The devotional sub-group recorded under Shaivism in this tree: the Nath, Siddha, and Tamil Siddhar lineages, in which devotion is practised as yoga, alchemy, and song.
Devotional (Bhakti) Traditions is the sub-group that the directive records under Shaivism, carrying the Nath Tradition, the Siddha Tradition, and the Tamil Siddhar Tradition as its children. In these lineages devotion is not separate from discipline; the loved deity is approached through the transformed body, through breath and inner sound, and through songs that remain in daily use.
Denomination / School
Sources
Primary
- The Tirumantiram of Tirumular and the hymns of the Nath and Siddha lineages.
Secondary
- David Gordon White, The Alchemical Body.
How this compares to Christianity
How does this branch relate to the historic Christian faith?
This assessment has not yet been reviewed. Every verdict below stands at Not yet reviewed until the named theological reviewers supply it.
- Does it consider itself Christian?
- Not yet reviewed
- Did it arise from the Christian tradition?
- Not yet reviewed
- Does it affirm the ecumenical creeds?
- Not yet reviewed
- Is it recognized as Christian by the historic bodies?
- the Catholic Church: Not yet reviewed
- the Eastern Orthodox Church: Not yet reviewed
- the Oriental Orthodox churches: Not yet reviewed
- conciliar Protestant bodies: Not yet reviewed
- the WCC / National Council of Churches: Not yet reviewed
- This site's assessment
- Not yet reviewed
- Reviewer
- Not yet reviewed. The theological reviewers are named on the criteria page when they are appointed.
The comparative record for this entity, its points of convergence and divergence across the ten loci, has not yet been populated. It stands in the assessment queue on the criteria page.
The divisions below, in summary
- Nath Tradition: Christian Assessment: not yet reviewed.
- Siddha Tradition: Christian Assessment: not yet reviewed.
- Tamil Siddhar Tradition: Christian Assessment: not yet reviewed.
What this assessment cannot settle
This assessment determines what this entity teaches and how that teaching relates to the historic Christian creeds. It does not determine whether any person is saved, whether God accepts their worship, whether they are sincere, or whether the criteria applied here are correct.
This assessment is made from the standpoint described in our editorial statement and our criteria page. It reports classifications; it does not rank sincerity, spiritual standing, or the eternal state of any person. To persons, rather than teachings, this site says what it says everywhere: God's law shows every one of us our sin, and in Christ God offers every one of us forgiveness and new life.