The Shiva-Sutra-Vimarsini of Ksemaraja

The Shiva Sutras is a manual of Yoga. It is divided into three Unmesas, each treating of one particular means, Upaya, for reaching independence Svacchanda. The first is the Shambhavopaya, the specific Shaiva discipline and corresponds to the Jnanamarga of the Vedantins, and what is called in the Bhagvad Gita, the jnanayoga of the Sankhyas, also the avyaktagatih. The second, the Shaktopaya is the same as Shakta discipline and consists in the use of mantras and attainment of knowledge by their means. The third called the Anavopaya is the Astanga Yoga of Patanjali. The three Upayas are treated in the order of their worth; the Shamb hava being the first and most excellent, and the Anava being the least worthy and not recognized by Vasugupta in his Spandakarika.