Pashupata Shaivism - one of the main Shaivite

Shaivism

Shaivism is one of the four major sects of Hinduism, the others being Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism. Followers of Shaivism, called "Shaivas," and also "Saivas" or "Saivites," revere Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer,...

 schools. The Pashupatas (Sanskrit: ) are the oldest named Shaivite group.

Dating is uncertain, but the Pashupatas may have existed from the 1st century AD. Gavin Flood dates them probably from around the 2nd century AD. They are referred to in the Mahabharata, the action of which takes place in the 4 millennium BC.

The Pashupatas were ascetics.

Pashupata

Pashupata

The Pashupatastra , in Hindu mythology, is the irresistible and most destructive personal weapon of Shiva, discharged by the mind, the eyes, words, or a bow. Never to be used against lesser enemies or by lesser warriors, the Pashupatastra is capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings...

 Shaivism was a devotional (bhakti

Bhakti

In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...

) movement.

The Pashupata movement was influential in South India

South India

South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...

in the period between the 7th and 14th century, but it no longer exists.