Utpaladeva
Utpaladeva, also rendered Utpala, was a Kashmiri Shaiva philosopher and poet who is traditionally regarded as the founder of the Pratyabhijñā (Recognition) school within Kashmir Shaivism, a major stream of the Trika tradition. Biographical details are scarce and scholarly accounts often rely on later hagiography; he is associated with the Kashmir region, particularly Srinagar.
In doctrine, Utpaladeva articulated a non-dual interpretation of Śiva as the ultimate reality, understood through consciousness.
His works laid the doctrinal foundations for Pratyabhijñā thought. The texts traditionally attributed to him include
Utpaladeva’s legacy lies in establishing a school that emphasizes conscious self-recognition as the path to enlightenment,