All Śiva’s devotees prostrate before their satguru, reverently touch the feet of his āchāryas and swāmīs, and greet yogīs and sādhakas with their palms pressed together and head slightly bowed. This is tradition. Aum.§
Hearing of a venerated swāmī’s arrival, Śiva’s devotees joyously rush to the outskirts of town to welcome him. On his departure, they accompany him there and, with gifts, money and good wishes, bid him farewell. Aum.§
Devout Hindus honor a satguru, a head of state, a respected elder, a learned scholar, a renunciate or ascetic of any lineage. Upon his entrance, they stand, rush forward, bow appropriately and offer kind words. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees know that God exists equally in all souls but is most apparent in the enlightened master. Thus, they revere their own satguru as Śiva Himself, but do not worship anyone as an incarnation of Śiva. Aum.§
Sincere Śiva devotees never fail to bow down or gently touch the feet of a satguru or holy person of any order dressed in monastic robes. They prostrate only to their own satguru. This is the tradition. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§
All Śiva’s adult devotees refrain from touching adolescents or adults of the opposite sex, other than near relatives or older persons. They do not embrace or shake hands except when required by social etiquette. Aum.§
All Śiva’s devotees who are no longer children remain apart from the opposite sex when attending temples and public gatherings. Upon entering, women always sit on the left side, and men occupy the right side. Aum.§
Devotees of Śiva do not garland members of the opposite sex, other than their spouse or blood relatives. Women never garland a swāmī, yogī or sādhaka, but may freely and lovingly garland their own satguru. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees observe a thirty-one-day retreat after the birth or death of a family member, not entering temples or home shrines, not attending pūjā or religious events, but continuing their japa, study and meditations. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees are forbidden to perpetuate the restrictions and abuses of the Indian caste system. Instead, they base respect and status on attainment, knowledge, behavior and spiritual maturity. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§
Śiva’s devotees properly respect and address virtuous persons of all religious traditions. They may support and participate in interfaith gatherings from time to time with leaders and members of all religions. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees do not speak disrespectfully about other Hindu lineages, their beliefs, Gods, sacred sites, scriptures, or holy men and women. Nor do they disparage other religions. They refuse to listen to such talk. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees avoid the enchantment of other ways, be they ancient or modern. They remain friendly toward but apart from other religions, except when their members sincerely approach Hinduism for its wisdom. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees know that for eons our religion has come forward to recreate a Hindu unity. Therefore, they are dedicated to building whenever necessary, and keeping strong always, an invincible Hindu solidarity. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees, with hearts as big as the sky, love and accept Smārta, Śākta and Vaishṇava Hindus as brothers and sisters, even if not accepted by them, and keep harmony by not discussing differences. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§
Śiva’s devotees, one-pointed in striving on their chosen path, do not join or study with any esoteric, religious, secular humanist, atheist, existentialist or self-improvement group that might undermine their beliefs. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees never listen to talk intended to deter them from their commitment, devotion or duty unless willing and able to turn the detractor’s mind around by debating the truths of the Śaivite Hindu religion. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees never educate their children in institutions that would instill or force on them the teachings of alien religions. They know that the early impressions of youth go deep and can never be totally erased. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees do not mix with dogmatic or militant Hindus, or with anyone who would infiltrate, dilute and destroy their faith. They associate closely with devout people whose beliefs are similar to their own. Aum.§
My devotees know that everything they need to fulfill their quest for liberation is found in our consummate Nandinātha Sampradāya. With the final conclusions in their grasp, they look no further. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§
Śiva’s devotees daily offer fruit or flowers in love and prostrate before their satguru, or to his sandals or the direction in which he abides. They chant the Guru Mantra when approaching any satguru for darśana. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees look upon their satguru as the embodiment of Śiva, offering service and reverence equally to both, making no distinction between the two. So live His truest devotees. This is pure Śaiva tradition. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees meditate each morning upon their satguru’s inner form, striving earnestly to know his temperament, the contents of his heart and his essential nature, which is eternal, peaceful and unattached. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees hasten to receive their satguru’s food leavings and the sanctified waters from his holy feet or sandals. They know that in serving the enlightened master, the whole world is served and dharma is fulfilled. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees emulate the awakened qualities they see in their satguru, seek initiation and daily strive to fathom his realization of Paraśiva, which is his priceless gift, attainable by no other means. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§
Śiva’s devotees seek their satguru’s blessings, act in harmony with his will, trust in his supreme wisdom, seek refuge in his grace and rush forward to rededicate themselves each year during the month of the guru. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees obey their satguru, carrying out his directions, expressed or implied, with intelligent cooperation, without delay. They keep no secrets from him, nor advise others how to manipulate his decisions. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees trustingly heed their satguru’s counsel without even subtly attempting to change his mind. If he declines to give blessings for an endeavor, they accept that as his blessing and proceed no further. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees regularly perform spiritual practices on their own, but undertake serious penance and rigorous austerities only with their satguru’s express permission, guidance, empowerment and spiritual protection. Aum. §
Śiva’s devotees, upon the satguru’s entrance or arrival, cease worldly activity and conversation. They rise, rush forward to greet him, offer him a seat of honor and expectantly await his instructions. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§
Śiva’s devotees are forbidden by tradition to criticize their satguru, even behind his back, or to argue with him, contradict or correct him. They may, however, request clarification and offer additional information. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees never stand or sit above their satguru, walk or drive ahead of him, take a place of authority or instruct others in his presence unless invited. All Hindus are sensitive in a guru’s lofty company. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees never utter words of falsehood or contempt before their satguru. Nor do they deceive him, address him as an equal, imitate his dress or deportment or speak excessively or pridefully in his presence. Aum.§
When with the satguru, devotees do not initiate conversation or ask questions unless he gives permission. If he prefers silence, silence is the message, the pure nectar from the deep well of his ineffable attainment. Aum.§
Śiva’s devotees never listen to criticism of their satguru. If slander is heard, they extol the guru and warn the trespasser of his encroachment. If he persists in ignorance, they leave in eloquent silence. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.§