Abhinavagupta

Abhinavagupta (c. 950–c. 1016 CE) was a prominent Indian philosopher, mystic, and scholar associated with Kashmir Shaivism, particularly the Trika tradition. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in medieval Indian philosophy and in the development of tantric and aesthetic thought within that school. Details of his life are sparse, but he is traditionally linked to the Kashmir region and is believed to have produced a large body of works addressing philosophy, yoga, ritual, and aesthetics.

His best-known writings include the Tantraloka, a comprehensive and systematic compendium of Kashmir Shaivism that organizes its metaphysics, epistemology, yoga, ritual practice, and doctrinal debates. The Tantraloka is celebrated for synthesizing complex tantric ideas into an accessible framework and for its detailed treatment of the Spanda (vibration or pulsa) doctrine and nondual theology. Another major work attributed to him is the Abhinavabharati, a monumental commentary on Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra. This work had a profound influence on Indian dramaturgy and aesthetics, particularly the theory of rasa, the aesthetic flavor or mood evoked in the spectator.

Philosophically, Abhinavagupta is associated with nondual, monistic Kashmir Shaivism, which posits that consciousness and the supreme Shiva are inseparably united. He emphasized the experiential realization of unity through meditation, perception, and artistic practice, integrating spiritual insight with ritual and aesthetic experience. His writings shaped both philosophical discourse and artistic theory in Kashmir and influenced later Indian thought.