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On Śaiva Terminology: Some Key Issues of Understanding

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Abstract

The goal of this paper is to reconsider some key concepts of nondualist Kashmirian Śaivism whose interpretation and translation have generally been the subject of some sort of silent consensus. Through the close examination of a particular text, the Paramārthasāra of Abhinavagupta and its commentary by Yogarāja, as well as of related texts of the system, I shall attempt to improve upon the understanding and translation of terms such as ghana (and the compounds derived therefrom), the roots sphar, sphur, pra]kāś etc., and their derivatives, bhavanakartr̥tā, and the names of the three malas. Further, bhāvanā will be discussed in its Śaiva acceptation and a more suitable translation suggested.

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Bibliographic References

Abbreviations

  • EFEO  École française d’Extrême-Orient.

  • GOS  Gaekwad’s Oriental Series.

  • HOS  Harvard Oriental Series.

  • IFP  Institut français de Pondichéry.

  • IsMEO  Istituto per lo studio del Medio ed Estremo Oriente.

  • JRAS  Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society [of Great Britain and Ireland], Londres.

  • KSTS  Kashmir Series of Texts and Studies.

  • Publ. EFEO  Publications de l’EFEO.

  • Publ. ICI  Publications de l’Institut de civilisation indienne (Collège de France).

  • SOR  Serie orientale Roma.

  • SUNY  State University of New York.

  • TSS  Trivandrum Sanskrit Series.

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Bansat-Boudon, L. On Śaiva Terminology: Some Key Issues of Understanding. J Indian Philos 42, 39–97 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10781-013-9211-6

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