An Introduction to Tantric Philosophy: The Paramārthasāra of Abhinavagupta with the Commentary of Yogarāja

The Paramārthasāra, or ‘Essence of Ultimate Reality’, is a work of the Kashmirian polymath Abhinavagupta (tenth–eleventh centuries). It is a brief treatise in which the author outlines the doctrine of which he is a notable exponent, namely nondualistic Śaivism, which he designates in his works as the Trika, or ‘Triad’ of three principles: Śiva, Śakti and the embodied soul (nara). The main interest of the Paramārthasāra is not only that it serves as an introduction to the established doctrine of a tradition, but also advances the notion of jiv̄anmukti, ‘liberation in this life’, as its core theme. Further, it does not confine itself to an exposition of the doctrine as such but at times hints at a second sense lying beneath the evident sense, namely esoteric techniques and practices that are at the heart of the philosophical discourse. Its commentator, Yogarāja (eleventh century), excels in detecting and clarifying those various levels of meaning. An Introduction to Tantric Philosophy presents, along with a critically revised Sanskrit text, the first annotated English translation of both Abhinavagupta’s Paramārthasāra and Yogarāja’s commentary. This book will be of interest to Indologists, as well as to specialists and students of Religion, Tantric studies and Philosophy. The Paramaerthasaera, or the Essence of [the Teachings on] Supreme Reality by Abhinavagupta (Xth-XIth AD) is a compendium of the monistic doctrine of Trika Saivism. This book offers the first commented English translation of both the text and its commentary by Yogaraeja (XIIth AD), along with a corrected Sanskrit text, introduction, indices and appendices. In an attempt to follow the principles of Yogaraejas commentary, the authors unfold the metaphysical as well as mystic meanings of the text. In this process, they have taken recourse to both traditional Indian exegesis and the current interpretations among scholars of Kasmir Saivism. This edition may be of interest to Indologists and specialists of Kasmir Saivism, as well as to specialists and students of religious studies, philosophy and anthropology The Parama ̄rthasa ̄ra, or 'Essence of Ultimate Reality', is a work of the Kashmirian polymath Abhinavagupta (tenth-eleventh centuries). It is a brief treatise in which the author outlines the doctrine of which he is a notable exponent, namely nondualistic S ́aivism, which he designates in his works as the Trika, or 'Triad' of three principles: S ́iva, S ́akti and the embodied soul (nara). The main interest of the Parama ̄rthasa ̄ra is not only that it serves as an introduction to the established doctrine of a tradition, but also advances the notion of jiv ̄anmukti, 'liberation in this life' Offers an English translation of The Paramarthasara and its commentary by Yogaraja (XIIth AD), along with a Sanskrit text, introduction, indices and appendices. Attempting to follow the principles of Yogarajas commentary, this book unfolds the metaphysical as well as mystic meanings of the text.