Siddhism

Siddhism is a Granthic religion which originated in the teachings of Kaśyapa Siddha. It originated in the Renewal Movement of Ancient Patharkhand of the fifth century BCE before spreading throughout other countries. It is the 3rd largest religion in the world with over x billion followers, or x.x% of the world's population, known as Siddhists. It is most commonly practiced in Escar.

Siddhists believe that there is a fundamental order to the universe, and that the human failure to properly recognize it leads to being trapped in an eternal cycle of suffering. The goal of Siddhism is to overcome delusion through cultivation of the perfections and becoming a liberated person. The different Siddhist traditions vary in the importance and canonicity assigned to the many Siddhist texts, on the Siddhist path to liberation, and on the specific teachings or practices. Some practices common to almost all schools of Siddhism include chanting, meditation, fasting, observation of moral vows, pilgrimage, and the cultivation of the perfections.

Siddhism is usually divided into three traditions and two branches. The three major traditions, or nikāyas, are Prakŕtivāda, Guhyamārga, and Satpatha, which differ in their canon texts, their ethical precepts, and their focus on exoteric and/or esoteric teachings and practices. The two major branches are Western Siddhism, which is dominant in western Escar and focuses on monasticism, and Eastern Siddhism, which is dominant in eastern Escar and focuses on the lay tradition. All three traditions can be found in both branches, but Guhyamārga schools are more common in the west while Satpatha schools are more common in the east.

The Dvidvā́ra
The essence of Siddhism is formulated in the dvidvā́ra, or the double gate, which is considered the first teaching of the Siddha. The two gates are divided into the hīnadvā́ra, or the lesser gate, and the mahādvā́ra, or the greater gate. The former explains how sentient beings become trapped in a cycle of eternal suffering and rebirth through attachment and misperception of reality. The latter stipulates the path to liberation through Siddhist practices and proper perception of reality. The dvidvā́ra is sometimes also known as the dvimarga, or the double path: that is, the path to perdition and the path to salvation. A person who accepts the truth of the dvidvā́ra and undertakes the formal vow of liberation, known as the praṇidhāna, is considered a Siddhist.

The Hīnadvā́ra


Siddhists believe that the ultimate cause of suffering is the misperception of ultimate reality, which is called delusion or māyā. It is marked by an essentialist belief in the eternal permanence of the self and/or of phenomena. This suffering, or , is better described as discomfort or dissatisfaction: it stems from the subconscious recognition that what one believes and desires from the world does not line up with reality. Indeed, the word duḥkhá is often explained as coming from the roots dus-, meaning bad, and khá, meaning axle-hole: thus, duḥkhá is to have an ill-fitting chariot wheel, a metaphor for discomfort or dissatisfaction. The existence of duḥkhá leads to an endless cycle known as , a term which literally signifies wandering.

The Mahādvā́ra
According to Siddhism, reality is governed by an unchanging, ultimate truth or natural order, called ṛta. All perceived phenomena are empty of form and devoid of inherent essence, a doctrine known as ', and is subject to the laws of change and impermanence, known as '. Likewise, there is no permanent, essential individual self in Siddhism, a doctrine known as . These three affirmative doctrines of the emptiness of ultimate reality are also known as the three marks of existence, or the  in classical Pandit. The concept of ṛta originally comes from the Mahagrantha and is present in other Granthic religions, such as Hanaf (where it is known as ard or ḥaqīqah) or Pazesh (where it is known as rāz or mystírio.).