Paratrisika-Vivarana by Abhinavagupta: The Secret of Tantric Mysticism

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The Paratrisika (or Paratrimsika) is a short Tantra which has been held in the highest esteem by Kashmir Saivism or Trika. After Somananda, Abhinavagupta has written two commentaries on it, a short one (Laghuvrtti) and an extensive one-the present Vivarana which is presented here for the first time in an English translation. The Paratrisika Vivarana is one of the most fascinating but also most difficult texts of the Kashmir Saiva School, and of the mystical philosophical literature of India as a whole. It deals with Ultimate Reality (anuttara or para) and with the methods of realization, centred above all in the theory and practice of the mantra. Abhinavagupta displays here his great exegetical genius and presents a penetrating metaphysics of language, of the word (vak) and its various stages in relation to consciousness. His language reflects in a luminous fashion the mystical experience contained in this text.

The present translation of Abhinavagupt’s masterpiece will not only be a milestone in the study of Kashmir Saivism, but it also makes available one of the major mystical texts of the Indian tradition to readers interested in philosophy and spirituality.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jaideva Singh

Jaideva Singh (1893-1986) was a great scholar in musicology, philosophy and Sanskrit. A former principal of Y.D. College, Lakhimpur Kheri, he served as Chief Producer in All India Radio and among other posts acted as Chairman of U.P. Sangit Natak Academi. He was awarded Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1974. After his retirement he settled in Varanasi to study with M.M. Gopinath Kaviraj. He dedicated the later paret of his life to the study with Kashmir Saivism. He published several books in Hindi and English translations of Kashmir Saiva texts, such as Siva-Sutras, Spanda-Karika, Pratybhijnahrdayam, Vijnanabhairava.

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Bibliographic information

Title
Paratrisika-Vivarana by Abhinavagupta: The Secret of Tantric Mysticism
Author
Edition
1st. ed.
Publisher
ISBN
9788120804722
Length
424p., 8.5" x 5.5".
Subjects