Sadasiva (, ), is the Supreme Being in the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition of Hinduism. Sadasiva is the omnipotent, subtle, luminous absolute, the highest manifestation of Shiva. Sadasiva is believed to bestow anugraha and vilaya, or grace and obscuration of Anava, which are the fourth and fifth of the Panchakritya, or the "five holy acts" of Shiva. Sadasiva is usually depicted having five faces and ten hands, and is considered one of the 25 forms of Shiva. Shiva Agamas conclude that the lingam, especially the , is another form of Sadasiva.
Representation
The concept and form of Sadasiva initially emerged from South India, although many ancient sculptures of Sadasiva were obtained from various parts of India and South East Asia. It is believed that the cult of Sadasiva was widespread in the region of
Bengal during the period of
Sena dynasty who traced their origin in
South India. Sadasiva is usually represented in the form of a
Mukhalinga with the number of faces varying from one to five. The first ever sculpture of Sadasiva as a lingam with five faces was found in Bhita, near
Prayagraj, and dates to the 2nd century CE. His five faces,
Ishana, Tatpurusha, Vamadeva, Aghora and
Satyojata are known as
(five creators), the emanations towards the four directions and upwards from the
nishkala (formless)
Parashiva. Kamiga Agama, the first Agama of 28 Sivagamas depicts Sadasiva as having five faces and ten arms. His five right hands hold
Trishula,
Axe,
Katvanga,
Vajra and
Abhayamudra while his five left hands hold
Snake,
Citron, Nilotpala,
Damaru,
Rudraksha rosary and
Varadamudra. The consort of Sadasiva is goddess
Parvati, a form of Parvati often known as
Manonmani in Agamic texts. She is sometimes depicted having two arms and residing in the lap of Sadasiva.
Panchabrahma
According to Shaivite texts, the supreme being Parashivam manifests as pentads, rather than the
Trimurti of other Hindu sects - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. His five deeds, known "Panchakrityas" (five holy acts), are assigned to
Panchamurti, his five aspects, viz.,
Brahma,
Vishnu,
Rudra,
Mahesvara and Sadasiva (Mahesvara and Sadashiva are forms of Shiva, Rudra is also refers as Shiva ). Creation, Preservation, Destruction, Obscuration and Grace are done by these five manifestations respectively. The five faces of Parashiva which emanate these five aspects are praised as "Panchabrahmas", the five creators or the five realities). The Panchamurtis of Shaivism are absorbed within Shaktism and named as "Panchapreta" (five bodies).
Five faces
The five faces of Sadasiva are sometimes identified with Mahadeva,
Parvati, Nandi,
Bhairava and Sadasiva himself. The ten arms of Sadasiva represent the ten directions. Another variation of Sadasiva later evolved into another form of Shiva known as Mahasadasiva, in which Shiva is depicted with twenty-five heads with and fifty arms. Given accounts relating to Sadasiva are collected from Kamika Agamam and Vishnudharmottara Purana.
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