Major historical Shaiva currents include Pashupata communities associated with early organised ascetic worship of Pashupati; Shaiva Siddhanta, known for its Agamic ritual and philosophical traditions; and a family of nondual Kashmir Shaiva traditions, including Trika, Spanda and Pratyabhijna. Other important Shaiva movements include various Kaula and Bhairava-oriented tantric communities, devotional Tamil Shaiva traditions, and regional movements such as Virashaiva/Lingayat traditions.
These names do not form a single universally agreed classification. Some identify a philosophical school, others a ritual lineage, religious community or regional devotional movement. Their origins and relationships overlap. Therefore it is misleading to present a short list as an exhaustive or universally accepted catalogue of “the schools of Shaivism.”