Spanda

Spanda, a Sanskrit term meaning vibration or throb, is a central concept in Kashmir Shaivism, a non-dual Śaiva tradition. The doctrine posits that the ultimate reality, Shiva, is not a static being but a dynamic, conscious pulsation that underlies all existence. This pulsation—spanda—constitutes the very rhythm of creation, maintenance, and dissolution, and it is identical with consciousness itself. The world and the individual experience are manifestations of this inner vibratory activity, not separate from Shiva but its ever-present expression.

In this view, knowledge arises when one perceives the unity of subject, object, and energy within the continuous flow of spanda. The Spanda doctrine is developed in the Spanda Karika, a foundational concise treatise in this tradition, and is elaborated by later Kashmir Shaivite writers. The system emphasizes that phenomena appear as different aspects of the same cosmic pulsation; multiplicity is a misperception arising from ignoring the vibratory nature of reality, while enlightenment entails recognizing oneself as identical with the pulsating consciousness and with Shiva’s lila, the divine play.

Practices associated with Spanda include meditation on the inner rhythm of consciousness, devotional worship, and yogic techniques aimed at aligning perception with the spontaneous play of Shiva. Spanda thus provides a framework for understanding creation as the dynamic expression of ultimate reality, balancing transcendence and immanence.