Abhinavagupta’s Hermeneutics of the Absolute: An Interpretation of his Paratrishika Vivarana

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The Paratrishika Vivarana by the great Kashmiri philosopher and mystic Abhinavagupta is an extensive commentary on the Paratrishika Tantra, and it is one of the most profound texts, not only of non-dualist Kashmir Shaivism, but of Indian philosophy and mysticism in general. The present work attempts to make this difficult text accessible, by culling out the important themes and offering an interpretation. The main focus is on the understanding of the Absolute (Anuttara) and the ways to realize it. The central theme of mantra also leads to a mysticism of language with its philosophical implications. All these reflections and practices are inscribed in the theory that "everything is related to the totality", "every part contains the whole of reality" (sarvam sarvatmakam). It is this holistic vision of Abhinavagupta, based on the Tantras, which makes this work so relevant in our times of fragmented aspects of life and knowledge in search of integration. No doubt, in the view of the Tantra and of Abhinavagupta, language and mantra provide the key.

This fascinating book is an important contribution to studies and interpretations on Kashmir Saivism, its spirituality and philosophy, and on Abhinavagupta in particular.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andre Padoux

Andre Padoux is Director of the research unit on Hinduism at the Centre National de la Researche Scientifique in Paris, and is a member of the French National Council for Scientific Research.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bettina Baumer

Dr. Bettina Baumer is an indologist from Austria, living and working in Varanasi since 1967. At present she is Director of Research, Alice Boner Foundation, Hon. Consultant, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, and Visiting Professor in Vienna University. Her main fields of research are Silpa.sastra of Orissa and Kashmir Saivism. She has edited 3 volumes of Kalatattvakosa, A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Indian Arts (Vol. I, 1988; Vol. II, 1992; Vol. Ill, 1996), Silparatnakosa (Delhi 1994), and is the author of several books in German, and a number of research articles.

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Bibliographic information

Title
Abhinavagupta’s Hermeneutics of the Absolute: An Interpretation of his Paratrishika Vivarana
Author
Edition
1st ed.
Publisher
ISBN
8124605726, 9788124605721
Length
xvii+330p., 3 Col. Photos; Appendices; Bibliography; Glossary; Index; 25cm.
Subjects