THE TOUCH of SAKTI.Cdr
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Dr Ernst F•rlinger is an expert on The Kashmirian øaiva tradition in its non- Kashmir Saivism and Sanskrit. He has dualistic form in particular is one of the lived in Varanasi for some years studying richest philosophical traditions of India non-dualistic Kashmir Saivism with that have survived to the present day. This traditional pandits and Sanskrit at the book by the noted scholar, Dr F•rlinger, Banaras Hindu University. He is at deals with the bodily experience of the present University Lecturer at the transcendent power, the øakti, in the Institute for Religious Studies, University context of the øaiva Kuõóalini-Yoga. In an of Vienna. He is a member of the insightful introduction, the scholar academic staff at Center for Intercultural presents an overview of the historical Studies, Danube University, Krems (near T development of the Kashmirian øaiva Vienna). h traditions, especially of the non-dualistic system, Trika, made famous by the work e E of its famous proponent, Abhinavagupta. r He studies the theme of ÷aktispar÷a in T n selected texts of non-dualistic Trika o s øaivism of Kashmir, focusing on t u Utpaladeva's øivastotràvali of the tenth c century and Abhinavagupta's Tantraloka F of the eleventh century. The texts are h • analysed along with a noted commentary r associated with each to shed light on the o l i different contexts and meanings in which f n the word spar÷a occurs in connection with g ø øakti, the divine power, revered as the e Goddess. The study examines sparsa as Cover designed by : Mrs David Peters a r one of the highest stages in the spiritual Prof. Andr‚ Padoux k Foreword by : ascent in the Tantraloka and its t corresponding description in the i 2009, xxiii, 288 + [8] p.; 8 b/w plates; øivastotràvali. The difference in the notion Bibliography; Index; 23 cm. of sparsa in the two texts is also brought E r n s t F • r l i n g e r out. It thus reveals the liberating and critical potential of the non-dualistic Hardbound øaiva tradition of Kashmir. ISBN 13 : 978-81-246-0463-2 The book will interest scholars and ISBN 10 : 81-246-0463-0 ISBN 812460463-0 The Touch of øakti students of Indology associated with A Study in Non-dualistic Trika øaivism of Kashmir Indian religious-philosophical traditions. Rs. 690 US $ 34.50 9 7 8 8 1 2 4 6 0 4 6 3 2 OPTION A TThehe TTouchouch ofof T Sakti h A e S A Study in Nondualistic Trika øaivism of Kashmir t T u d y o i n u N c o n h d u S a o l i s f t i c a T r i k k a ø t a i i v i s m o f K a s h m i r E r n s t F • r l i n g e r ISBN 812460067-8 NEW DELHI ‘Sri Kunj’, F-52 Bali Nagar, Ramesh Nagar Metro Stn., NEW DELHI - 15 E r n st F • rl i n ge r Cover designed by Phs.: (+91-11) 2545 3975, 2546 6019; Fax: (+91-11) 2546 5926 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.dkprintworld.com 9 7 8 8 1 2 4 6 0 0 6 7 2 Mrs David Peters OPTION C TTHHEE TTOOUUCCHH OOFF AKTI A T H S t S E u d A Study in y T i O n Nondualistic Trika N U o øaivism of Kashmir C n d H u a O l i s t F i c S T r i k a A ø K a i v T i s I m o f K a s h m i r E r n s t F u r l i n g e r ISBN 812460067-8 NEW DELHI ‘Sri Kunj’, F-52 Bali Nagar, Ramesh Nagar Metro Stn., NEW DELHI - 15 E r n s t F u r l i n g e r Cover designed by Phs.: (+91-11) 2545 3975, 2546 6019; Fax: (+91-11) 2546 5926 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.dkprintworld.com 9 7 8 8 1 2 4 6 0 0 6 7 2 Mrs David Peters OPTION B The Touch of A S t T u d akti y h i A Study in Nondualistic Trika øaivism of Kashmir S e n N T o n d o u u a l c i s h t i c o T r f i k S a ø a i v i a s m k o f t K a i s h m i r E r n s t F • r l i n g e r ISBN 812460067-8 NEW DELHI ‘Sri Kunj’, F-52 Bali Nagar, Ramesh Nagar Metro Stn., NEW DELHI - 15 Cover designed by Phs.: (+91-11) 2545 3975, 2546 6019; Fax: (+91-11) 2546 5926 E r n st F • rl i n ge r E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.dkprintworld.com 9 7 8 8 1 2 4 6 0 0 6 7 2 Mrs David Peters Half Title Page i The Touch of øakti ii The Touch of øakti The Touch of øakti A Study in Non-dualistic Trika øaivism of Kashmir Ernst Frlinger D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd. New Delhi Cataloging in Publication Data Þ DK [Courtesy: D.K. Agencies (P) Ltd. <[email protected]>] Frlinger, Ernst, 1962- Touch of øakti: A Study in Non-dualistic Trika øaivism of Kashmir / Ernst Frlinger. p. cm. Study based mainly on Tantràloka of Abhinavagupta Ràjànaka, fl. c. 975Ý1025 and øivastotràvalã of Utpala, fl. 900-950. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) Includes index. ISBN 13: 9788124604632 ISBN 10: 8124604630 1. Abhinavagupta, Ràjànaka, fl. c. 975-1025. Tantràloka. 2. Utpala, fl. 900-950. øivastotràvalã. 3. Kashmir øaivism. I. Title. DDC 294.551 3 22 ISBN 13: 978-81-246-0463-2 ISBN 10: 81-246-0463-0 First published in India in 2009 © Ernst Frlinger All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, except brief quotations, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the copyright holder, indicated above, and the publishers. Front page : Goddess Bhairavã, Himachal Pradesh or Jammu & Kashmir, 10th century (Private Collection) Published and printed by: D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd. Regd. Office: `Srikunj', F-52, Bali Nagar Ramesh Nagar Metro Station New Delhi-110 015 Phones: (011) 2545 3975; 2546 6019; Fax: (011) 2546 5926 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.dkprintworld.com Dedicated to v Dedicated to Pandit H.N. Chakravarti vi The Touch of øakti Contents vii Contents Foreword by Andr Padoux ix Preface xvii Abbreviations xxi List of Plates xxiii 1. Introduction Trika øaivism of Kashmir 1 Scriptural Authority 2 Historical Development 4 The Different Meanings of Spar÷a in Indian 19 Traditions The Term Spar÷a in Early Texts of 2 8 Non-dualistic Kashmir øaivism 2. Hermeneutical Reflections Is Cit ßConsciousnessû? 40 Is Vimar÷a ßReflective Awarenessû? 53 Remarks on Tàntric Language and its 57 Interpretation with the Example of Tantràloka 3. The Touch of øakti (øaktispar÷a): Selected Texts of Non-dualistic øaivism of Kashmir Utpaladeva: øivastotràvalã With 71 viii The Touch of øakti The Commentary (Vivtti) By Kùemaràja 71 Introduction 71 Abhinavagupta : Tantràloka With Commentary 133 (Viveka) By Jayaratha Introduction 133 The Sensual Touch 139 The Touch of the Mirror 148 The Touch of Anuttara-Sa§vit 154 A Note on Anuttara 156 The ßTouch of Antsû (Pipãlikàspar÷a) 174 The ßTouch of Fullnessû (Pårõatàspar÷a) 191 Spar÷a as Consonant 199 ßøakti, of the Nature of Touchû 203 A Note on the Touch of the Sexual Fluids 207 ßUccàra of O§û 215 The Practice of Uccàra according to 219 the Tantràloka The twelve main stages of the Power 223 Spar÷a in the process of manifestation: 237 Svacchandatantra 11 `Light,' `Sound,' `Touch' as Stages of 240 Nearness 4. Conclusion: The Question of the Liberating 247 and Critical Potential of Trika øaivism Bibliography 259 Index 275 Foreword ix Foreword The Kashmirian øaiva tradition, especially in its non-dualistic form, is perhaps the richest philosophical one in India. It is among the few that have survived to our days. It has even spread (if in not always very valid versions) to the Western world. A study such as this one, on the particularly interesting subject of ÷aktispar÷a, cannot therefore but be welcome. In his introduction, Dr Frlinger gives very usefully an overview of the historical development of the Kashmirian øaiva traditions, and especially of the Trika, the non-dualistic system made famous by the work of its most remarkable exponent, Abhinavagupta. In this overview, he relies to a large extent on the work of Professor Sanderson, the best expert on the subject, who however does not fail to remind us that due to the lack of explicit and datable documents our knowledge of this tradition is far from perfect. One goes on discovering manuscripts of hitherto unknown texts which sometimes open new perspectives: the work is in progress. We however know enough to allow some conclusions, and the well-grounded examination of some particular points Þ as is precisely the case here. Dr Frlinger's study is based mainly on Abhinavagupta's most well-known and in many respects the richest and most fascinating work, the Tantràloka, in which, adding to the Trika elements from the tradition of the Krama, he expounds, on x The Touch of øakti the basis of the Màlinãvijayottaratantra, his vision of the nature of ultimate reality together with the means to attain and experiment directly this reality.