Dr. Ranjini M. was actively pursuing the publication of her doctoral thesis despite her busy schedule of academic, cultural, and collegiate activities. In December 2024, we discussed the details when we met at the Government Sanskrit College, Thri-punithura, during an academic program. In March 2025, she sent me a message requesting a foreword for the work. I agreed and promised to send it before the end of the month.
However, fate intervened cruelly and put a sudden end to all her plans. It was a terrible shock to us all when we heard of the fatal incident that ended her dreams on March 27, 2025. Having known her academic and socio-cultural caliber for more than three decades, even I cannot suppress my sorrow over her passing. It was indeed a bolt from the blue. The loss to her family is inexplicable; only time can heal such wounds. However, the late Dr. Ranjini remains alive in many minds. Dr. Sangamesan K.M. has now shown great determination to publish the doctoral thesis of his better half. I am sure this will be an everlasting tribute to her soul.
We human beings are quite helpless against the fatal decisions of this mundane world. The only way we can recover from such endless grief and loss is to try and fulfill the hopes of the departed. Dr. Ranjini's spouse and children are moving forward with this mission. Bringing her research work before the academic world is a fitting tribute to a great soul. This monument to Dr. Ranjini M. will keep her memory alive forever.
Pratyabhijna and Advaita Vedanta are two non-dualistic philosophies originated from two distant parts of India, Kashmir and Kerala, and having distinct socio-cultural and traditional backgrounds. The Sivadvaya or Pratyabhijna philosophy of Kashmir has developed its non-dual thought from the Saivagamas and Advaita Vedanta has developed the same from the Vedas and Upaniṣads. One is Agamanta and the other is Vedanta. It is interesting that both these philosophies, emerged from different traditions, bear notable similarities in their concepts. Both present the zenith of non-duality which forms the undercurrent of the whole universe. The ultimate goal of both is nothing but the realization of the self. Even though there are several studies on both philosophies, which also carried out some attempts to compare some elements of both systems, no comprehensive attempt is seen made to compare these systems wholly. Hence it seems there is enough significance in approaching these two non-dual philosophies with an analytical and comparative perspective. Here, an attempt is made for the same.
As there are several schools in Advaita Vedanta, here the focus is limited to the ideas of Sri Sankara, who is globally known as the propounder of the Advaita Vedanta. As far as possible, the primary texts of Pratyabhijna and Sankara's Advaita are used for the present study. The ISvarapratyabhijna- karika and its Vrtti of Utpaladeva, ISvarapratyabhijnavimar-Sini of Abhinavagupta are mostly used to explain the Pratyabhijna concepts. The Prasthanatrayabhaṣya of Sankara is used as the Advaitic resource. In some places other Prakarana texts are also used.
The present work is divided into seven chapters. The first one is an introductory chapter which examines generally the notion of non-duality prevalent in Indian thought. Due to the familiarity, the non-dualism of Vedic tradition is examined in the beginning. After the general assessment of the Vedanta schools including Advaita Vedanta of Sankara, different systems of Agamic philosophies, which have a spark of non-duality rooted in Tantric and Agamic literature, have been reviewed. The non-dual elements in the Buddhist systems have also been examined in this chapter.
The second chapter discusses the historical and cultural significance of the two non-dualistic philosophies, Pratyabhijna and Sankara's Advaita. The origin and development, various schools, main teachers and their contributions, and the key concepts connected to these two systems were subjected for discussion in this chapter.
Vedas (1260)
Upanishads (527)
Puranas (641)
Ramayana (782)
Mahabharata (388)
Dharmasastras (174)
Goddess (545)
Bhakti (252)
Saints (1879)
Gods (1321)
Shiva (418)
Journal (181)
Fiction (71)
Vedanta (395)
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