Spanda-Karikas: The Divine Creative Pulsation - Softcover

Singh, Jaideva

Softcover

ISBN 10: 8120808215 ISBN 13: 9788120808218

Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Publications, 2002

Synopsis

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 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 author's own words is given.

About this title

Synopsis

The present book is of the supreme significance from four points of view. Firstly, it breaks a new ground in Indian philosophy. According to it, the Self is not simply witnessing consciousness as maintained by Sankhya, Patanjala Yoga, Vedanta, but an active force of Spanda. Secondly, the ultimate reality is not simply a logical system, a mysterious background of bloodless categories, but spanda or living, throbbing Energy, the Divine creative Pulsation, the source of all manifestation, physical or superphysical. Thirdly, the work elaborates the dynamic side of consciousness and serves as a commentary on the Siva Sutra. Forthly, it gives hint of a new kind of yoga for the realization of self.

Edition details

• Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Publications
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8120808215
• ISBN 13: 9788120808218
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 232