Abhinavagupta's hermeneutics of the absolute Anuttaraprakriyaa : an interpretation of his Parātrīasikā vivaraṇa

From the Jacket The Paratrisika Vivarana by the great Kashmiri philosopher and mystic Abhinavagupta is an extensive commentary on the Paratrisika Tantra, and it is one of the most profound texts, not only of non-dualist Kashmir Saivism, 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. Dr. Bettina Baumer, indologist from Austria and Professor of Religious Studies (Visiting Professor at several universities), living and working in Varanasi since 1967, is the author and editor of a number of books and over 50 research articles. Her main fields of research are non-dualistic Kashmir Saivism, Indian aesthetics, temple architecture and religious traditions of Orissa, and comparative mysticism. She has been Coordinator of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Varanasi, and Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. She has translated important Sanskrit texts into German and English. Dr. Andre Padoux, Paris, is one of the foremost scholars on Tantra, Kashmir Saivism, and mantrasastra. Contents Foreword by Andre Padoux Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction The Text and the Commentary 2 The Tantra 5 Abhinavagupta 7 Vivarana 10 Anuttaraprakriya 12 Abhinavagupta’s Method 15 Addressees of the Vivarana : Prayojana and Adhikara 17 The Context: The Place of the Text in the Tradition 20 Hermeneutics and Tantric Exegesis 26 The Problem of Translation 28 The State of Scholarship on the Paratrisika Vivarana 31 The Authorship of the Laghuvrtti 33 The Spread of Anuttara Trika/Parakrama 35 My Approach 38 Text Editions and Translations Used 40 1 The Tntrance Gates: Mangalaslokas (Benedictory Verses) 2 The Supreme Dialogue Guru-sisya Sambandha 63 3 Anuttara: The Unsurpassable and its Meanings Anuttara as Bestowing the Perfection of Totality: Kaulikasiddhidam 79 Immediacy: Explanation of Sadyah 83 Anuttara and the Interconnectedness of all Things 84 4 Khecarisamata: Harmony with the Power of Consciousness Moving-in-the-Void 5 The Three Grammatical Persons and Trika 6 The Heart – the Resting Place of I-Consciousness 7 From the Absolute to Manifestation: Anuttara to Kaulikasrsti The Two Sections 125 Pratibha: Illuminating Insight 132 Pratibha Nirvikalpa Samvid – The Basis of Thought and Language 137 8 Levels of Manifestation: Emanation of Phonemes and Tattvas Emanation of Phonemes and Tattvas in Verses 5-9 144 A Commentary on ‘a’ 146 A Note on Method 149 The Kancukas or Limiting Powers and their Seed-Syllables 151 The Five Brahmas 156 The Universality of Sound: Nada and Svara 157 The Questions of the Plurality of Languages 161 The Four Levels of the Word (Vak) 165 The Universe of Language: The Language of the Universe Bindu 178 Visarga 179 The Goddess Alphabet: Matrka and Malini 183 The Specular Nature of Reality: Bimba-Pratibimba 189 Concluding Verses 197 9 The Core Mantra: Hrdayabija Decoding the Mantra 206 The Means of Entry into Brahman: Pravesopaya 213 Commentary on Verses 11-18 217 The Relation of Time to Spiritual Powers 220 Erotic Symbolism 226 10 Transcending Ritual Knowledge Substitutes Ritual 234 The Fruit of the Practice 255 The Heart Conclusion Abhinavagupta’s Personal Conclusion 263 General Conclusion 267 Appendices 1. Verses of the Paratrisika 277 2. List of Quotations in the Paratrisika Vivarana 281 3. Stotra Fragments of Abhinavagupta quoted in the Vivarana 289 4. Comparison between the PT Versions of Vivarana and Laghuvrtti 291 5. Abhinavagupta: Anuttarastika – Text and Translation 296 6. Bibliography 301 7. Index/Glossary 3 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 Shaivism, its spirituality and philosophy, and on Abhinavagupta in particular. Bettina Bäumer ; Foreword By André Padoux. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [301]-315) And Index. Includes Verses In Sanskrit (roman); With English Translation.