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Kashmir Shaivism / Trika · Philosopher, theologian, aesthetician, mystic
Also Known As
Abhinava, Abhinavagupta Padacharya
Period
c. 950–1016 CE
Region
Kashmir
Tradition
Kashmir Shaivism / Trika
Abhinavagupta was a Kashmiri Shaiva philosopher, theologian, aesthetician, and practitioner associated with the Trika tradition. PujaKit treats him as a major study gateway for Kashmir Shaivism, Tantra, and Indian aesthetics rather than as a short name-only author card.
His Tantraloka is a vast synthesis of ritual, metaphysics, mantra, initiation, contemplative practice, and Shaiva theology. He is also central to the study of rasa and aesthetics through works connected with the Natyashastra commentary tradition. Because his writings are dense and technical, the page should guide readers toward introductions, lineage-aware study, and careful terminology before direct reading.
Abhinavagupta’s teaching emphasizes Shiva as consciousness, the recognition of one’s own nature, the power of Shakti, mantra, ritual interiorization, and the integration of philosophy with lived practice. In aesthetics, his work helps explain rasa as a refined, universalized experience rather than ordinary emotion.
Readers should not begin with Tantraloka as a casual first text. A safer reading path starts with Kashmir Shaiva introductions, then selected passages with commentary, then related glossary terms such as Shiva, Shakti, spanda, pratyabhijna, mantra, and rasa.
Abhinavagupta is represented in PujaKit as a philosopher, theologian, aesthetician, mystic associated with Kashmir Shaivism / Trika. The profile connects the person to works, lineage context, and the larger Hindu knowledge tradition instead of treating the name as a bare catalogue entry.
The listed period is c. 950–1016 CE, with regional association given as Kashmir. Dates, place traditions, and authorship can vary across sampradayas; verify details against the relevant lineage and source tradition.
This theme helps place Abhinavagupta within Hindu textual study, practice, commentary, and living tradition.
This theme helps place Abhinavagupta within Hindu textual study, practice, commentary, and living tradition.
This theme helps place Abhinavagupta within Hindu textual study, practice, commentary, and living tradition.
This theme helps place Abhinavagupta within Hindu textual study, practice, commentary, and living tradition.
This theme helps place Abhinavagupta within Hindu textual study, practice, commentary, and living tradition.
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