Siddhanta school draws its inspiration and sustenance more from the
Saivagamas than the Vedas, and they are written in Tamil. It
proclaims that the Vedas are meant for all, where as Saiva Siddhanta
concerns with the advanced souls only. The psalms and teachings of
Saiva saints are the principal source of the Saiva Siddhanta, and
the saints are called Navalars - the regenerators of the Saiva
creed, who championed the cause of Bhakti cult. The Meikanda sutras
- twelve in number called Tirumuris form the basis of this Siddhanta.
The twelve are condensed into four parts. The first three assert the
existence of three eternal entities called `pati, pasu and pasam'.
Next three are confined to their nature and inter relationship
existing among them The other three explain the means for attaining
emancipation - mukti. And the last three envisage the nature of
mukti. These sutras are akin to Brahmasutras. Their logical
reasoning and systematic presentation of truth won the appreciation
of scholars and laymen alike. Simplicity and clarity are its plus
points. This school is although widely ,prevalent in the south, it
could not command as much following and popularity as that of the
Advaitha Philosophy of Jagadguru Sankara, which attained global
importance. And chronologically it is older also. For full grasp, we
have to go back to the time of Sankara. A brief account of Sankara
and the nature of the age he lived in becomes expedient now.