PROLEGOMENA TO MY STUDY OF ABHINAVAGUPTA AND ADVAYA KASHMIR ŚAIVISM BOOK 1: IDENTITY AND PARTICIPATION (ABHIMĀNA AND SĀDHANĀ) by BRYAN TEMPLES MILLER (Under the Direction of GLENN WALLIS) ABSTRACT This work is the prolegomena to my study of Abhinavagupta and Non-dual (Advaya) Kashmir Śaivism. In this work, I will be introducing and discussing four themes of AKS studies: history, cosmology, perception, and ritual. The first chapter deals with the historical identity of AKS through a discussion of its roots and one of its primary proponents, the founder of the Trika school, Abhinavagupta. The second chapter discusses identity from a metaphysical and cosmological point of view. This chapter looks at the event of self-identification as synonymous with the event of liberation; that is, the identity that is sought is identity of oneself qua Bhairava. The third chapter, a brief treatise on perception, acts as the conjunctive factor in the relation of participation and identity. Finally, the fourth Chapter consists of what a number of scholars have said about ritual practice in Śaivism, and specifically what the Trika gurus have said, specifically Abhinava’s views on ritual (Kriyā). INDEX WORDS: Abhinavagupta, Śaivism, Ritual, Perception, Phenomenology, Bhathari, Language Theory, Darśana PROLEGOMENA TO MY STUDY OF ABHINAVAGUPTA AND ADVAYA KASHMIR ŚAIVISM BOOK 1: IDENTITY AND PARTICIPATION (ABHIMĀNA AND SĀDHANĀ) by BRYAN TEMPLES MILLER B.A., Georgia Southern University, 2001 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS ATHENS, GEORGIA 2003 © 2003 Bryan Temples Miller All Rights Reserved PROLEGOMENA TO MY STUDY OF ABHINAVAGUPTA AND ADVAYA KASHMIR ŚAIVISM BOOK 1: IDENTITY AND PARTICIPATION (ABHIMĀNA AND SĀDHANĀ) by BRYAN TEMPLES MILLER Major Professor: Glenn Wallis Committee: O. Bradley Bassler Carolyn Medine Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia August 2003 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank NA for the opportunities that have been provided for me as a result of your help. Without this, I would surely not be where I am today. I cannot express enough gratitude for the help of my two teachers, Glenn Wallis and Brad Bassler. Glenn Wallis has made a lasting impact on me in many ways- Thanks to him I will never be able to do philosophy without taking into account how it can be actualized. He has helped me realize that learning requires more than thinking, it requires looking. Thank you for helping learning be meaningful. Brad Bassler has been more helpful in direction than anyone should feel they need to be. His willingness to take the time to talk about various subjects has helped me to realize the type of teacher I would like to be. Both Dr. Wallis and Dr. Bassler have taught me the most by allowing me to learn. Thank you. I also thank Carolyn Medine for introducing me to Religious Theory and taking the time to be a reader for yet another thesis. I would like to thank three students in particular: Sonam Kachru, Tzuchein Tho, and Chris Cotton. The numerous discussions we have had helped me better understand my own position, both its weaknesses and its strengths. I also thank them for being willing to read through my thesis and participating in my defense. In many ways, they are all my teachers. I owe them all my first-born child; therefore, they will have to arm wrestle for it. Similarly, there are a number of other people who I wish to thank for reading my work and making helpful comments, particularly three very good friends, Kevin Welsh, Allison Bramblett and Bill Bridges. v I am indebted to my parents, Betsy and Robin Miller. Their support in my obsessive philosophical endeavors never ceases to amaze me. Lastly, I would like to thank another teacher, Greg Kolakowski. He has helped to teach me many of the things that you just can't learn from a book. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 MAPPING THE TERRITORY: HISTORY AND LINEAGE..........................5 Tantra.............................................................................................................5 Sākhya ......................................................................................................11 Śaiva Scripture and Other Background Material .......................................12 Nātha to Kula ..............................................................................................15 Kaula ...........................................................................................................17 Krama..........................................................................................................20 Abhinava’s Trika .........................................................................................21 2 AKS COSMOLOGY AND METAPHYSICS.................................................26 Methodological Points of Concern..............................................................26 Shantatita Kala: Bhairava's Abode; "Beyond even Peace"........................28 Shanta Kala: The Pure Order; "Phase of Peace".........................................38 Vidya Kala: Māyā's Abode..........................................................................42 Pratishta Kala: The Base of Phenomenal Existence: Prakti Tattva..........45 The Principles of Mental Operations...........................................................46 The Decad of Indriya-s and the Pentad on Tanmātra-s ..............................52 vii The Five Principles of Materiality (Bhūta-s)...................................................54 Concluding Remarks........................................................................................57 3 PERCEPTION .................................................................................................58 Methodological Points of Concern..............................................................59 Perception's Place and Role in The Darśanas.............................................60 Various Accounts of Perception..................................................................63 AKS Account of Perception........................................................................68 4 PARTICIPATION THROUGH RITUAL .......................................................85 Why is Philosophical, as well as Ritual Study, Important?.........................87 What is Ritual? ............................................................................................88 Varieties of Ritual in AKS ..........................................................................90 Mantric Ritual in Parātriśīkā-laghuvttih ....................................................94 5 CONCLUSION................................................................................................98 Reflections on Ritual and Theory (J–āna and Kriyā) .................................98 Final Thoughts...........................................................................................101 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................103 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................105 A Etymological Collection................................................................................106 B Spanda and the De-Theizing [De-Personalizing] of Bhairava's Theistic Nature ......................................................................................................107 1 INTRODUCTION This work is the prolegomena to my study of Abhinavagupta1 and Non-dual (Advaya) Kashmir Śaivism.2 In this work, I will be introducing and discussing four themes of AKS studies: history, cosmology, perception, and ritual. I have chosen these themes because I want this Thesis to work at an introductory level, as well as addressing the idea of participation and identity. Under the heading of identity there are two chapters: one on history, and one on cosmology. The first chapter deals with the historical identity of AKS through a discussion of its roots and one of its primary proponents, the founder of the Trika school, Abhinavagupta. The second chapter discusses identity from a metaphysical and cosmological point of view.3 This chapter looks at the event of self-identification as synonymous with the event of liberation; that is, the identity that is sought is identity of oneself qua Bhairava.4 Here we will examine what Bhairava is, and what is man's relation to this ultimate reality. In order to do this we will look at the cosmological schematism that is a key component of AKS philosophical theory (j–āna) and ritual practice (kriyāsādhanā). The third chapter, a brief treatise on perception, acts as the conjunctive factor in the relation of participation and identity. The first section is an account of the various ways that perception has been discussed throughout India’s history. The second section 1 While the work does not deal with Abhinavagupta, or the Trika system, exclusively, I have nonetheless leaned heavily on his work as a guide. 2 For the remainder of the paper I will use AKS to refer to the Advaya Kashmir Śaiva system. 3 At this point I am still uncertain as to whether or not we should understand