Principle of Shakti in Kashmir Shaivism (Study)
by Nirmala V. | 2016 | 65,229 words
This page relates ‘Essential Nature of Jnanashakti� of the thesis dealing with the evolution and role of Shakti—the feminine principle—within the religious and philosophical framework of Kashmir Shaivism. Tantrism represents an ancient Indian spiritual system with Shakti traditionally holding a prominent role. This study examines four major sub-streams: Kula, Krama, Spanda, and Pratyabhijnā.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 2.9 - The Essential Nature of ñԲśپ
To define simply, ñԲśپ is nothing but the ʰś. It is otherwise remarked as:
अह� जानामि मय� ज्ञातं ज्ञास्यत� � इत्यत्� विद्यमान� स्वप्रकाशाहंपरामर्शपरिनिष्ठितमेव ज्ञानम� �
aha� jānāmi ñٲ� jñāsyate ca ityatra vidyamāna� svaprakāśāhaṃparāmarśapariniṣṭhitameva ñԲm |[1]
ñԲśپ is that power by which the knowable (ⲹ) to every preceptor and illuminate like Գٲḥkṇa are made.
Utpaladeva describes Śṛṣṭi I. 20-21 as:
परतस्तस्मिन् विश्वलक्षण� कार्ये यज्ज्ञान�, तत्प्रकाशनशक्तिरूपता- चिदात्मन� सर्वप्रतिपत्तॄणामवेद्यमन्तःकरण इव प्रकाशमानं तत्कार्य� यत� सा ज्ञानशक्ति� � अनन्तर� सर्वप्रमातृवेद्यस्थूलकार्याकार संपत्तिफलः समुद्यमः इच्छाविष� एव क्रियाशक्तिः �
paratastasmin viśvalakṣaṇe kārye yajñԲ�, tatprakāśanaśaktirūpatā- cidātmana� sarvapratipattṝṇāmavedyamԳٲḥkṇa iva prakāśamāna� tatⲹ� yata� sā ñԲśakti� | ԲԳٲ� sarvaṛvedyasthūlakāryākāra saṃpattiphala� samudyama� icchāviṣaya eva śپ� || [2]
The power of knowledge is indeed hinges on upon the knower (�). Perception occurs only when the object of perception underlies completely in the preceptor. The externalized illumination (such as this) of the cognizable objects with the help of veils and self-differentiation is called ñԲśپ-the power of knowledge.
Abhinavagupta appends,
The shining of objects, -which are directly, clearly cognized as ‘this�, as separated from individual subject, because of their having been separated from the individual subjects, beginning with ŚūԲⲹ and ending with body, which are creations of is logically possible only if they be admitted to be within the true subject, who is essentially self-luminocity; that is if they still retain their essential identity with the universal subject.[3]
The finite world can only be classified into two; Ჹḍa and aᲹḍa (sentient and insentient). These two represent unreal and real entities respectively. In general the sentient (aᲹḍa) is �-the knower.
But here in monistic Ś, there is no difference between aᲹḍa� and Ჹḍa�:
एवामात्मन्यसत्कल्पाः प्रकाशस्यापि सन्त्यमी �
जड� प्रकाश एवास्त� स्वात्मन� स्वपरात्मभिः �evāmātmanyasatkalpā� prakāśasyāpi santyamī |
jaḍ� prakāśa evāsti svātmana� svaparātmabhi� |AᲹḍaṛsiddhi, I. 13: (Also refer to ibid., I. 15.)
There is nothing called Ჹḍa according to this philosophical system.
Equality of the knower is conceptualized because it is consisted of ñԲ and :
ततश्� भगवान् सदाशिव� जानाति इत्यतः प्रभृत� क्रिमिरप� जानाति
However, in the absolute sense paramārtha� (the true cognizer) is the supreme consciousness. An object that is external to the consciousness does not exist at all, since it would be Ჹḍa, and Ჹḍa cannot shine in knowledge.[5] So both the subject and object are termed as power of knowledge. This thought shares the elements of Buddhist ViñԲvāda doctrine.
Ucchuṣmabhairavatantra observes,
यावन्न वेदक� एत� तावद्वेद्याः कथ� प्रिये �
वेदक� वेद्यमेक� तु तत्त्व� नास्त्यशुचिस्ततः �yāvanna vedakā ete tāvadvedyā� 첹ٳ� priye |
vedaka� vedyameka� tu tattva� nāstyaśucistata� ||[6]
Still the problem remains there, and rather increases by the aforementioned assertion on the nature of object as to why some of the objects are cognized only by somebody and not by others? The object, with light as its essence, is being illuminated by the light of the subject. The conscious light, indifferent from itself cannot be the cause of multiform manifestation. Though all these variegated manifestations (lacking any specific cause) persuade to the inference of an external object as the cause, it is not accepted in the present doctrine. There is no need of any apparent cause for the supreme self to create this manifold universe. As the yogin originates distinct arthajāta even in the absence of instigation, the supreme manifests himself without any reason.[7]
Knowledge is divided mainly into two categories: ṣaṇa and vikalpa. The power of knowledge appears in different forms in different time like the illumination, determinacy, recognition, memory, inference etc. All these constructed knowledge are rooted on the indeterminate ultimate knowledge.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
[3]:
. Vol.3, p.55.
[4]:
Ibid., p. 77. cf. ñԲśāktiyogādīśvara� | śⲹ is commonly found to be referred to as the freedom of the supreme lord. Īśٲⲹñ, I. 5. 13: svātantryametanmukhya� tadaiśvarya� parameṣṭhinaḥI
[5]:
Śṛṣṭi , IV. 29-; V. 12.
[6]:
Quoted in Śsūtravārtika (Śsūtravārtika); cf. Sp.Pra, I. 12.
[7]:
Īśٲⲹñ, I. 5. 7.