Abhinavagupta S Commentary On The Bhagavad G T

Abhinavagupta, Probably The Greatest Genius Of India In The Fields Of Philosophy, Aesthetics, Poetics, Dramaturgy, Tantra And Mysticism, Is Being Rediscovered Only In The Last Few Decades. Although Several Scholars, In India And Abroad, Are Engaged In Studying His Works, It Is Surprising That There Are Still Few Translations Available. The Great Merit Of The Present Translation Of Abhinavagupta`S Summary Of The (Real And Secret) Meaning Of The Bhagavad Gita Lies In The Following: First, It Includes The Text And Translation Of The Kashmiri Version Of The Bhagavad Gita, Which In Places Differs From The One Commented Upon By Shankara. Besides, It Brings Out The Specific Meanings In The Context Of Kashmir Shaiva Philosophy And Yoga, Without Being Influenced By Samkhya Or Vedanta.

This book is a straightforward, contemporary and simple explanation and commentary of the Bhagawat Gita, with Sanskrit to English translation. Each shloka (verse) is explained in detail. A summary of each chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is also included. No prior background in Indian scriptures or Vedanta is needed.

"I have prepared a trident of Wisdom in order to cut asunder their bondage." -- Abhinavagupta This is a long commentary on a short Tantra. One of the most authoritative and venerated texts in Kashmir Shaivism, it deals with the nature of Ultimate Reality and with methods of realization focusing on the theory and practice of Mantra. Abhinavagupta presents his metaphysics of language, of the Word (Vak), and its relation to consciousness. He calls it, "trikasastra-rahasya-upadesa: The teaching of the secret of the Trika doctrine."

The Paratrisika (or Paratrimsika) is a short Tantra that 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

The debates between various Buddhist and Hindu philosophical systems about the existence, definition and nature of self, occupy a central place in the history of Indian philosophy and religion. These debates concern various issues: what 'self' means, whether the self can be said to exist at all, arguments that can substantiate any position on this question, how the ordinary reality of individual persons can be explained, and the consequences of each position. At a time when comparable issues are at the forefront of contemporary Western philosophy, in both analytic and continental traditions (as well as in their interaction), these classical and medieval Indian debates widen and globalise such discussions. This book brings to a wider audience the sophisticated range of positions held by various systems of thought in classical India.