Shaivism draws upon a rich literary heritage, weaving together Vedic hymns, Tantric treatises, regional poetry and ritual manuals. At the heart lie:

• Vedas & Upanishads
- Rudra-centric verses in the Yajur Veda (Śatarudrīya) salute Shiva’s fierce benevolence.
- Shvetashvatara Upanishad elevates Rudra into the Supreme Reality, hinting at monistic Shaiva visions centuries before modern philosophy laptops got busy.

• Agamas (Shaiva Tantras)
- Twenty-eight core scriptures, from Kaula to Pasupata schools, set out temple architecture, mantra science and inner alchemy.
- Kularnava Tantra and Rudra Yamala Tantra remain pilgrimage guides for ritual experts, especially during Maha Shivaratri celebrations that lit up social feeds across India in 2025.

• Puranas
- Shiva Purana and Linga Purana brim with mythic lore, tracing the cosmic dance from Kailash to contemporary festival stages.
- Skanda and Vayu Puranas offer sidebars on Shaiva theology and erotic mysticism.

• Siddhanta & Kashmir Shaiva Texts
- Shaiva Siddhanta classics, like the Śiva Jñāna Bodham by Meykandar, anchor South Indian temple traditions.
- Kashmir Shaivism’s Tantras—Shiva Sutras, Spanda Karikas and Pratyabhijña Karikas—map the soul’s spark to universal consciousness.

• Tamil Bhakti Poetry
- The Tevaram hymns of Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar electrified medieval Tamil Nadu, still reverberating through temple bells and Carnatic concerts across Chennai.

• Hatha & Yoga Manuals
- Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā and Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā, though often seen as fitness guides today, once formed the secret coursework of Shaiva adepts.
- Vijnana Bhairava Tantra remains the go-to handbook for mindfulness apps exploring non-dual meditation.

Together, these scriptures form a kaleidoscope of ritual, philosophy and poetry, showing how devotion to Shiva adapts to each era’s heartbeat—whether in a Himalayan cave or on a viral TikTok chant.