Kashmir Shaivism is a group of nondualist Tantric Shaiva exegetical traditions from Kashmir that originated after 850 CE. The term Trika was used by Abhinavagupta to represent the entire Kashmir Shaivism or to designate the Pratyabhijna system
By the power of her own will Citi unfolds or projects the universe upon her own self. Svecchaya – i.e. by the power of her own will, not by thewill of another implies (that she brings about the universe) byher power alone, not by means of (any external) materialcause etc. Read more…
The absolute Citi (Consciousness) out of its own free will is the cause of the siddhi of the universe. Universe in this context means everything from Sadasiva down to the earth. Siddhi means bringing into manifestation, maintenance, and withdrawal. Also may mean bhoga (experience) and moksa (liberation). Of these also Read more…
Following upayas are recommended to get rid of the malas so that one may become fit for receiving grace.
Those who, owing to the sarhskaras of previous birth, are very advanced souls receive tivra or intense Saktipata. They are liberated without much sadhana or praxis. Those who are less qualified receive madhyama Saktipata. This induces them to seek a guru or spiritual preceptor, to get initiation and practice yoga. Read more…
Liberation according to this system means the re-cognition (pratyabhijna) of one’s true nature which means in other words the attainment of akrtrima-aham-vimarsa – the original, innate, pure I-consciousness. By this real I-consciousness, one attains Cidananda – the bliss of the cit or Universal Consciousness. The citta or the individual mind Read more…
The bondage of the individual is due to innate ignorance which is known as anava mala. It is the primary limiting condition which reduces the universal consciousness to an ana or a limited aspect. It comes about by the limitation of the Iccha Sakti of the Supreme. It is owing Read more…
The individual according to this system is not simply a psycho-physical being but something more. His physical aspect consists of the five mahabhutas or gross elements highly organized. This is known as his sthulasarira. He has also the psychic apparatus known as antahkarana (the inner instrument) consisting of buddhi, ahamkara Read more…
SantabrahmavadaVedanta IsvaradvayavadaKashmir Shavisim •Cit or Brahman is only Praksha (light) or Jnana (knowledge). It is Niskriya (inactive) •Cit is both Prakasa and Vimarsa (light and activity). •Activity belongs only to Maya or Avidya. Isvara assumes activity only when He is affected by Avidya or Maya. •Mahesvara has Savatantrya, activity belongs Read more…
Svatantryavada Absolute sovereignty of Will, sva-tantrata or svatantrya. This absolute Sovereignty or Free Will is the svabhava (own being) of the Universal Consciousness (Cit). It is this sovereign Free Will that brings about the objectification of its ideation. It is beyond all the categories of time, space, causality etc., for Read more…
The Five Bhutas – Gross Elements (32) Akasa ( Space) is produced from Sabda-tanmatra. (33) Vayu (Air) is is produced from Sparsa-tanmatra. ( 34 ) Teja /Agni (Fire) is produced from Rupa-tanmatra. (35) Apas ( Water) is produced from Rasa-tanmatra (36) Prthivi ( Earth) is produced from Gandha-tanmatra