Abhinavagupta's Hermeneutics of the Absolute: An Interpretation of His Paratrishika Vivarana - Hardcover

Bettina Baumer

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 8124605726 ISBN 13: 9788124605721

Publisher: D.K. Prinworld (P) Ltd., 2011

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

Bettina Baumer, born in Austria is living and working in Varanasi (India) since 1967 and is a scholar of Sanskrit, Indian philosophy and art with specialization in Shilpashastra and temple architecture of Orissa and above all in Kashmir Shaivism. She has been Director of a research institute on Indian art in Varanasi and coordinator of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Varanasi. Since 1995, she is regularly teaching as visiting Professor at the universities of Vienna, Berne and Salzburg. Her present position is Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. She has authored five books in German and a number of books and scholarly articles in Sanskrit and English, including three volumes of Kalatattvakosha : A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Indian Arts edited by her. She became a disciple of Swami Lakshman Joo in 1986 and has been teaching Kashmir Shaivism and its texts for a number of years.

Edition details

• Publisher: D.K. Prinworld (P) Ltd.
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8124605726
• ISBN 13: 9788124605721
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 330