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Abhinavagupta on Reflection (Pratibimba) in the Tantrāloka

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Abstract

In the celebrated tantric manual, the Tantrāloka, Abhinavagupta (fl.c. 975–1025 CE) and his commentator Jayaratha (fl.c. 1225–1275 CE) establish a non-dual Śaiva theory of reflection (pratibimbavāda) (3.1-65) using the key metaphors of light (prakāśa) and reflective awareness (vimarśa). This paper attempts to explain the philosophical problem of reflection from the standpoint of these non-dual Śaivas. It also evaluates the problem in its hermeneutical context, analysing multiple layers of meaning and interpretation. Is the metaphor of reflection only a way of explaining the particular currents of the Śaiva phenomenology represented by the concepts of prakāśa and vimarśa? What philosophical problem does Abhinavagupta seek to solve by complicating the category of reflection and giving it a quasi-paradoxical status? Why does he use the model of the subtle elements (tanmātras) to explain the theory of reflection? What does the ‘untaintedness (nairmalya) of the mirror of consciousness’ mean for his system? These questions form the focus of this paper.

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Abbreviations

ĪPK:

Īśvarapratyabhijñākārikā → TORELLA 2002

ĪPV:

Īśvarapratyabhijñāvimarśinī

ĪPVB:

Bhāskarī

ĪPVV:

Īśvarapratyabjijñāvivṛttivimarśinī

KSTS:

Kashmir Series of Texts and Studies

MVUT:

Mālinīvijayottaratantra

NT:

Netratantra

NTU:

Netratantroddyota

PHṛ:

Pratyabhijñāhṛdaya

PS:

Paramārthasāra

PSV:

Paramārthasāravivṛti

PTV:

Parātriśikāvivaraṇa

SBUM:

Svabodhodayamañjarī → TORELLA 2000

SN:

Spanda-nirṇaya

ŚS:

Śivasūtra

ŚSV:

Śivasūtra-vārttika

SvT:

Svacchandatantra

SvTU:

Svacchandatantrodyota

TĀ:

Tantrāloka

TAK III:

Tantrābhidhānakośa III → RASTELLI and GOODALL 2013

TĀV:

Tantrālokaviveka

TS:

Tantrasāra

TU:

Tantroccaya

VBV:

Vijñānabhairava-vivṛti

VM:

Vāmakeśvarīmata-vivaraṇa

YS:

Yogasūtra

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr Francesco Sferra, Dr Shaman Hatley and the anonymous reviewer of JIP for their valuable comments and suggestions that helped in improving this article.

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  1. Manipal Centre for Humanities, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India

    Mrinal Kaul

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Kaul, M. Abhinavagupta on Reflection (Pratibimba) in the Tantrāloka. J Indian Philos 48, 161–189 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10781-019-09414-0

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