TRIKA SHAIVISM

(also known as Kashmir Shaivism)

Introduction to Major Beliefs

History  /  Major Teachers

Sacred Texts Online /  Other Relevant Links  /  Bibliography

INTRODUCTION  TO  MAJOR  BELIEFS

Trika Shaivism is a form of Hindu religion that believes in one God, which they call ParamaShiva, who creates the universe within Himself out of his own pure cosmic conscious Being.

ParamaShiva literally means "Supreme Auspiciousness". He is considered to be essentially pure infinite featureless consciousness (called Shiva).  But this Shiva aspect has an active creative side called Shakti.  It is this ever-active Shakti that creates, operates, and destroys endless universes.

Our own consciousness, which appears so tiny and limited, is not just a part of the cosmic consciousness, but actually is the supreme consciousness in total! It just appears small and limited due to creative activity of supreme conscious Shakti which has a veiling deluding aspect (Maya Shakti).  It is through this veiling deluding power that Shakti then transforms the supreme conscious experience into the experience of infinite finite conscious beings inhabiting different limited non-sentient universes.  The discovery and overcoming of this Maya Shakti is then the key to spiritual liberation - the realization of one's own true nnature and complete liberation from the wheel of Karma - of life and death.  This process whereby the Supreme Consciousness hides from itself through its own veiling power, and then liberates itself through seeing itself as it really is, is described in 36 steps (or Tattva-s) of conscious creativity and delusion and liberation.  These 36 steps, or principles of creation are actually part of a larger system of contemplation (called Sadadhvan) which fits the "principles of creation" into a framework that includes on the one hand the actual worlds that are created, and on the other hand, the subjective processes by which non-conscious worlds emerge from supremely pure cosmic consciousness.

Trika Shaivism does not consider anything to be good or bad per se, but instead as only being part of the ongoing creative activity of that pure infinite consciousness.  But within this process behavior does lead to consequences.  Thus good behaviors that help others (for example) leads to mental and physical freedom and power in this life or future lives, whereas bad behaviors would lead to increasing physical and mental bondage and limitation (called the Law of Karma).  But the most important activity is realization of one's own true identity with the supreme consciousness which leads to spiritual liberation which is complete freedom from the wheel of life and death.

HISTORY

Historically, Trika Shaivism (a form of the Hinduism) developed around 900 A.D. in the area that is now the state of Kashmir in the northwestern corner of India. It's development in this area is what gives it it's popular name of "Kashmir Shaivism".

Trika Shaivism's major historic roots are in the indigenous pagan religions and the Tantric religion found in that area. It's major distinguishing characteristic is it's very pure and logically consistent Tantric monotheism (agama).

This Tantric monotheism is an important reaction to:

1. The highly politicized dualism of Vedantic Orthodoxy (that dominated the region at that time).
2. The philosophically problematic non-theistic monism of Buddhism (which was also spreading rapidly at that time also in reaction to the Vedantic Orthodoxy).
3. The philosophically problematic Orthodox monotheistism of Vedanta.

MAJOR TEACHERS

It's founder is a sage named Vasugupta. According to legend, around 900 A.D., Lord Shiva gave the Shiva Sutra-s to Vasugupta on the underside of a huge rock on a hillside of the Himalayas in Kashmir, and that was the beginning of Trika Shaivism.

Other major teachers during that same period were Abhinavagupta, Kshemaraja, Utpaladeva, Bhaskara, Somananda, Kallata, and Krishnadasa.

Abhinavagupta is probably the most well-known. He explained the teachings of Trika Shaivism in a magnificent 12-volume work called the Tantraloka, and applied the teachings to many different fields such as aesthetics, art theory, and language theory.

It's greatest proponents in modern times are Lakshman Jee (a Hindu monk of the same lineage of those teachers of earlier times), Swami Muktananda Paramahansa, Jai Deva Singh, Mark S.G. Dyczkowski, and Paul Eduardo Muller-Ortega.

SACRED TEXTS ONLINE

Pratyabhijnahrdayam  (translated by Jai Deva Singh).

Rudrayamala  (translated by Mike Magee).

Shiva Sutra-s  (translated by Mike Magee).

Spanda Karikas  (translated by Jai Deva Singh).

Vijnana Bhairava  (translated by Mike Magee).

RELEVANT LINKS

A general homepage for Trika Shaivism full of useful information and links.

The Website of Swami Chetananda-- a contemporary interpretation and practice of Trika Shaivism.

Excellent Website on Hinduism in general by Giri.

Personal Experience of Trika Shaivism (fiction) by David Kirshbaum.

Webpages describing the Sadadhvan and the 36 Tattvas, by David Kirshbaum.

Homepage of the Kashmir Shaivism Fellowship - built in September of 1996 to provide a medium through which the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism, as taught by the great Kashmiri Shaivite Master Swami Lakshman Joo, could be made avilable to anyone and everyone with no restriction of caste, ethnic origin, color, race, or sex. Trika Shaivism.

Mike Magee's wonderful website about Tantra and Trika Shaivism.
CHECK OUT LINKS PAGE !!!!!

Deb Platt's webpage on Trika Shaivism.

State of Kashmir Virtual Library edited by Professor Gene R. Thursby of the University of Florida.

A scholarly paper by Professor Thursby on the unique contribution of Swami Muktananda Paramahansa to the practice and understanding of Yoga and Trika Shaivism.

Kashmiri Overseas Association - to promote, preserve, and protect Kashmiri ethnic & socio-cultural heritage.

Political effort to educate the world about the terrible religious and political terrorism by Islamic Fundamentalists that is currently threatening the entire State of Kashmir including the study of Trika Shaivism.

A Website still under construction.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alper, Harvey P.(editor). Mantra. SUNY: Albany, NY (1989).

Bailly, Constantina Rhodes. Shaiva Devotional Songs of Kashmir: A Translation and Study of Utpaladeva's Shivastotravali. SUNY: Albany, NY (1987).

Banerji, Sures Chandra. Cultural Heritage of Kashmir: A Survey of Kashmir's Contribution to Sanskrit Literature. Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar: Calcutta, India (1965?).

Bernard, Theos. Hindu Philosophy (reprint). Motilal Banarsidass: Delhi, India (1981).

Bharati, Agehananda. The Tantric Tradition (4th impression). Rider & Co.: London, England (1975).

Bhattacharyya, N.N. History of the Tantric Religion. Manohar Publications: New Delhi, India (1982).

Chatterji, J.C. Kashmir Shaivism (reprint). Indological Book Corp.: Patna, India (1978).

Chetananda, Swami. Dynamic Stillness, (parts 1 & 2). Rudra Press: Cambridge, MA (1973).

Dyczkowski, Mark S.G.:

• The Aphorisms of Siva: The SivaSutra with Bhaskara's Commentary, the Varttika. SUNY: Albany, NY (1992).
• The Canon of Saivagama and the Kubjika Tantra-s of the Western Kaula Tradition. SUNY: Albany, NY (1988).
• The Doctrine of Vibration: An Analysis of the Doctrines and Practices of Kashmir Shaivism SUNY: Albany, NY (1987).

Joshi, Bhanwar Lal. Kashmir Monistic Shaivism and it's Influence on Kamayani. Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series: Varanasi, India (1968).

Kaw, R.K.:

• The Doctrine of Recognition: Pratyabhijna Philosophy. Vishveshvaranand Institute: Hoshiapur, India (1967).
• Man's Supreme Inheritance: Voice of Somananda and Utpaladeva. Sharada Peetha Research Centre: Karan Nagar, Srinagar, Kashmir, India (1977).
• Pratyabhijna Karika of Utpaladeva, (volumes I & II). Sharada Peetha Research Centre: Karan Nagar, Srinagar, Kashmir, India (1975).

Kotru, N.K. Sivastotraavali of Utpaladeva. Motilal Banarsidass: Delhi, India (1985).

Kundu, Nundo Lal. Non-Dualism in Saiva and Sakta Philosophy. Firma KLM Pvt.: Calcutta, India (1983).

Lacksman Jee.  Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme. SUNY: Albany, NY (1988).

Mishra, Kamalakar. Kashmir Saivism: The Central Philosophy of Tantrism. Rudra Press: Portland, OR (1993).

Muktananda Paramahansa:

• I Am That: The Science of Hamsa from the Vijnana Bhairava. Published by SYDA Foundation: South Fallsburg, NY (1978).
• Siddha Meditation: Commentaries on the Shiva Sutra-s and other Sacred Texts. Published by SYDA Foundation: Oakland, CA (1975).

Pandit, B.N. Aspects of Kashmir Saivism. Utpal Publications: Srinagar, India (1977).

Picken, J R. "Creator, Protector, Destroyer: One man's personal path to enlightenment through the teachings of Kashmir Shaivism",  (webpage).

Rastogi, Navjivan:

• Introduction to the Tantraaloka. Motilal Banarsidass: Delhi, India (1987).
• The Krama Tantricism of Kashmir, (volumes 1 & 2). Motilal Banarsidass: Delhi, India (1979).

Rudrappa, J. Kashmir Saivism. Prasaranga: Mysore, India (1969).

SenSharma, Deba Brata. The Philosophy of Sadhana: With Special Reference to the Trika Philosophy of Kashmir. SUNY: Albany, NY (1990).

Sharma, L.N. Kashmir Saivism. Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan: Varanasi, India (1972).

Singh, Jai Deva (translation and commentary):

• Paratrimsika Vivarana: The Secret of Tantric Mysticism.  By Abhinavagupta.  Motilal Banarsidass: Delhi, India (1988).
• Pratyabhijnahrdayam (3rd edition)  By Kshemaraja.  Motilal Banarsidass: Delhi, India (1980).
• Shiva Sutra: The Yoga of Supreme Identity. With commentaries by Kshemaraja.  Motilal Banarsidass: Delhi, India (1979).
• Spanda Karikas. Motilal Banarsidass. Delhi, India (1980).
• Vijnanabhairava or Divine Consciousness. Motilal Banarsidass: Delhi, India (1979).

Introduction to Kashmir Shaivism.  SYDA Foundation: Oakland, CA (1975).

Stein, M.A. Kalhana's Rajatarangini: A Chronicle of the Kings of Kasmir, (volumes 1 & 2; 2nd reprint). Motilal Banarsidass: Delhi, India (1979).

Subramuniyaswami, Sivaya. Dancing with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism, (4th edition). Himalayan Academy: Concord, CA (1993).

Taimni, I.K.:

• The Secret of Self-Realization: Pratyabhijnahrdayam of Ksemaraja, (reprint). The Theosophical Publishing House: Adyar, India (1979).
• The Ultimate Reality and Realization: Siva Sutra. The Theosophical Publishing House: Adyar, India (1976).

Upadhyaya, R.K. The Concept of God in Saiva Tantra. Jnananidhi Prakashan: Muzaffarpur, India (1984).

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