The Aphorisms of Siva: The Siva Sutra with Bhaskara’s Commentary, The Varttika

The Siva Sutra was revealed to Vasugupta by Siva in order to counter the effects of dualism. This revelation initiated the hermeneutics of syntheses and exegesis climaxed by the great Abhinavagupta. The Siva Sutra is the most important scripture in the Trika system of Kashmir Shaivism. As a book on yoga, it explains the nature and cause of bondage and the means to liberation from bondage.Bhaskara is in the direct lineage of Vasugupta. To Bhaskara’s commentary, Mark Dyczkowski has added his translation of an anoymouscommentary as an aid to understanding haskara’s interpretation. This anonymous writer also serves as a bridge between Ksemaraja’s and Bhaskara’s commentaries, drawing from both. The commentary on each sutra is thus in three layers, Bhaskara’s commentary is first, followed by the anonymous commentary, after which Dyczkowskiadds his own exposition and compares Bhaskara and Ksemaraja.