An Introduction to the Advaita Saiva Philosophy of Kashmir

Contents: Preface. I. Historical: 1. Origin and development of the Advaita Saiva thought in India. II. Metaphysical: 2. Nature of the supreme reality. 3. The supreme reality: its manifestation as the world. 4. The nature of man and this status in the world-manifestation. 5. Addenda. Glossary of technical terms in Sanskrit. Index. Selected bibliography.

“The Advaita Saiva philosopher have not only shed light on the process of the world manifestation in the conventional way, they have added a new dimension to it by describing it in terms of involution on the part of Caitanya to the gross level of matter; or as the unfoldment on the part of the Supreme Lord out of His free will, exercising His Svatantrya Sakti; or as His self-extension in the aspect of His Sakti. They mention seven different kinds of experients or subjects (embodied, unembodied and disembodied), a concept unique in the annals of Indian philosophy.

The concept of Purnahamta (pure I-experience) symbolizing the fullness-nature of the Supreme Experient, i.e. Siva Pramata, different from the ego-experience (Ahamkara) of the limited embodied beings, has been explained in this book in esoteric terms as it marks a unique contribution of Kashmir Saivism to Indian philosophical thought.”