-
Kalikrama and Abhina...
Kalikrama and Abhinavagupta
The Epistemological Ethos of a Tantric Tradition by: Navjivan Rastogi₹540.00
ISBN: 9788124607572
Year Of Publication: 2022
Edition: 1st
Pages : XVI,152
Bibliographic Details : Bibliography, Index
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: Nalanda International Los Angeles (USA)
Size: 22
Weight: 366
The Krama School of the Trika Saivism of Kashmir, more familiar as Kalikrama in the contemporary parlance, has turned out to be the most crucial among the monistic Saiva traditions of medieval Kashmir after the Pratyabhijna school, a scenario people could hardly envisage six decades back when it first came to the notice of modern scholarship. The doctrine of Kalikrama, lit. sequential order of consciousness deities called Kalis, constitutes the most pivotal aspect of this school marked by a synchronous resonance between the esoteric/Tantric and cognitive/metaphysical undercurrents of the system.
In order to delve deeper into the doctrine of Kalikrama the present monograph does some loud thinking in three important areas: (a) the role of cognitivization in the ultimate realization; (b) the theoretical background of the mystical experience built around the consciousness deity(ies); and (c) the inconclusiveness of the hidden meaning posing an epistemological barrier in the study of an esoteric Tantric tradition. In all these areas one cannot miss the imprints of Abhinavagupta’s profound contribution. As such, the present study journeys into three directions: (1) a short genealogy of modern Krama studies; (2) the epistemology of the esoteric internalization embodied in the doctrine of Kalikrama; and (3) the role played by Abhinavagupta as its foremost architect. As such, the present study needs be construed as a small step towards discovering the intrinsic epistemological ethos of an esoteric Tantric tradition.
Preface
Abbreviations
1. Approaching the Core Theme
Tradition Underexplored
Brief Recount of Modern Krama Studies
Meaning of “Exploring” an Esoteric System
2. Succession as the Central Problem of Philosophy
Krama Exegesis of Succession (Krama)
Synthesizing Succession with the Unitary Framework of Krama
Explaining the Nature of Succession (Krama)
Krama vs Apohana: Succession vs Logical Exclusion
Bhedana, Apohana and Kramana: Differentiation, Logical Exclusion and Succession
3. Krama Reality as Kalo
Krama’s Indebtedness to Bhartrhari and Patanjali
Hermeneutics of Kalana: The Niche World-view of Abhinavagupta’s Krama
Cyclical Notion of Reality: Essence of Four- Five-fold Functional Ontology
4. Abhinavagupta as Pramana-Purusa: The Foremost Systematizer of Krama
Integrating Krama within Pratyabhijna Metaphysics
Seminal Elements of Abhinavagupta’s Legacy
Associating Kalis with Saktopaya
Abhinavagupta’s Krama Writings
Motivation behind Composing a New Krama-Stotra
The New Krama-Stotra as an Embodiment of Abhinavagupta’s Version of Samvit-cakra
5. Abhinavagupta’s Kramification of Trika Thought
Developing Anuttaratrika-prakriyà Methodology for Exploring Tantra-Tattva
Reformulating Cultural Paradigm: Positing Bhoga as an Integral Component of Moksa
Devising an Encyclopaedic Epistemological Architecture under Anuttaratrika-prakriya
External Phase
Internal Phase
Inventing Prakriya Methodology at Macro Level
Schematization at Micro Level
Schematization at Subtler Micro Level
(a) Appropriating Kalana to Twelve-Kali Cycle (Samvit-Krama) (b) Four Models of Twelve-Kali Cycle
Appropriating Kalana to Vikalpa-Samskara
6. Epistemology of Internalization
Structural Epistemologization
Sense Faculties as Sense Deities (Karanesvari)
Body as Threefold Seat of Awareness Flow
As Gross Seat (Pitha-Niketana)
As Subtle Seat (Vrnda-Cakra)
As Transcendental Seat (Pancavaha)
Analysing Epistemological Process
Pramana as a Vehicle for Internalizing the Object
Pramana as an Aestheticizing Process
Meta-epistemological Character of Pramana
Pramana as Karana
7. Abhinavagupta’s Kramification of the Tantric Lore: Revisiting His Paramarthasara
8. Summing Up
Bibliography
Index
“Kalikrama and Abhinavagupta”
-
Sale!An Introduction to Jain Philosophy ₹1,440.00
It is well-known that the Jain tradition has been extremely influential in the development of Indian thought and culture. The Jain tradition teaches that there is an interdependence of perception, knowledge, and conduct unified by an axiomatic principle of non-violence in thought, speech, and action. In this way, non-violence defines the core of the Jain tradition, which has had a profound effect on other dharmic traditions originating in India. Jain Dharma is so significant that in some ways it may be incomplete to attempt to understand other Indian traditions (such as Buddhism or Hinduism) without knowing the basics of the Jain tradition, since these other traditions developed in an ongoing dialogue with the insights and wisdom of Jain respondents and visionaries.
This book enables the reader to enjoy a comprehensive journey into the intricate world of Jain thought and culture in a way that is philosophical in its compelling rationality, deeply spiritual in its revelations, yet accessible in its language. The organization of this book allows the reader to engage in an overview of the central teachings of the Jain tradition, but also to ascertain the profundity of its depths. It can be read with equal efficacy in succession from beginning to end, or pursued by individual topics of interest to the reader. Either strategy will have the same effect: a systematic understanding of what the timeless teachings of Jain thinkers have to say about the universal issues of the human condition – and how we might understand our harmonious relationship with other living entities as a powerful and effective spiritual journey. -
Sale!An Intergrated Science of the Absolute (2 Vols. Set) ₹2,700.00
It is not just the magnum opus, but a truly monumental effort of a scientist-philosopher who has spent a whole lifetime to formulate a unitive science, wherein all disciplines of human questing could find a common ground a science where modern science and ancient spiritual wisdom could meet and merge like two opposite poles of a magnet. As a direct disciple of one of the great rishis of the modern age, Nataraja Guru discovers this common ground in Brahma-vidya, which he calls the Integrated Science of the Absolute, and which has, at its base, his Gurus Dars?ana Mala.
A string of hundred Sanskrit verses, composed by the mystic-poet, Narayana Guru (18541928), the Darsana Mala is the very epitome of all visions of truth inspired by his remarkable acquisitions of Upanisadic thought and, yet far more, by his own tapas (mystical discipline). Reproducing these highly significative verses in Roman script, along with English translations, word meanings, and extensive commentaries, Nataraja Guru not only spells out his mentors Visions of the Absolute in contemporary idiom, but also shows how these visions are fully validated by modern science.
Eclectic synthesis of varied scientific disciplines into a systematic whole is not all that Nataraja Guru accomplishes here. Rather, his book (now in third edition) is an attempt to reintroduce Brahma-vidya as the one Master Science that embraces every branch of science, every human interest. -
Sale!Action, Freedom and Responsibility ₹675.00
This book, a work on human doing, analyses and applies three central aspects of human life – Action, Freedom and Responsibility – in the wide spectrum of the Philosophy of Mind. Reflections on these issues and their interconnections have a significant effect on the Philosophy of Value and application of ethical theories in practical life. This book even reconstructs the conceptual connection between action and freedom, on the one hand, and that between freedom and responsibility, on the other.
It also puts the concepts of freedom and determinism to critical test and reinterprets them from different angles and perspectives. The conventional doctrine of karma, based on the teachings of the Bhagavadgātā, is relieved from its usual deterministic presentation and a logically reasonable explanation is offered.
Human actions and human agency are central concepts in the philosophy of mind and action. Free will and responsibility constitute the bedrock of the moral life of the human agents and the book pinpoints that freedom is meant to undertake the goal-oriented actions. It is, therefore, focused on the enquiry into the various aspects of philosophy of mind, as well as the philosophy of value. -
Sale!First Five Brahmasūtras (विज्ञानभिक्षोः ब्रह्मसूत्रपञ्चचसूत्रीभाष्यम्) ₹990.00
This is an annotated English translation of Vijñānabhikṣu’s commentaries on the first five Brahmasūtra (BS) of Bādarāyaṇa called the Vijñānāmṛtabhāṣya (VijBh). This is a pioneering work as no translation of the VijBh has been done so far. Bhikṣu is perhaps the only known Vedānta scholar who has argued for Brahman along with his prakṛti-śakti being the cause of the world. He calls his Advaita philosophy as Avibhāga-Advaita and sets himself against Śaṅkara’s Advaita which argues for Brahman alone being the material and efficient cause of the world. Bhikṣu is also an unique Advaita scholar as he interprets Vedānta using Sāṁkhya/Yoga principles. One of the reasons for choosing to comment on only the first five sūtras was because the VijBh is a huge work and also because Bhikṣu’s Avibhāga-Advaita can easily be understood from his commentaries on these first five sūtras of the BS. Even though the real reason for Bhikṣu’s commentary on the fifth sūtra (BS I.1.5) should be clear to anyone familiar with Vedānta’s objection to prakṛti being the cause of the world, it needed to be seen as to how Bhikṣu, as a committed Sāṁkhya-Yoga-Vedāntācārya, defends prakṛti’s role in being the cause. Just as writing commentaries on the first four sūtras of Śaṅkara’s BSBh done by some eminent scholars present the main features of Śaṅkara’s Advaita, the commentaries on the first five sūtras of the BS by Bhikṣu could adequately present Bhikṣu’s Avibhāga-Advaita Vedānta.
-
Sale!Towards a New Age of Nonviolence ₹1,260.00
Towards a New Age of Nonviolence is a compilation of scholarly articles on Gandhi – his philosophy of nonviolence (ahimsa) and nonviolent action (satyagraha) – are the themes encompassing the volume. In a materialistic world of today, people hold guns and grudges, and for the slightest glitch, they pronounce wars that do not end. The fearful consequence of this would lead to human extinction very soon. In such a detrimental and precarious scenario, the only way out is to embrace the Gandhian way of living.
The book comprises 14 articles on Gandhi and his values, its relevance to industrial age, views on nonviolence, economics of gram swaraj, significance of peace and tolerance in an era of explosive technology and his spiritual and ethical doctrine in the context of current global conflicts. The book is sure, a must read for everyone who wants to see a better world.
There are no reviews yet.