(“beast”) The name
for an unenlightened individual, who is considered to have a human body but is
no better than an animal, in the philosophical system known as Shaiva Siddhanta
and the secret, ritually based religious practice known as tantra.
This lack of consciousness is caused not by inborn dullness,
but by the activity of maya, Shiva's power of illusion wielded as lord (pati).
The Shaiva Siddhanta school is defined by the triad of
pashu, pati, and the bindings of illusion (pasha).
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
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