The tantric scriptures of shaivism are the shivAgamas. These along with the vedas are considered the holy scriptures of the religion. Both vedas and Agamas are blessed to us by the God shiva Itself, through the divines and sages. Like the word veda indicate knowledge the root gam in the word Agama indicate the dynamism. (Agama is interpreted as the one that "arrived" from God). As the name indicate Agamas are the dynamism of the supreme knowledge. It is the implementation or recipe for attaining the Supreme Truth. If vedas are the science, Agamas are the engineering.

What does Agama tantras have ?

Agamas elucidate four glorious parts/paths called padas. They are

Charya

Kriya

Yoga

Gyaana

There are 28 shivAgamas. All of them have these four parts. The order and the name change. (For e.g. in some of the Agamas it could be called vidya pAda etc.) These four are the worship procedures prescribed for the devotees.

caryapAda details the prAyashcitta vidhi (atonement), pavitra vidhi (purification), shivalinga lakshaNam (qualification/characteristics of shivalinga), japamAlA, yogapaTTa lakshaNam (characteristics of japamAla-rosary and yogapaTTam-used in yogic posture).

kriyapAda explains mantra uddAraNam (elevation with mantras), sandhyAvandhanam (twilight salutation), pUja, japa, homas (worship, chanting, rites), samaya viSheSha nirvANa AcAryAbhiSheka (initiations into the spiritual stages).

yogapAda tells about the thirty six tattvas, tattveshvara, yama niyama Asana samAdi procedures.

GyAna pAda elucidates the characteristics of pati, pashu, pAsha.

Vedagama

Agamas, like vedas are the sources of almost all the philosophical doctrines and the religious life of Hinduism in general and shaivism in specific. It enunciates the nature of the Supreme as well as the way to get to It. Agamas advocate the practical aspects (implementation aspects) of religious life and regulations that would make the worship streamlined to produce the ultimate benefit. So these have quite good elaboration of the rituals. These glorious rituals could be the public worship performed at temples or the personal ones performed at the residence. The rules of Agamas can be followed by any person without bothering about caste, color, creed or sex. The core philosophy the Agama tantras explain are about the three things pati, pashu, pAsha . Some of the Agamas appear to put forth non-dualistic and some others the concept of more than one "real" thing.

vedas are called nigama and along with Agama, they are regarded as shR^iti. vedas are full of mantras and so are in the form of aphorisms, but the Agamas are in the form of discussion and so are available in the simple verse structure. Both vedas and Agamas were revealed to the world by the riShis from their spiritual vision.

Agama tantra source and verses

The Agamas originated from the Supreme shiva's five faces, namely sadyojAta, vAmadeva, aghora, tatpurusha, Ishana. There are two classifications of Agamas. They areshivAgamAs and rudrAgamas depending upon who the first propogator of the corresponding Agama were (shivas or rudras). There are 10 shivAgamas and 18 rudrAgamas. These Agamas form the basis of the worship of Lord shiva.

These Agamas also have upAgamas - the supporting Agama tantra texts. These are 204 in count for the 28 Agamas. Some of the Agamas are said to be having trillions of verses. For example kAmika, sUkshma and sahasra Agamas. Lots of these texts have been lost out in the history. Many of the Agamas available today are not having all the parts in full. Some of the Agamas have only some of the pAdas available.

For the 28 Main Agama tantras

• श्रीमृगेन्द्र तन्त्रम् - Srimrugendra Tantram
• कर्मकाण्डक्रमावली - Karmakanda Kramavali
• मृगेन्द्रतन्त्रम् भट्ट नारायणकण्ठ  टीका - Mrugendratantram with Bhatta Nayaranakantha Commentary
• मतङ्गपारमेश्वर आगमम् विद्यापादम् - Matangaparameshwaragamam -Vidyapadam
• प्रासादमण्डनम् - Prasada Mandanam
• Vaidika Sandyavandana Vidi (Grantha Lipi) Achuveli Kumaraswamy Gurukkal  (வைதிக சந்தியாவந்தன விதி அச்சுவேலி குமாரசாமி குருக்கள்)
• Bairava Pratishta Vidi (Grantha Lipi) Achuveli Kumaraswamy Gurukkal
• पञ्च विंशति माहेश्वर मूर्ति ध्यान श्लोकं (Audio)
• Shiva Puja Mantram (Audio)
• வேத சிவாகமங்கள் ஓர் அறிமுகம் (Audio)

Other Agamic Works

• சிவாலய வழிபாட்டு முறையும் அதன் தத்துவங்களும் (Audio)
• சிவபூஜை விளக்கம் (Audio)
• ஆலய வழிபாட்டுமுறை (Audio)
• சிவாகமப் பிரமாணங்களுடன் சிவாலய வழிபாட்டு முறை (Audio)
• பரார்த்த ஆலய தரிசன விதி சொற்பொழிவு (Audio)
• ஆத்மசுத்தி (Audio)
• சிவாகமங்களில் சிவபூஜைத் தத்துவம் (Audio)
• புட்பவிதிமாலை (Audio)
• சைவ தர்சனம் (Audio)
  
  
   

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