Advaita
Advaita
Advaita or Non-duality is one of the several schools of philosophy that originated in the Indian Subcontinent. The most famous school of non-duality is that of Kēvalādvaita brought to prominence by ācārya Shaṅkara Bhagavatpāda. The central tenets of this school are codified in the Prasthānatraya Bhāṣya of Shaṅkarācārya.
The Advaita of Tantra, specifically of Kāśmīra śaiva darśana, differs from Kēvalādvaita of Vēdānta. The Advaita of Tantra and āgama schools is showcased in the works of Mahāmāhēśvara Abhinavagupta and Bhāskararāya Makhīndra.
The peculiarity of Advaita of Shakta schools lies in the fact that it neither advocates the path of ‘dry’ knowledge, nor the path of devotion bereft of knowledge, rather it lays down a path that integrates knowledge and devotion both. Logically Bhakti has no place in the ultimate stage of the absolutism propounded by Shankara. According to him, devotion is basically duality-centric, and as such does not exist in the Absolutic state on attainment of knowledge. Needless to say, this devotion is ignorance-based and instrumental in character.
But, on the contrary, in the Tantric Advaita, Mōkṣa has been portrayed as Cidānanda lābha (attainment of Consciousness-Bliss) or Pūrṇāhaṁtācamatkāra (self-relish flowing from perfect I-hood). The aspect of consciousness (cidamśa) is Knowledge and that of bliss (ānandāmśa) is Devotion. The perfect I-hood or self-relish which marks the limit of Knowledge, also marks the limit of Devotion. It is why it offers congenial ground for synthesis. Here the element of consciousness i.e., Shiva-state, and that of bliss i.e., Shakti-state, stand fused together instantly turning it into synthesis of devotion-knowledge or equipoise of Shiva-Shakti.
Articles
Saundaryalahari – Verse 4
“Thou the refuge of all worlds! All Gods except Thee vouchsafe protection and bestow boons by gestures of their hands. Thou alone art not given
Saundaryalahari – Verse 3
“The dust of Thy feet is the Island City, wherefrom takes place the luminous sunrise of spiritual illumination, driving away the over-casting darkness of ignorance
Saundaryalahari – Verse 2
“Gathering a microscopic particle of dust form Thy feet, Brahma the creator, brings into being this limitless and mysterious universe, without any imperfections. The sustainer
Saundaryalahari – Verse 1
“Only if conjoint with Shakti (Thyself), Lord Shiva is endowed with the power to create the universe. Otherwise, He is incapable even of movement. Therefore,
Kumarila Bhatta
Though shrI shankara bhagavatpAda is mostly credited with the intellectual end of Buddhism, whose physical end was effected by the Mohammedans, he only completed the
10. Krishna Dvaipayana
Acharya stayed a few days in Gangotri and then left for Uttarakashi. Uttarakashi is an ancient sacred spot and pilgrim center. Countless Yogis and Rishis
5. Mokshapuri Kashi
After the passing away of Govindapada, Shankara along with a few other Sanyasins proceeded towards Varanasi even as his Guru had counseled him. He passed
Karma and Jnana
mudrAkShamAlA.amR^itapAtravidyA vyAghrAjinArdhenduphaNIndrayuktam | yogIndraparjanyamanassaroja- bhR^i~NgaM bhaje.ahaM hR^idi dakShiNAsyam || vishwaM mAyAmayatvena rUpitaM yatprabodhataH | vishwaM cha yatswarUpaM taM vArtikAchAramAshraye || The necessity of performing Karma,
6. Jagadamba Bhavani
For the accomplishment of divine task, Shankara was destined to live in the world, established in the experience of the undivided Brahman, rooted in the
15. Hastamalakiya
Sriveli was the home of nearly two thousand Brahmin families. The Brahmins of the place were all very devoted to the faith they held and
shrIharaye namaH
shrImAtre namaH The meaning of the divine name “hariH” is explained thus by shrImadAchArya: sahetukaM saMsAraM haratIti hariH – He, who destroys the samsAra along
2. At the Gurukula
Shivaguru was extremely happy to find his son endowed with supernatural intellectual acumen. He made up his mind to have the boy’s Upanayana ceremony (the