The Spanda Tattva

The Spanda Tattva

Author: Swami Akhandanand Saraswati

Publisher: Srikanth s

Published:

Total Pages: 82

ISBN-13:

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In the tradition of the siddha (those who have obtained their goal; enlightened Mahatmas), the name 'spanda' was used for the parama tattva (supreme essence, the Brahman) since ancient times. Other names used for this Tattva are, shuddhaatmaa (the pristine Atma), Shankara, Shiva, svabhaava (own nature), gnaataa (the knower), and saamaanya (the common factor, or general principle). It is also known as the Kashmiri pratyabhignaadarshan (the consciousness that illuminates everything. The 'Sarvadarshan Samhita' calls it the 'Shiva Darshan' (a glimpse of Shiva, who we revere). This corresponds with Abhinav Gupta's sadhanaa-paddhati (method used for spiritual progress). Acharya Bhatta Kallata obtained its rahasya (quintessence; hidden indications) from his Guru, Vasugupta, and composed fifty kaarikaa (philosophical verses) as a summery. Utpalacharya wrote a commentary on it in the middle of the tenth century. He called it, 'Spanda Pradeepika'. It is in Sanskrit. It has been published just one, in 1898, by the Medical Hall Press in Varanasi. This is now presented in a succinct form, for Hindi readers.


The Yoga of Vibration and Divine Pulsation

The Yoga of Vibration and Divine Pulsation

Author: Vasugupta

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 1992-01-01

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 9780791411797

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Spanda is the vibratory dynamism of the absolute consciousness. In the first section of his commentary, Kṣemarāja presents spanda as identical with the essential self of each person. The second section presents a methodology that allows access to the world of spanda yoga. The third section describes the spiritual powers attained by the realization of spanda. Through modern physics, we have grown accustomed to thinking of physical reality as waves of energy--as the matter-energy continuum. Tantric Shaivism presents the full matrix of energy pulsation of which physical reality is only a part. From the relatively superficial perceptions of the senses to the progressively subtle forms of inner awareness, a unified spectrum of spanda leads inward until the most delicate and powerful tendrils of individuality merge with the infinitely rapid vibration of the ultimate consciousness. The text prescribes a continuous refinement of perception in order for that aspect of spanda which continuously subsides into infinity to be discovered in the awareness of the practitioner. Through prescribed use of mantra, the yogi develops a continuous attentiveness to the presence of the spanda--the spanda that reveals itself to her as an ecstatic flashing forth within her own awareness. The Guru enlivened mantra leads the yogi through the vibratory spectrum of awareness to the ever subtler domains within. As this occurs, the surface word-form of the mantra falls away and only the original lively pulsation of enlightenment is left. At a certain definite point, the individual awareness is permanently caught up in this subtle pulsation of the ultimate. It then transcends all of the relative spatial distinctions of inner and outer, higher and lower, above and below. The nondimensional, global encompassing of the individuality by the absolute consciousness is the state of jivanmukti, the goal of the tantric practice prescribed by the Spanda Karikas.


The Essence of Bhakti, Gnana and Karma

The Essence of Bhakti, Gnana and Karma

Author: Swami Akhandananda Saraswati

Publisher: Srikanth s

Published:

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13:

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The Nectarine wisdom of Swami Akhandananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj of Vrindavan on the essence of Bhakti Gnana and Karma. Charu Chintan or Beautiful reflections.


Shiva

Shiva

Author: David Frawley

Publisher: Lotus Press

Published: 2015-08-14

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 094067629X

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Lord Shiva is the personification of all the main practices of Yoga, as the origin and ruling power over asana, prana, mantra, inner seeing and meditation. The current book unfolds the presence, light, energy and consciousness of the Supreme Shiva to take us beyond all death and duality.


Immortal teachings of Akhandananda

Immortal teachings of Akhandananda

Author: Swami Akhandananda Saraswati

Publisher: Srikanth s

Published:

Total Pages: 226

ISBN-13:

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A nectarine compilation of Swami Akhandananda Saraswati Ji's Discourses and writings on Bhagwata, Bhagwat Gita, Advaita Vedanta,etc.,in 3 volumes.


Siva Sutras

Siva Sutras

Author: Jaideva Singh

Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass

Published: 2012-01-01

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 8120804066

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Siva Sutras are considered to be a revealed book of Yoga: the supreme identity of the individual self with the Divine. Here an English translation of the Siva Sutras has been provided, together with an abstract of each sutra, which throws a flood of light on the entire system of Saiva Yoga. A glossary of technical terms and index are appended for the convenience of the reader. Four commentaries on Siva Sutras are available at present, the Vimarsini commentary of Ksemaraja in prose, the Siva-sutra-vrtti by some anonymous author in prose, the Siva-sutra-varttikam by Varadaraja in verse. The Siva-Sutra-vrtti is so close to Vimarsini that it appears to be either a preliminary draft or a later abstract of the Vimarsini. There is a strong presumption that the author of the Vrtti was Ksemaraja himself. For more information, please head to www.mlbd.co.in


Spanda-Karikas

Spanda-Karikas

Author: Jaideva Singh

Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass

Published: 2014-01-01

Total Pages: 236

ISBN-13: 8120808169

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The Spandakarikas are a number of verses that serve as a sort of commentary on the Siva-sutras. According to Saivagama, the divine consciousness is not simply cold, inert intellection. It is rather spanda, active, dynamic, throbbing with life, creative pulsation. In Siva-sutras, it is the prakasa aspect of the divine that is emphasized; in Spandakarikas, it is the vimarsa aspect that is emphasized. Together, these two books give us an integral view of Saiva philosophy. Ksemaraja has written a commentary on Spandakarikas, titled Spanda-nirnaya. He is fond of sesquipedalian compounds, long and windy sentences, but he is very profound in the comprehension of the subject and so cannot be ignored. The author tried to provide a readable translation of both the karikas and the Spanda-nirnaya commentary. Each karika (verse) is given both in Devanagari and Roman script, followed by its translation in English. This is followed by Ksemaraja's commentary in Sanskrit. Then follows an English translation of the commentary. After this, copious notes are added on important and technical words. Finally, a running exposition of each karika in the author's own words is given.


An Indian Tantric Tradition and Its Modern Global Revival

An Indian Tantric Tradition and Its Modern Global Revival

Author: D.E. Osto

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-03-06

Total Pages: 326

ISBN-13: 1000049299

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This book analyzes the contemporary global revival of Nondual Śaivism, a thousand-year-old medieval Hindu religious philosophy. Providing a historical overview of the seminal people and groups responsible for the revival, the book compares the tradition’s medieval Indian origins to modern forms, which are situated within distinctively contemporary religious, economic and technological contexts. The author bridges the current gap in the literature between "insider" (emic) and "outsider” (etic) perspectives by examining modern Nondual Śaivism from multiple standpoints as both a critical scholar of religion and an empathetic participant-observer. The book explores modern Nondual Śaivism in relation to recent scholarly debates concerning the legitimacy of New Age consumptive spirituality, the global spiritual marketplace and the contemporary culture of narcissism. It also analyzes the dark side of the revived tradition, and investigates contemporary teachers accused of sexual abuse and illegal financial activities in relation to unique features of Nondual Śaivism’s theosophy and modern scholarship on new religious movements (NRMs) and cults. This book shows that, although Kashmir Śaivism has been adopted by certain teachers and groups to market their own brand of "High Tantra," some contemporary practitioners have remained true to the system’s fundamental tenets and teach authentic (albeit modern) forms of Nondual Śaivism. This book will be of interest to academics in the fields of religion and Asian philosophies, especially South Asian, tantric, neo-tantric and yoga philosophies, alternative and New Age spiritualities, religion and consumerism, and NRMs and cults. Winner of the inaugural 2021 New Zealand Asia Society Book Award, second prize.