Ācārya abhinavagupta: legacy and significance
TRANSCRIPT
International Symposium
on
Ācārya Abhinavagupta: Legacy and Significance
(21-22June,2021)
ABSTRACTS
Indian Institute of Advanced Study
Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla171005
Shalini Mathur
Bio- Note
A student of Professor Navjeevan Rastogi, her thesis was on Kashmir Shaiva Darshan
Sammat Chhattis Tattva.
Though she worked with fertiliser company on managerial positions, but continued to
work as a social activist for empowerment of women, particularly to stop violence against
them. She has published more than 40 papers in literary magazines like Kathadesh, Pakhi,
Jyanodaya, Aha Zindagi etc. on feminist issues and Sameeksha of stories and poetry. I
continue to write on theatre and films also.
Her article on Rasanubhuti and Aatmavishranti was published in Rang Prasang a journal
of National school of Drama.
Under the guidance of Prof. Rastogi, she continue to read and learn about Acharya
Abhinava Gupta, and tries to be associated with various learning activities. She learnt
classical music for many years which is still keeps close to her heart though she could not
pursue it as a career.
**
Dr.Sachchidanand Joshi
Member Secretary, IGNCA
Bio-Note
A poet, writer and thinker, Dr.Sacchidananda Joshi is currently the Member Secretary at
the prestigious Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts. He has worked as Vice Chancellor
in the KushabhauThakre University of Journalism and Mass Communication, Raipur for
Two Terms, where he assumed office as one of the Youngest Vice Chancellors of the
country. He has been the Founder Registrar and later briefly also the Dean, Academics in
the Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal
for ten years. This University, established by Govt. of M.P., is first of its kind in Asia for
imparting education in the field of Journalism, Mass Communication, IT and related
subjects. Dr. Joshi has written numerous research articles on academic issues related to
Media Education, Life- style, Culture and Social Justice published in reputed professional
Journals. A practicing Communicator, he has delivered lectures on Communication skills,
Personality Development and Gender Sensitization in different Senior level training
programmes and workshops. He has been associated with cultural organisations like
Sanskar Bharti, Rangashri Little Ballet Troupe, Rangayatri, Rotary Club and the Sewa
Vardhini.
He has published widely in the field of Journalism and as a creative writer has three short
story collections and one poetry collection to his credit. Besides that, two collections of
his penetrating insights on small yet inspiring incidents in life have been published as
„AlpaViram‟.
**
Professor Moti Lal Pandit
Bio-Note
Prof. Moti Lal Pandit is presently working as a Researcher for Aeropagus Foundation,
Oslo, Norway. As an academic he has been associated with Aarhus University-Denmark,
Faculty of Indology and Dialog Center International, Aarhus-Denmark. He's published
papers on comparative religion, and also has published several books on Hinduism,
Buddhism and Christianity. Some of his published works include In Search of the
Absolute: Shankara's Concept of Reality; Being as Becoming; Philosophy of the
Upanishads; Did Marx Kill God;Religio-philosophical History of Saivism; Buddhism: A
Religion of Salvation;T he Trika Saivism of Kashmir; Transcendence and Negation; and
Sūnyaā : The Essence of Mahāyana Spirituality.
Paper Title:Abhinava’s Life and Works
Abstract:
The presentation will attempt to trace the early antecedents of Abhinavagupta, which
started with Atrigupta who was invited by Lalitadita to Kashmir at the time when
Yashovarman of Kannauj was defeated. Atrigupta is said to have been so great a great
scholar in saivaagamas and his fame was so widespread that Emperor Lalitaditya himself
invited him to settle in Kashmir, which the said scholar accepted.
Then we shall deal with the birth of Abhinava in Kashmir, his early upbringing,
education, and the early signs of his extra-ordinary genius.
His early education started with his father Lakshmanagupta in grammar. He also studied
in a local pathshala, where his teachers were so enthralled to him for his originality and
for the fluency of his speech that they gave him the name Abhinava. Abhinava himself
affirms that whatever he spoke or composed was highly praised by his teachers. His
family consisted of his mother Vimala and father Narasimhagupta. Both the parents were
immersed in the devotion to Siva. Unfortunately Abhinava's mother died when he was
very young. Abhinava himself affirms that he's a Yoginibhu which later was confirmed by
the Saivite saints of the co untry by asserting that he was the incarnation of Sesha and of
Srikanthanatha. His contribution was so original that he was recognized at a very young
age as the spiritual head of all Saivite sects in India. After the death of his mother, his
father and he himself adopted an ascetic mode of life. This lead him to give up the study
of sahitya in favour of tantra. And so, he went on to compose authoritative texts like
Tantraloka on Trika Tantric thought. So great was his thirst for knowledge that he was led
to undertaking the study of different branches of knowledge under various teachers.
Some of his teachers were Narasimhagupta (father) who taught him grammar,
Vamanatha who taught him tantra, Lakshmanagupta who taught him Krama and Trika
Darshan, Bhatt Tota who taught him literature. Apart from father and mother Abhinava's
family consisted of his uncle, Vamanagupta, a younger brother Manoratha and five
cousins. So, this in nutshell would be undertaken in the presentation.
*** Professor Ramakant Pandey
Bio-Note
Ramakant Pandey is Professor of Sahitya at Central Sanskrit University, Jaipur-
campus,Jaipur, the largest multi-disciplinary Sanskrit University in the world. Prof.
Pandey completed his education from Varanasi and Sagar. His doctoral thesis is on
संस्कृतसाहहत्येसमृतततत्त्व, Memory in Sanskrit Literature, and his D.Lit. on Contribution
ofपववतीयववश्वेशरपाण्डये to Alamkarashastra from Sagar University. He has written
Sanskrit commentaries on the works of great Sanskrit scholars like Gangadharan Shastri,
GokulanathaUpadhyaya and Stotras of Abhinavagupta. He is a dedicated Researcher in
the field of Sanskrit poetics and Modern Sanskrit Literature. He has contributed a number
of papers on the subject of Sanskrit grammar, Natyashastra and Manuscriptology. He has
introduced distance education in the field of traditional Sanskrit Learning while working
as Director of Muktaswadhyayapeetham, Centre of Distance Education of Rashtriya
Sanskrit Sansthan, Central Sanskrit University. He has published more that fifty books
and more than hundred articles on the various aspects of Sanskrit language and literature.
He has received awards from from Mdhya pradesh and Rajasthan Govts. He chaired a
session on distance education in the world Sanskrit conference in Thailand, and presented
a paper on Contribution of Nepal to Sanskrit in a International conference organised by
Govt. of India in Nepal.
Prof. Rakesh Pandey edited a no.s of number of books and ग्रन्थावऱीs like
मंजुनाथग्रन्थावऱीin five parts etc.
Abstract:
**
Professor Mark Dyczkowsky
Bio-Note
Mark Dyczkowski was born in London in 1951. After finishing his schooling he came to
India in 1969 where he began his saadhana and study of Sanskrit and sitar. In 1975 he
returned to England and studied for a Doctorate at the University of Oxford. He
completed that in 1979 and his thesis was published as the Doctrine of Vibration. In 1976
he went to Kashmir and received initiation from Swami Laksmanjoo. He is also the
disciple of Sanderson, Pt. Chakravarty and Vrajavallabh Dvivedi. He worked on a project
for the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts for twenty years up to 2007 to make an
edition and extensively annotated translation in fourteen volumes of a part of the
Manthaanabhairava Tantra. He is the author of several other books and numerous
articles. Between 2007 and 2018, he planned and supervised the production of over 350 e-
texts of Tantric books and manuscripts of primary importance for Muktabodha‟s digital
library. He has toured the world giving lectures, guiding practice and playing sitar for
over twenty years.
Key Note Address: The Taste of Delight: The Ritual, Art, Yoga, Gnosis and Daily
Life.
** Professor Bharat Gupt
Bio-Note
Prof. Bharat Gupt, a retired Professor from the University of Delhi, is a well known figure
in the field of arts. He is a classicist, theatre theorist, sitar and surbahar player,
musicologist, cultural analyst, and newspaper columnist. His writings have altered the
perception of ancient Greek drama as the „origin of Western theatre‟ and established its
utter closeness with ancient Indian theatre as part of an Indo European construct.
He is trained in both, Western and traditional Indian educational systems. Apart from his
degrees from premier institutions in the country and from North America, he has studied
in the traditional style the classical Indian texts from famous gurus. Hence his writings
expound upon the essential values of both the Eastern and the Western philosophical
systems. Not only a theorist and an academic, he is an accomplished sitar and surbahar
player who was formally trained under eminent musicians. He was trained in sitar by Pt.
Uma Shankar Mishra and was taught the classical texts by Swami Kripalvananda and
AcharyaBrihaspati.
For more than thirty five years now, he has lectured extensively at Universities in India,
North America, Europe, and Greece on Indian Music and theater theory and taught
courses on these subjects there. He was a Visiting Professor to Greece and has been a
member of jury of the Onasis award for drama.
He has been serving on the Visiting Faculty at the National School of Drama, Delhi, and
been a resource scholar at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts where he is
currently a Trustee and Executive Member.
Paper Title: Abhinavagupta’s Definition of Rasa
Abstract:
Resting on the shoulders of Bhatta Nayaka, Acharya Abhinavagupta while
accepting Sadhaaranikarana, adds to it the idea of 'nirvighna pratiiti' tomake the idea of
rasa-aasvaada. He also points out that rasa is further heightened by many people
experiencing it together, 'ekaghanatayaa', in unity in a gathering as compared to a single
rasika enjoying.
But the actual enjoyment or rasa takes place when the bhaava is transmuted into rasa by
the consonance (vasanaa-samvaadaat) of that bhava with the anaadi vasanaa embedded
in the heart/cetasa of the spectator.
Abhinava thus postulates a total interiorization of rasa which is an internalchamatkaara.
Thus he blazes a new trail of rasa nishpatti, in which the self enjoys the Self. He thus lays
a radically fresh ground for the inner search in which natya is only an instrument (vighna-
apsaaraka). From here followsa new trail in which the Ultimate becomes the new aim of
natya/kavya andthe formulations of an akhanda rasa as madhura etc. began to merge.
** Prof. RadhavallabhTripathi
Former Vice Chanceller, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed University)
Bio Note
Prof. RadhavallabhTripathi is one of the senior-most professors of Sanskrit in the
country. He has served as Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed
University) at Delhi for five years (2008-13), as Vice Chancellor on additional charge at
ShriLalBahadurShasri Sanskrit Vidyapeeth for six months and as Vice Chancellor in
charge of Dr. H.S. Gour University on a number of occasions. He worked as Visiting
Professor at Silpakorn University, Bangkok for three years. He retired as Professor from
Dr. HarisinghGour University, Sagar (M.P., India) as Professor in February, 2014. He has
worked as Fellow in Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla for one year (2014-15)
and has also occupied the Karnatak Chair of Orientology at the Bhandarkar Oriental
Research Institute, Pune for two years (2019-21).
Widely acclaimed for his original contributions to the study of Nāṭyaśāstra and
Sāhityaśāstra, Prof. Tripathi has published 175 books, 275 research papers and critical
essays as well as translations of more than 30 Sanskrit plays and some classics from
Sanskrit into Hindi. He has received 37 national and international awards and honours for
his scholarly contributions as well as creative writings in Sanskrit and Hindi. These
include the SahityaAkademi Award for original poetry in Sanskrit, Shankar Puraskar for
Best Phillosophical writing, UGC Veda-VyasSamman, RamkrishnaSanskritiSamman
from Canada and ShikharSamamn of the Govt. of M.P.
Radhavallabh Tripathi is a well-known poet, short-story writer and playwright of Sanskrit
and Hindi. He has 25 books of original writings in Sanskrit to hisredit, including six
collections of poems, two plays and one collection of one act plays.
Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi specializes in Nāṭyaśāstra and Sāhityaśāstra, . His
publications in these areas include– Nāṭyaśāstraviśvakośa (an EnclopaedicDistionary of
Nāṭyaśāstra), Nāṭyalalitakalāsaṁgraha (an Anthology of Texts on Performing and
Plastic Arts), Lectures on Nāṭyaśāstra, Aspects of Nāṭyaśāstra,
BhāratīyaSāhityaśāstrakīĀcāryaparamparā, NayāSāhityaNayāSahityaśāstraetc.
He has visited various institutions at UK, USA, Germany, Holland, Vienna, Nepal,
Bhutan, Russia, Iran etc. for delivering lectures/ Key-notre addresses/ presentations in
Conferences or delivering lectures under cultural/academic exchange programmes.
He has been referred in various research journals on Indology. Research for Ph.D. has
been completed as well as is being carried on his creative writings in Sanskrit in a
number of Universities. Four Journals brought out special numbers on his literary
contributions. Seven books comprising studies on his creative and critical writings by
other authors have been published.
Paper Title: Creative Process According to Abhinanavagupta
Abstract:
Abhinavagupta is certainly one of those theorists who have extensively dealt with the
creative process in arts with its philosophical, linguistic, structural and psychological
aspects. He largely draws ideas from the philosophical traditions and tāntric cults and
blends them to present a holistic view of poetic process. 37 maṅgalaślokasinhis
Abhinavabhārati on the 37 chapters of the Nāṭyaśāstra are eulogies to 36 elements of
Śaiva Philosophy finally taking this journey to the Supreme Lord who transcends them all
in the last 37th
verse. But each of these 37 verses also reveals the contents of the
respective chapter of the Nāṭyaśāstra and they bring out the interconnections and
homogeneity of the text. These verses are suggestive of art-creativity as well.
Abhinavagupta has done the same thing in his commentary on
Ānandavardhana‟sDhvanyāloka also. He has presented subtle ideas on the creative
process through the preliminary and the concluding verses of his commentary on each
udyota (chapter). In this way, he brings out four stages of vāk (speech) and proceeds to
discuss the structural and organizational aspects of the poetic process and the
manifestations of dhvani (suggested meaning). Unmīlana, Ullāsa, Sphuṭāpatti,
sphuṭīkṛtārthavaicitryabahiḥprasara- these are the characteristics of the four stages. Both
Utpala and Abhinava also render Bhartṛhari‟s tripartite frame work of the Vāk into a
quadripartite format and then reformulate their connections to the triple aspect of Śakti –
Jnāna, Icchā and Kriyā. The Icchchāśakti in this framework functions as Paśyantī,
Jñānaśakti as Madhyamā and kriyāśakti as Vaikharī. Transforming the perspective of the
Vyākaraṇa into the Śaivite paradigm these ācāryas treat Parāvāk at par with the
ahampratyavamarśa or the subjectivity of the Supreme Lord. In the realm of poetic
creativity, the same ParāVāk is identical with Pratibhā (poetic genius). Kavi (the poet)
becomes the Prajāpati (the creator of the world). Poetic creativity proceeds through
prakāśa (self-luminousness) and vimarśa (reflection). Prakāśa is jñāna(knowledge) and
vimarśais kriyā(activity). This vimarśais characterized by svātantrya (freedom par
excellence). The poet is filled with an overpowering impulse for creativity (āveśa). In a
flux of vibrations, aesthetic structures in the form of words and meaning are revealed to
him in a flash (bhāsamānatva).
Abhinavagupta also explains kāvyaAnukṛti. But he has objected to taking the term
Anukṛti in the sense of imitation or mimesis.
**
Professor Madhav Hada
Professor Madhav Hada is a literary critic and academician. He has written extensively on
literature, media, culture and history. His recently published work Meera Vs Meera is
English translation of his well-received Hindi book Pachrang Chola PaherSakhiri. The
work is focused on the medieval Bhakti Poetess Meera Bai‟s life and society. He has also
written a book on a great scholar of Oriental Studies, Muni Jinvijay which has been
published by Sahitya Akademi in its „Makers of Indian Literature‟ series. He compiled
anthologies of Meera Bai‟s poetry entitled Meera Rachana Sanchayan (2017) &
analytical essays on non-fictional prose in Hindi, entitled Kathetar (2017) for Sahitya
Akademi.
His other major published works include SeedhiyanChadhata Media (2012), Media,
Sahitya aur Sanskriti (2006), Kavita Ka Poora Drishya (1992), Tani Hui Rassi
Par (1987). Besides this he has published more than 100 papers, monographs, reviews
etc. in various journals of repute.
He is recipient of Bharatendu Haishchandra Puraskar for Media Studies & Devraj
Upadyayay Puraskar for literary criticism.
He had been the member of General Council and Hindi Advisory Board of Sahitya
Akademi. He had been associated with the Higher Education Service of the Government
of Rajasthan for more than thirty years and retired as Professor and Head, Department of
Hindi, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur. At present he is fellow at Indian Institute
of Advanced Study, Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla.
**
Shri Sunil Raina Rajanak
Bio Note
Shri Sunil Rainais an independent researcher, writer and a sadhaka. He has been studying
Kashmir Shaivism with learned masters like Prof Moti Lal Pandit for last five years. He
has been following the teachings of Swami Lakshmanjoo and is a keen researcher of
Kashmir Shaivism. He has written dozens of articles in various national and regional
newspapers. He has contributed research articles in various journals. Presently he is
Editor in Chief of NAAD journal and has been instrumental in bringing out special issues
on Acharya Abhinavagupta, Lalleshwari and Roopa Bhawani. For several years now he
has been instrumental in celebrating nationwide Jayanti of Acharya Abhinavagupta and
has been successful in organising seminars and conference to mark the day.
Besides his research, editing and organizational engagements, he is an accomplished
Santoor player.
Paper Title: Bhairava Vimarsha& Kashmir
Abstract:
Kashmir has been the land of Tantra Sadhna since ages. The various Tantrapractitioner‟s
of valley enriched the concepts and provided the best form of practice which is now
known as Trika or Kashmir Shaivism. While Srinagar city has eight guardian Bhairava‟s
however there are sixty-four Bhairava‟s in Kashmir mandala. The presence of these local
Bhairava‟s have been continuously been worshipped by Kashmiri Pandits as each
Bhairava has its jurisdiction whereas every family have its guarding Bhairava. Thus,
adherents have been following the Tantra traditions in their day to day lives, be it their
festivals, marriages or even post funeral ceremonies.
The presiding Goddess of Kashmir is Para Shakti, Charakeshwari which is located in the
Srinagar city and is the abode of the Goddess Sharika on the Pradhumana Peetha known
as Hari Parbat. The Asth Bhairava‟s are well placed around its vicinity that located in
various directions of the Srinagar city and beyond. It gives the practical demonstration of
the Sri Chakra located in the Hari Parbat that is worshipped as the centre of the union of
Prakash and Vimarsh which may refer as Bindu in Tantric lexicon.
Whole philosophy and theology of Kashmir Shaivism also known as Trika is completely
worshipped in practical form through rituals and each Bhairava has been delegated with a
boundary to assert its influence and the Kashmiri Pandits dwelling in those designated
areas worshipped their presiding Bhairava‟s. Most of these Bhairava centres are activated
even today and have immense powers of healing and esoteric value that have not only
entered the folklore but the living tradition of the Kashmiri Pandits. Even in exile
Kashmiri Pandits have maintained this tradition while celebrating the pradhurbhav divas
of the Bhairava‟s as per the lunar calendar.
These Bhairava‟scentres all around the valley are the well-established laboratories of the
Trika parampara. Every Bhairava is worshipped as per the guidelines and offerings that
are specific. The more details shall be detailed presentation.
**
Dr. Meera Rastogi
Bio note
Dr.MeeraRastogi has retired from Lucknow University, Department of Sanskrit
andPrakrit Languages.
Her doctoral thesis was on “Iccha Swatantrya Tatha Karyakaranabhava: Bharatiya
Tattvamimansa Men Kashmir Shivadvayavada Ke Antargata Eka Adhyayana” in 1982,
underthe guidance of Prof. Navjivan Rastogi. This was published as “Tantrika
Shivadvayavada Men Iccha, Swatantrya Tatha Niyamanavada”. She has worked on
“Abhinavagupta kavakdarshan” (Abhinavagupta‟s Theory of speech) as a General
Fellow, Indian Council of Philosophical Research.
Her postgraduate dissertation was on “Abhinavagupta ke mangalashlokon ka
sanuvadadhyayan”(Benedictory verses of Abhinavagupta with Translation).
(unpublished).
She has written for the Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophy- Volume on Kashmir
Shaivism, Chief Editor, KarlH. Potter.
She co edited Abhinavaa: Prof. Kanti Chandra Pandey Commemoration Volume (2013).
She has published several research papers on various topics of Kashmir Shaivism and has
delivered lectures on different subjects related to this system at various platforms.
Paper Title and Abstract:
Dr. NiharPurohit
Bio-Note.
Dr. Nihar Purohit moved from his initial education in Engineering and Management to
dedicate himself to his inner search in 2004. To reinforce his personal Sadhana, he began
to study Trika Darshan not only with the masters like Hemendranath Chakravatry, Pt.
Vrijavallabh Dwivedi, Prof. Navajivan Rastogi, Prof. K.D. Tripathi , Prof Ramjimalviya,
Dr Mark D. and Shri. PrananathKaul but also gained a formal education from Banaras
Hindu University. His doctoral thesis is on “Purnata: A Foundational Paradigm of Trika
Darsana and Yajurveda”.
He has published articles on various dimensions of Kashmir Saivism in various
magazines like Lalita and Creation. He has presented his research papers in various
conferences and seminars.
He taught the scriptures of Kaśmīraśaivāgama as a Guest lecturer at Dharmāgama dept.,
S.V.D.V, Banaras Hindu University for 3 years. He is a Member of Academic council for
MuktabodhaIndological Research Institute. He is a Faculty at Kashmir Shaiva Institute,
Ishwar Ashram Trust, teaches and facilitate experiential learning of Shiva sutras and other
texts at residence as well as on virtual platforms.
He has designed and taught sadhanashivir for Ishwar Ashram Trust on various texts of
Non- dual philosophy of Kashmir.
Paper Title: Pūrṇatā -A foundational Paradigm
Pūrṇatā has been the foundational paradigm of Indian ethos. It has always been the core
of Indian values and way of life from ancient time. For the Vedic and Āgamic traditions,
pūrṇa is both the beginning point from which everything comes and the goal of their
pursuit.The ultimate reality is one when it has the self-experience as pure “I”. It is then
self-contained (pūrṇa), resting in itself (svātmaviśrānta) and beyond all manifestation
(nirābhāsa). Subsequently in order to manifest itself as many it divides itself into the two
– the Pure “I” (ahaṁ) and the pure “This” (idam) – both of fullness nature, and also
identical in essence. The pure “I” symbolizes its form as the “pure subjectivity” which, in
that stage, is universal and full in nature. The pure “This” (idam) also represents it in the
form of the object that is universal too and full in nature at that stage.
In this paper, I would explore the concept of Pūrṇatāwithin the context of Trika
Philosophy.
**
Dr. Pankaj Basotia
Bio Note
Dr. Pankaj Basotia Associate Professor of Philosophy Dr. Pankaj Basotia is an Associate
professor of philosophy at Rajiv Gandhi Government Degree College, Shimla. A student
of late Prof. Dayakrishna and Prof. Bishambhar Pahi, he is teaching Philosophy for the
last 26 years. His main research work is on "Death and meaning of life in Vedic and
Upanishadic Philosophy." For the last few years, he has also developed a keen interest in
issues related to Death and the meaning of life in Mahabharata and in Kashmir Shaivism.
He has published 16 papers in national journals and has presented papers in more than 60
national or international conferences.
**
Professor Bettina Baumer
Bio-Note
Dr. Bettina Sharada Bäumer, indologist and Professor of Religious Studies (Visiting Professor at
several Universities), at present Director of the Abhinavagupta Research Library, Varanasi, has
been researching and publishing in the fields of non-dualist Kashmir Shaivism, Indian Aesthetics,
temple architecture and religious traditions of Odisha and comparative mysticism. She was
National Fellow at IIAS from 2015-17, and her two books were published by the Institute:
Abhinavagupta's Hermeneutics of the Absolute (2011), and The Yoga of Netra Tantra (2019). She
co-edited with R. Torella: Utpaladeva, Philosopher of Recognition (IIAS 2016), and with S.
Srivastava: Science and Spirituality (IIAS 2020). In 2015 she was awarded the Padma Shri from
the Government of India.
**
Professor K.D. Tripathi
Abstract:
**
Dr. Advaitavadini Kaul
Bio-Note:
Dr. Advaitavadini Kaul is a scholar in the field of Inter Disciplinary Study of the Arts
within Indian traditions. Her research and publications mainly focus on Kashmir and
various aspects of its cultural heritage, intellectual traditions and historiography. She has
written a large number of research papers which form the part of many important volumes
published in India and abroad. “Buddhist Savants of Kashmir and their contributions
abroad” is her very well received book. She has also edited a number of volumes. Her
latest edited volume on “Asia Aesthetic Theories and Art forms” was published early this
year by IGNCA. She served at IGNCA, New Delhi for 28 years and headed its Kalakosa
Division till 2019. She has organised a number of National and International conferences,
exhibitions, workshops, public lectures, Panel discussions etc. on varied subjects related
with her projects at IGNCA on textual traditions, philosophy, arts and aesthetics. During
the year 2016-17 she convened four conferences on the occasion of the millennium year
celebrations of Acarya Abhinavagupta at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu;
Bharat Kala Bhavan, Bhopal; Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai and at IGNCA, New
Delhi. The proceedings of all four conferences have been edited by her in two volumes.
Paper Title: AbhinavaSaiva Tradition and its Continuity in Kashmir
Abstract:
Abhinava Saiva Tradition and Its Continuty in Kashmir –Advaitavadini Kaul Acarya
Abhinavagupta emerges as the most potential and creative personality in the centre of
total Kashmirian contribution to the history of Indian metaphysical speculation and as one
of the most potent sources of India's contribution to world thought. As such we see the
influence of Acarya's theory received momentum all over India and beyond. But the
question arises 'was there any imprint of the Abhinavan tradition left back in Kashmir,
since it passed through political vicissitudes in between till its revival in the 18th century'.
The presentation attempts to focus on this crucial aspect.
**
Shri Swastik Banerjee
Bio Note
Swastik Banerjee is currently pursuing his Doctoral in Philosophy form University of
Calcutta. His proposed thesis is titled “The Problem of Self in the Anuttara Trika
philosophy of Kashmir with special reference to Kṣemarāja: an exegetical and critical
study”. He is the recipient of the prestigious University Research Fellowship from the
University of Calcutta, and the Ishwar ashram Trust Fellowship as well. He secured first
rank in MA Philosophy from University of Madras. He ha While puruing his masters he
had the opportunity to study and interact with scholars like Mahamahopadhyay Mani
Dravid Shastri, Swami Paramananda Bharati, Prof. John Grimes and several others. He
has studied Trika under scholars like (Late) Prof. Debabrata Sen Sharma, Prof. Navjivan
Rastogi, Pundit PranNathKaul to name a few. He also holds interests in sādhanā and is a
pūrṇābhiṣikta of Kaula Tantra, which provides him further insights into the system. He
also holds interests in Psychoanalysis, which he is pursuing under Indian Psychoanalytic
Society. He had an offer to pursue his D. Phil in Theology from the prestigious University
of Oxford. He has presented papers in state, national and international conferences. He
has also written scripts for dance productions, among which “Cidānandavilāsa:
recognition of the divinity within” has been awarded production grant from the Ministry
of Culture, Government of India. His major academic pursuits involve enquiry into the
question of Self, which branches into fields of ― Philosophy of mind, Religion,
existentialism, psychoanalysis, esoteric studies and so on.
Contact Details: Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Whatsapp: +91 9176828363
Paper Title : “Cinmayaṃekam Bhairavaṃ” : The doctrine of ‘Self ’ inthe
Bhairavastotra of Abhinvagupta
Abstract:
A philosophical discourse about the Self may be broadly categorised in two models ―
Self as given and Self as construct. The Bhairavastotra of Abhinavagupta is a composition
which follows the former doctrine, with the Self as Bhairava. In this paper an attempt
would be made to read the arguments hidden in this composition establishing this doctrine
and the nature of the Self. The proposed thesis is that is stotra has been written in a
syllogistic form where one logically follows the other to summarise the Trika doctrine. A
further enquiry whether the arguments with in the text are sufficient to establish their
doctrine of „Self as given‟ would be done in the course of this paper.
Keywords: Trika, Self.
**
Professor S. R. Bhatt Former Chairman, Indian Council of Philosophical Research
**
Professor Wagish Shukla
Bio-Note
**
Dr. BalramShukla
Bio-Note Dr. BalramShukla, a renowned Sanskrit poet, academic, and scholar of Indic and
Persian languages, has University degrees in Sanskrit and Persian, both with gold medals. An extremely dedicated scholar, he values and recognises the need to know these source languages to comprehend modern India in a pertinent perspective. A prolific writer and productive researcher, he has three collections of poetry in Sanskrit, (Parīvāhah, Kavitāputrikājātih and Laghusandesham), two collections of poetry in Persian (Ishq O’ Atash and Zafran O’ Sandal). He has academic books and more than twenty-five research papers in various journals in India and abroad. Along with serious research in the area of Indic knowledge, he has translated several Persian texts directly into Hindi. Collections of Rumi’s Hundred Ghazals – “Niḥśabda-Nūpur” and MuhtashamKashani’s “Dawazdeh Band” with his translations have been published. He has been delivering lectures on Sanskrit grammar and different aspects of Indo Iranian languages and literature in different parts of the country and in Iran. He is frequently invited to recite his Sanskrit and Persian poems by different cultural and Academic institutions in India and Iran. He has been awarded several prestigious fellowships by different research Institutes. For his outstanding and promising presence in these fields of studies, he has been conferred with many awards amongst which Presidents of India award – “BadarayanVyasaSamman” and “KalidasaSammana”(Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan) are notable. Currently he is working on two projects sponsored by Indian Council for Social Sciences Research (ICSSR)- Mind, Morality and Motives: Learning from Indian Tradition” and “Indo-Iranian Cognate Glossary”. Presently he is a Fellow at Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, where he is
working on a project - प्राकृत कववता के चारुत्व के भावषक प्रयोजक.
Paper Title and Abstract:
शब्दशास्त्र का अभभनव–कृत दशशनशास्त्रीय उपयोग
अभभनवगुप्त शैवदशशन, तन्त्र तथा काव्यशास्त्र की परम्पराओं के अपूवश व्याख्याकार हैं। वे सुदीघश
कालावभध में फैली भिन्त्तन परम्पराओं को समग्रता में दखेकर समेककत रूप में व्याख्या करते हैं। अपनी
भवभशष्ट व्याख्यान पद्धभत में वे व्याकरण शास्त्र का अद्भुत तथा अपूवश उपयोग करते हैं। व्याकरण की
भवशे्लषणात्मक कोटियों उपयोग का दो प्रकार से उपयोग हो सकता ह।ै एक तो ग्रन्त्थ के सामान्त्य शब्दाथश
को समझने के भलए और दसूरा अपने दाशशभनक मन्त्तव्य के समथशन के भलए। भारत के प्रायः सभी
दाशशभनक भिन्त्तक अपने सम्प्रदाय के तकों को व्याकरभणक भवशे्लषणों तथा व्युत्पभियों के द्वारा भी पुष्ट
करना िाहते हैं। अभभनवगुप्त व्याकरणशास्त्र का उपयोग शब्दों के केवल बाह्य स्वरूप को स्पष्ट करने के
भलए ही नहीं करते बभकक वे व्याकरण शास्त्र द्वारा उद्भाभवत भवशे्लषणात्मक कोटियों का अपनी दाशशभनक
मान्त्यताओं के प्रभतपादन तथा स्पष्टीकरण में बारम्बार उपयोग करते हैं। व्याकरण शास्त्र के इस भवभशष्ट
उपयोग से अभभनव का सम्पूणश व्याकरण तन्त्र पर असाधारण अभधकार द्योभतत होता ह ैसाथ ही
व्याकरणशास्त्र के अनेक नवीन आयाम भी उद्भाभवत होते हैं । प्रस्तुत पर में हम दखेेंगे कक अभभनव ने
व्याकरण शास्त्र के दशशनशास्त्रीय उपयोग को ककस प्रकार भशखर तक पहुँिाया ह।ै
**
Dr. Sunthar Visuvalingam
Brief-Note
Sunthar Visuvalingam, born in KualaLumpur, Malaysia, of Sri Lankan Tamil ancestry, is an
independent researcher on Indic traditions based in Chicago since 2001. His PhD thesis on
“Abhinavagupta‟s Conception of Humor: Its Resonances in Sanskrit Drama, Poetry, Hindu
Mythology and Spiritual Praxis” (1984) was strongly recommended for a DLitt degree and earned
him a personal commendation from the Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. He was
instrumental in inviting foreign specialists to participate in the international conference on
Abhinavagupta at the BHU Musicology Dept. (1981) and remained actively involved in the
subsequent IGNCA national conference there (1982). He has collaborated throughout in his
anthropologist-wife Dr. Elizabeth Chalier-Visuvalingam‟s extensive fieldwork on the popular
worship of Abhinava‟s supreme tantric (Kaula) deity Bhairava in Banaras, Katmandu and
elsewhere. Their paradigm of “transgressive sacrality” was the object of a three-panel pilot
international conference at the South Asia Annual conference at the University of Wisconsin at
Madison (1986). Among their joint-papers proposing an acculturation model of Indian religious
history are“Abhinava-Bhairava: Toward a Unitive Understanding of Indic Traditions” (BORI,
2018),“A Paradigm of Hindu-Buddhist Acculturation: Pacali Bhairab of Katmandu” (Evam,
2004), “Between Mecca and Banaras: An Acculturation Model of Hindu-Muslim Relations”
(Islam and the Modern Age, 1993), “Bhairava in Banaras: Negotiating Sacred Space and
Religious Identity” in Visualizing Space in Banaras (2006), and “Violence and the Other in
Hinduism and Islam” (Perspectives on Violence and Othering in India, 2015).He has been guest-
editing the collective volume Abhinavagupta: Reconsiderations(2006, 2017),which includes
papers from the two BHU conferences andhis comprehensive introductory overview “Towards an
Integral Appreciation of Abhinavagupta‟s Aesthetics of Rasa”(updated 2017). He contributed the
chapter on “Hinduism: Aesthetics, Drama, Poetics” to the Oxford Handbook of Religion and the
Arts (2014, ch.24). The forthcoming (in press) “Indian Carnival and Human Freedom: From
Transgressive Sacrality to Global Spring?” Bakhtinian Explorations of Indian Culture:
Pluralism, Dogma and Dialogue Through History (2017), is based on his keynote address at this
international conference (Gandhinagar, 2013).“Abhinavagupta‟s rasa-aesthetics and Bharata‟s
sacrificial theater: Humor and its semblance in „The Little Clay Cart‟ (Mṛcchakaṭikā),” based on
his IGNCA talk (Delhi, Dec. 2016), is a concerted response to the political agenda of American
Orientalism, as spearheaded by Sheldon Pollock, to denigrate (the apparent „misassumptions‟ and
„inconsistencies‟ of) classical Indian aesthetics. His publicationsare inspired by Abhinava‟s
constructive vision and way of thinking. Since 2001 he has been hosting and animating the
svAbhinava.org global website for collaborative multilingual publishing that aims to apply and
extend Abhinava‟s insights, making them more accessible to non-specialists, otherwise deterred
by the unnecessary jargon of academese.
Contemporizing Abhinavagupta
Some Examples
Abstract:
Much has been accomplished over the last decades in deciphering Abhinavagupta‟s
oeuvre, restoring its inner coherence across otherwise disparate domains, ascertaining
thediverse traditions of thought and praxis he received, reshaped and in turn transmitted
through a creatively original synthesis. However, our greatest tribute would be to discern
the contours of the collective cultural project embodied by his lifework that we have now
inherited within a contemporary global context that is so radically different from his own
in 11th
century Kashmir. The true measure of spiritual genius is the ability of its
penetrating insights not only to survive the millennial test of time but to extend their range
of applicability into new disciplines he could not have dabbled in and to problems beyond
India he could not have foreseen.
https://www.svabhinava.org/svAbhinava/svabhinava-frame.php
**
Dr. Alka Tyagi (Convener )
Bio-Note
Dr. Alka Tyagi, a bilingual poet, translator,is Associate Professor in English Dept., Dyal
Singh (eve) College,University of Delhi.
Alka has a doctoral degree on the subject, “Inter-semiotic Transformations: A Study of
the Poetry of Two Medieval Saints, Akka Mahadevi and Andal” from School of Arts and
Aesthetics, JNU, New Delhi.
She has edited Kalidasa‟s Abhijnanashakuntalam (2005) and has co-edited Gendered
Space (2004) published by Doaba House and Shrishti Publishers respectively. She has
published a collection of short tales called Healing Tales (2011) which is a retelling of
stories from Zen, Buddhist, Chinese and Indian oral traditions, published by Yash
Publications, Delhi. Her book, Andal and Akka Mahadevi: Feminity to
Divinity(2013) has been published by DK Printworld, Delhi.
Two collections of her Hindi poems called Sun Ri Sakhi (2009) and Amaltas (2014)
have been published by Surya Prakashan Mandir,Bikaner and „Ka- Kala,Sampada evam
Vaichariki‟ respectively. Her English poetry collection, ‘Whispers at the Ganga
Ghat’ (2014) has been published by Mark Media, New Delhi. She has read her poems at
various platforms including International Poetry Festival in Florence, Italy in June, 2010.
She has translated Bhavani Prasad Mishra‟s award winning poetry collection,Buni Hui
Rassi into A Woven Rope(2016) published by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. She has
also translated Narada Bhakti Sutra which has been published by D.K. Printworld
as Reconstructing Devotion through Narada Bhakti Sutra (2019).
Besides this, she is associated with Bihar School of Yoga,Munger for last twenty
years.Certified in Yogic Studies in this tradition,she has been teaching various aspects of
Satyananda Yoga and meditation at various platforms in India and abroad.
Currently she is a Fellow at Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla.
email : [email protected]
**