conserving nature’s precious resources. They wisely store a three-to-twelve-month supply of food according to the family’s means. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§

Self-Control

SŪTRA 71: SEXUAL FAITHFULNESS

Devout Hindus observe the eightfold celibacy toward everyone but their spouse, renouncing sexual fantasy, glorification, flirtation, lustful glances, secret love talk, amorous longing, rendezvous and intercourse. Aum.§

SŪTRA 72: ACCEPTING PRAISE AND BLAME

It is well known that all Śiva’s devotees can absorb any amount of praise. But those who can withstand mental, emotional persecution, even physical torment, with the same infinite capacity are Śiva’s truest devotees. Aum.§

SŪTRA 73: LIVING IN TRADITIONAL SURROUNDINGS

Śiva’s devotees, in their homes, endeavor to surround themselves with Śaiva images, music and song. In the world they may enjoy the arts of other cultures but strictly avoid lower-world artistic expressions. Aum.§

SŪTRA 74: WISE USE OF TELEVISION

Śiva’s devotees may watch television and other media for recreation and to keep informed about the world, limiting viewing to about two hours a day. They avoid nudity, foul language, crudeness and excessive violence. Aum.§

SŪTRA 75: COMPUTERS

Śiva’s devotees know computers and the Internet are boons from the Gods and approach them as tools, not toys. They moderate leisure use, minimize Web browsing and never play violent games. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§

Worldly Activities

SŪTRA 76: GAMBLING IS FORBIDDEN

Śiva’s devotees are forbidden to indulge in gambling or games of chance with payment or risk, even through others or for employment. Gambling erodes society, assuring the loss of many for the gain of a few. Aum.§

SŪTRA 77: THE CURSE OF BAD MONEY

Śiva’s devotees, knowing that bad money is cursed and can never do good deeds, refuse funds gained by fraud, bribery, theft, dealing arms or drugs, profiting from abortion or divorce, and all dark, devious means. Aum.§

SŪTRA 78: BRIBERY IS FORBIDDEN

Śiva’s devotees are forbidden to accept bribes; nor do they offer bribes to others, no matter how seemingly necessary, expedient or culturally accepted this practice may be. Jai, they fight for the mercy of honesty! Aum.§

SŪTRA 79: GUARDING AGAINST PRIDE

Śiva’s devotees treasure humility. They never boast, point with their index finger or assume prideful postures, such as with arms folded and chin held high, or with one foot resting on the knee when sitting. Aum.§

SŪTRA 80: AVOIDING LOW-MINDED COMPANY

Śiva’s devotees avoid thieves and addicts, those who are promiscuous, who feign devotion, who are ungrateful, against religion, selfish, abusive, ill-tempered, vicious or who possess many impurities. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§