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Principle of Shakti in Kashmir Shaivism (Study)

by Nirmala V. | 2016 | 65,229 words

This page relates ‘New Treatises of De-Shaktised Thoughts� 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 2.5 - New Treatises of De-Śaktised Thoughts

[Full title: (2) De-Shaktisation trough the formulations of new concepts, treatises and sub-schools (5) New Treatises of De-Śaktised Thoughts]  

Ѳٳmañjarī—a 14th century[1] work by ѲśԲԻ岹—is widely accepted as the authentic text of Krama school by the contemporary scholars. In fact its contents are affectionate towards the posterior philosophy of non-dual Ś, and to the classical orthodox tendencies of īṃs, ṛt, etc. The only Krama relation is found in the topics, Pañcārthakramāvamarśa (vv.82-106) and ѳܻ

Vrajavallabh Dvivedi makes a sensible description in the forward of the text as follows;

क्रमदर्शनमेतत्प्राधान्ये� त्रिकदर्शनमनुसरतीति स्वयमेवा� सः—“श्रीमहार्थत्रिकदर्शनयोर्नात्यन्त� भेदप्रथा तेनैव� � कौलदर्शनतोऽप्यस्� नै� वैलक्षण्यमित्युक्तं—“अस्यामर्थस्थिति� सै� या सर्वत्� कुलागम� � किन्तु शब्दस्� शय्यान्य� नात्यन्त� � विभिद्यत� ॥� इत� � मतदर्शनं यद्यपि नात्� चर्चित�, तथाप� महेश्वरानन्दस्� परमगुरुः शिवानन्द� मतेशापरनामधेयं शंभुनिर्णय� व्याख्याति �

kramadarśanametatprādhānyena trikadarśanamanusaratīti svayamevāha saḥ—“śrīmahārthatrikadarśanayornātyanta� bhedaprathā tenaiva� | kauladarśanato'pyasya naiva vailakṣaṇyamityuktaṃ—“asmarthasthiti� saiva sarvatra kulāgame | kintu śabdasya śayn nātyanta� na vibhidyate ||� iti | matadarśana� yadyapi nātra ٲ�, tathāpi maheśvarānandasya 貹ܰ� śivānando mateśāparanāmadheya� śaṃbhunirṇaya� vkhti |[2]

But the final statement in the conclusion of the aforesaid passage, which says that there is no difference among the philosophies of Krama, Kula, Mata and Trika; and the difference lies only in the ritualistic regulations, is highly objectionable. Since their distinctive existence has been established on strong philosophical ground this statement clearly is an attempt to appropriate these systems into the domain of the new Ś-centred Ѳٳ (Krama) system.

Another work of later origin-yet considered as an authentic source of Kula system-is the ʲٰṃśi (ʲٰṃśi). It deals mainly with the principle of ultimacy known as Anuttara.

The independent works as well as the commentaries of texts or portions or passages even before the tenth or eleventh century are also to be included in the impacts of the evolution. The Jayadrathamala or ղԳٰᲹ which is having four parts and among which the first is earlier than other parts has frequently been referred to by the texts like ղԳٰǰ첹 and Viveka. This text, also known as ղԳٰᲹbhaṭṭāraka, moved the early esoteric position of ī into the paddhatis used by Kashmirian officiants for the fire sacrifices and the sacrifices especially reserved for the female deities[3]

The Goddesses presented here include all the forms of female deities prevalent in the period of its composition. Sanderson views thus;

They may be summarised as comprising ٳܰ forms, the local goddesses, հܰܲԻ岹ī forms, the īs of the īkula, Caṇḍākapālinī, Trika’s ī, ܲᾱ and ṣmī forms whose origin is not known to me.[4]

Another important impact is the emergence of new sub systems within or outside the realm, with the help of the preceding scriptural doctrinal sources. This might be because of the idleness of the previous system in its context, or otherwise the external influence for the implementation of contradictory ideas to a particular stream.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

See Vrajavallabh Dvivedi (Ed.), Ѳٳmañjarī, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, p.12 for the extensive discussion on confirmations about the author and the time of origin.

[2]:

Ibid., pp.13-14.

[3]:

Refer to Alexis Sanderson, �Ś Exegesis of Kashmir�, p.253.

[4]:

Alexis Sanderson, “Ś� and Tantric Tradition�, pp.22-23, fn.19.

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