Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism of Kashmir
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Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism of Kashmir PAUL EDUARDO MULLER-ORTEGA The TRIADIC HEART OF Siva Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism of Kashmir PAUL EDUARDO MULLER-ORTEGA This book explores one of the most explicit and sophisticated the oretical formulations of tantric yoga. It explains Abhinavagupta's teaching about the nature of ultimate reality, about the methods for experiencing this ultimate reality, and about the nature of the state of realization, a con dition of embodied enlightenment. The author uncovers the conceptual matrix surrounding the practices of the Kaula lineage of Kashmir Shaivism. The primary textual basis for the book is provided by Abhinavagupta's Paratrisika-laghuvrtti, a short meditation manual that centers on the symbolism of the Heart-mantra, SAUH. "Muller-Ortega's approach is good, clear, intelligent, and percep tive. The translation of the Paratrisika-laghuvrtti given in the appendix, being the first English translation of this short but important text, is a very useful contribution to the study of Kashmir Shaivism, and so are the long and numerous quotations in the text of other works, as yet untranslated into English, of Abhinavagupta." - Andre Padoux, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris. Paul Eduardo Muller-Ortega is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Michigan State University. The cover of this book differs from that of the original printing. In order for the State University of New York Press to maintain its extensive backlist, it has been necessary to use digital printing technology to minimize the cost to reprint small quantities. This has made it possible for our boots to remain in print much longer and maintain reasonable pricing. We assure you thai the content is identical to the previous printing with the possible exception of minor text corrections. STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS The Triadic Heart of Siva The SUNY Series in the Shaiva Traditions of Kashmir Harvey P. Alper, Editor Editorial Board Edward Dimock Wilhelm Halbfass Gerald J. Larson Wendy D. O 'Flaherty Andre Padoux Navjivan Rastogi Ludo Rocher Alexis Sanderson The Triadic Heart of Siva Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism of Kashmir PAUL EDUARDO MULLER-ORTEGA State University of New York Press Published by State University of New York Press, Albany ® 1989 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, address State University of New York Press, State University Plaza, Albany, N.Y., 12246 Library of Congress Cataioging-in-Publication Data Muller-Ortega, Paul Eduardo, 1949- The triadic Heart of Siva: Kaula tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir/by Paul Eduardo Muller-Ortega. p. cm. - (The SUNY series in the Shaiva traditions of Kashmir) Bibliography: p. Includes index. ISBN 0-88706-786-7. ISBN 0-88706-787-5 (pbk.) 1. Abhinavagupta, Rajanaka. 2. Kashmir Saivism - Doctrines. 1. Title. 11. Series. BL 1175.AI7M85 1988 294.5'5I3 - dc 19 87-30953 CIP 10 9 8 7 6 5 in memory of Eduardo Ortega y Gasset my first guru, and in his own way, a great siddha Contents LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi 1. Introduction and Methodological Considerations 1 2. The Historical Context 25 3. The Symbol of the Heart in India Prior to Abhinavagupta 64 4. The Heart as Ultimate Reality 82 5. The Heart as Embodied Cosmos: Kula . 100 6. The Heart: Vibration and Emissional Power 118 7. The Heart and Natural Metaphors 142 8. The Heart as Mantra 162 9. Conclusion: The Heart Attained 182 APPENDIX 203 NOTES 233 BIBLIOGRAPHY 293 INDEX 317 vii List of Abbreviations lsvara-pratyabhijna-karika IPK Ivara-pratyabhijna-vimarsini IPv Isvara-pratyabhijna-vivrti-vimarsini IPvv Mahartha-manjari MM Malini-vijaya-tantra MVT Malini-vijaya-vartika MVv Netra-tantra NT Para-pravesika PP Paratrisika-laghuvrtti PTlv Paratrimsika-vivarana PTv Rudra-yamala-tantra RYT Siddha-yogesvari-mata-tantra SYT ix x THE TRIADIC HEART OF SlVA Siva-sutra-vimarsini SSv Spanda-karika SpK Tantraloka TA Tantrasara TS Vijnana-bhairava-tantra VBhT Acknowledgments I wish to express my deep appreciation to Professor Gerald J. Larson, who first introduced me to the study of Abhinavagupta and who patiently guided me during the writing of this book. My deep gratitude also goes to my wife, Virginia, for her constant encouragement as well as her refined editing skills. I owe a special thanks to my parents, Walter and Maria Rosa Muller, whose support during the writing of this book has been whole hearted. I also owe a special acknowledgment to my sister, Susanne R. Muller, who uncomplainingly devoted a summer to typing and retyping portions of the manuscript. I want to publicly express my appreciation for Professor Harvey P. Alper, editor of this series, who encouraged me with valuable guidance and concrete suggestions, and whose untimely death has been a very great and sad loss. 1 also wish to state my appreciation to the two readers of the manuscript, Dr. Andre Padoux and Professor Edward Dimock, both of whom suggested a number of helpful improve ments to the work. I am very grateful to William D. Eastman, Director of State University of New York Press, for his kind and helpful comments, and for his many efforts toward the publication of this book. A work such as this does not see the light of day without the unselfish intervention of a larger number of people than I can here name. I thank them all here with deep appreciation. I must, however, mention a few names: Dr. Prata- paditya Pal and Professor Antonio T. De Nicolas, both of whom helped and encouraged me during the early phases of thinking about this book; xi xii THE TRIADIC HEART OF SIVA Professors Raghavan and Nandini Iyer who very patiently listened to my ideas on numerous occasions; Professors Ninian Smart, Raimundo Panikkar, William Powell and other members of the Faculty of the Department of Religious Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara; my colleagues in the Department of Religious Studies, Michigan State University, who offered guidance and encouragement; my sister, Anita Santiago and her family; my friends; Lloyd Pflueger, Tom and Christine Ryba, Win and Caroline Wilkinson, Barbara Holdrege, Mark and Jude Boyer, Brion and Gretchen Lewis; and my students at Michigan State University. CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Methodological Considerations Abhinavagupta and the Heart of Siva The symbol of the Heart plays a central role in the tantric writings of Abhinavagupta. As the French scholar Lilian Silburn has said about the Heart, La position des sivaites kasmiriens a 1'egard du yoga et de jnana ne se comprend bien que par rapport aux trois energies du triangle du coeur (trikona et trisula) et dans la perspective des trois voies qui en decoulent. Toute la manifestation evolue a partir de ce triangle cotrtme un flot fremissant et pur du Coeur divin et c'est aussi, par le fremissement de son propre coeur, que I'homme retrouve le centre du trikona, en prenant conscience de soi.1 This succinct statement by one of the eminent scholars of the non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir sets forth the theme of this book,2 We wish to under stand what Abhinavagupta means by the Heart. In the process of unpacking the meanings that are condensed in the symbol of the Heart, we will gain access to the central religious vision of the great Kashmiri teacher. Although the writings of Abhinavagupta are lengthy and complex, running through them all is a stance on reality that is derived from his own enlightenment experiences and training under his guru, Sambhunatha.3 This stance, or approach to reality, is so influential and pervasive in Abhi- navagupta's writings that it may be called his central religious vision. It is the Heart which functions as one of the primary and unifying symbols 1 2 THE TR1ADIC HEART OF SIVA of this religious vision. By examining the symbol of the Heart, access is gained to a key entry point into this central religious vision. Abhinavagupta's religious vision is intimately bound up with the symbol of the Heart on three important levels. The first is the reality of the Heart as Siva, which refers to the ultimacy and transcendence of Siva in the Heart. The key term here is anuttara-tattva, that is, the principle of the Ultimate. The second level involves Abhinavagupta's teachings about the methods and techniques that must be employed in order to approach the Ultimate reality of the Heart and transform it into a living human reality. The most direct and effortless method of realization is known as the Sambhavopaya.4 The third level intimates the nature of the state of realization of the Heart. This process of realization is termed hrdayangamibhuta, which literally means "become something that moves in the Heart, "and can be more simply translated as "experiential replication." The state of realization is often called Bhairavata - the condition of Bhairava.5 Thus, the overall structure of this study will follow these three 'levels' of the Heart: Ultimate reality, method, and realization. In the attempt to understand the Heart, our understanding of Abhi navagupta's central religious vision will be enhanced. However, this search for understanding holds both promise and problems. We are liable to misunderstand Abhinavagupta as long as our penetration into his thought is incomplete. Indeed, Abhinavagupta defines error as incomplete knowl edge (apurnakhyati).6 The promise is that Abhinavagupta's thought will so engage us that we will persist in our study.