Touch of Sakti

Fürlinger, Ernst:
The touch of Śakti : a study in non-dualistic Trika Śaivism of Kashmir / Ernst Fürlinger. - New Delhi : D.K. Printworld, 2009. - xxii, 288, [8] S. : Ill.
ISBN 978-81-246-0463-2 / 81-246-0463-0
Rs. 690,00
US$ 15,00 (Eastern Book Corp.)
US$ 27,35 (Biblia Impex)
DDC: 294.5513

Beschreibung
The Kashmirian Shaiva tradition in its non-dualistic form in particular is one of the richest philosophical traditions of India that have survived to the present day. This book by the noted scholar, Dr Fürlinger, deals with the bodily experience of the transcendent power, the Shakti, in the context of the Shaiva Kundalini-Yoga. In an insightful introduction, the scholar presents an overview of the historical development of the Kashmirian Shaiva traditions, especially of the non-dualistic system, Trika, made famous by the work of its famous proponent, Abhinavagupta. He studies the theme of shaktisparsha in selected texts of non-dualistic Trika Shaivism of Kashmir, focusing on Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali of the tenth century and Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka of the eleventh century. The texts are analysed along with a noted commentary associated with each to shed light on the different contexts and meanings in which the word sparsha occurs in connection with Shakti, the divine power, revered as the Goddess. The study examines sparsa as one of the highest stages in the spiritual ascent in the Tantraloka and its corresponding description in the Shivastotravali. The difference in the notion of sparsa in the two texts is also brought out. It thus reveals the liberating and critical potential of the non-dualistic Shaiva tradition of Kashmir.

Inhalt
Foreword by Andre Padoux
Preface
Abbreviations
List of Plates
1. Introduction
    Trika Shaivism of Kashmir
    Scriptural Authority
    Historical Development
    The Different Meanings of Sparsha in Indian Traditions
    The Term Sparsha in Early Texts of Non-dualistic Kashmir Shaivism
2. Hermeneutical Reflections
    Is Cit "Consciousness"?
    Is Vimarsha "Reflective Awareness"?
    Remarks on Tantric Language and its Interpretation with the Example of Tantraloka
3. The Touch of Shakti (Shaktisparsha): Selected Texts of Non-dualistic Shaivism of Kashmir
    Utpaladeva: Shivastotravali with the Commentary (Vivritti) by Ksemaraja
    Abhinavagupta: Tantraloka with Commentary (Viveka) by Jayaratha
        Introduction
        The Sensual Touch
        The Touch of the Mirror
        The Touch of Anuttara-Samvit
        A Note on Anuttara
        The "Touch of Ants" (Pipilikasparsha)
        The "Touch of Fullness" (Purnatasparsha)
        Sparsha as Consonant
        "Shakti, of the Nature of Touch"
        A Note on the Touch of the Sexual Fluids
        "Uccara of Om"
        The Practice of Uccara according to the Tantraloka
        The twelve main stages of the Power
        Sparsha in the process of manifestation: Svacchandatantra 11
        'Light,' 'Sound,' 'Touch' as Stages of Nearness
4. Conclusion: The Question of the Liberating and Critical Potential of Trika Shaivism
Bibliography
Index

Autor
ERNST FÜRLINGER, Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter, Zentrum für Migration, Integration und Sicherheit, Donau-Universität Krems. Profil-Seite.

Quellen: D.K. Printworld; Eastern Book Corp.; Biblia Impex; WorldCat