Para-trisika-Vivarana of Abhinavagupta

Book excerpt: The Paratrisika (or Paratrimsika) is a short Tantra which has been held in the highest esteem by Kashmir Saivism or Trika. After Somananda, Abhinavagupta has written two commentaries on it, a short one (Laghuvrtti) and an extensive one the present Vivarana which is presented here for the first time in an English translation. The Paratrisika Vivarana is one of the most fascinating but also most difficult texts of the Kashmir Saiva School, and of the mystical philosophical literature of India as a whole. It deals with Ultimate Reality (anuttara or para) and with the methods of realization, centred above all in the theory and practice of the mantra. Abhinavagupta displays here his great exegetical genius and presents a penetrating metaphysics of language, of the Word (vak) and its various stages in relation to consciousness. His language reflects in a luminous fashion the mystical experience contained in this text. The present translation of Abhinavagupta`s masterpiece will not only be a milestone in the study of Kashmir Saivism, but it also makes available one of the major mystical texts of the Indian tradition to readers interested in philosophy and spirituality Contents Preface by Bettina Baumer, List of Abbreviations, PART I: Paratrisika-Vivarana of Abhinavagupta: Translation with notes, Prelimiaries, Verse 1 of Paratrisika, Commentary, Different implications of the Word Devi, The rationale of the past tense in 'said', The final Resting Place of all questions and answers, Sixteen interpretations of anuttara, Interpretation of Kaulika-siddhidam, Exposition on verse 1 and Commentary, Etad guhyam mahaguhyam.. text and commentary, PART II: Paratrisika-Vivarana: Sanskrit Text, Index of Half-Verses of Paratrisika, Index of Quotations