Paratrisika Vivarana by Abhinavagupta: The Secret of Tantric Mysticism

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About the Book

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 (Laghuvartti) 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, centered 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.

About the Author     

Jaideva Singh (1893-1986) was a great scholar in musicology, philosophy and Sanskrit. A former principal of Y.D. Collage, Lakhimpur-Kheri, he also acted as a Chairman of U.P. Sangit Natak Academy. He was awarded Padma Bhushan by the Goverment of India in 1974. His other works include: Siva-Sutras, Spanda-Karika, Pratyabhijnahrdayam, Vijnana-bhairava. 

Swami Lakshmanjee, Saivacarya, was the greatest exponent of the Kashmir Saiva tradition or Trika. 

Dr. Bettina Baumer, a Sanskrit scholar from Austria, is at present research director of the Alice Boner Foundation and Hon. Project Coordinator of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.  

Contents:

Preface by Bettina Baumer
List of Abbreviations

Part I : Paratrisika-Vivarana of Abhinavagupta:
           Translation with Notes
           Preliminaries (Benedictory Verses 1-5) Verse 1 of Paratrisika
           Commentary
           Different implications of the word Devi
           The rationale of the past tense in 'said' (uvaca)
           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

Verse 2
    Commentary
Verse 3 and 4
    Commentary
Verse 5 to 9a
    Commentary
Verse 9 to 18b
    Commentary
Verse 19
    Commentary
Verse 20
    Commentary
Verse 21
    Commentary
Verse 22
    Commentary
Verse 23
    Commentary
Verse 24
    Commentary
Verse 25 to 26
    Commentary
Verse 27
Verse 28
Verse 29
Verse 30
Verse 31 to 33
    Commentary
Verse 34 Verse 35
    Commentary
Verse 36
    Commentary
Verse 37
    Commentary
Autobiographical Verses of Abhinavagupta
General Index

Part II : Paratrisika-Vivarana : Sanskrit Text
             List of Additions & Corrections (Sanskrit Text)
             Index of Half-Verses of Paratrisika
             Index of Quotations