The Iavara -pratyabhijna Karika (IPK) of Utpaladeva is the foremost work of Pratyabhijna Darsana and contains the core argumentation in support of this important Saiva Philosophy as well as refutations of and disputations with Buddhsit Vedantin and Ritual

Utpaladeva (late 9th-early 10th century) was a great philosopher of the School of Recognition of non-dualist Kashmir Saivism, who established its philosophy on a solid basis with his Isvarapratyabhijna Karikas (Verses on the Recognition of the Lord), and with three philosophical works, the Siddhitrayi. He was the predecessor (Paramaguru) of the great Abhinavagupta. But at the same time he was a mystic of bhakti as we find it here expressed in his Hymns Sivastotravalt. For him, bhakti and advaita were not opposed to each other but complementary. The sivastotravali is a collection of verses and hymns which are an expression of intense bhakti, longing for the Lord, and the mystical experience of the author and his non-dual union with Siva. They were arranged in 20chapters or Stotras by his disciples. Of highly poetic quality, these verses belong to the greatest mystical literatures of the world. Swami Lakshman Joo, the last Saivacarya of Kashmir (1907-1991), combined in himself the great scholar of the tradition of Kashmir Saivism, who taught and expounded its texts time and again to his disciples and to scholars from all parts of the world, and the perfect yogi who had an intimate experience of the spirituality contained therein. He had a special love for the Sivastotravali and expounded it many times in different languages (Kashmiri, Hindi and English). His edition of the Sivastotravali with Ksemaraja's commentary and his Hindi translation remains the standard text. In the present volume his exposition in English is brought out for the first time.

Cutting across distinctions of schools and types, the author explains the central feature of Kashmir Saivism: the creative pulse of the all-pervasive Consciousness called Siva. This is also the central theme of the Hindu Tantras, and Dyczkowski provides new insight into the most literate and extensive interpretations of the Tantras. This book is significant from four points of view. First, it breaks new ground in Indian philosophy. According to the Spanda Doctrine, the self is not simply witnessing consciousness as maintained by Sankhya and Vedanta, but is an active force. Second, the ultimate reality is not simply a logical system of abstract categories, but is living, pulsating energy, the source of all manifestation. Third, the work elaborates the dynamic aspect of consciousness. It supplies an excellent introduction to the texts and scriptures of Kashmir Saivism. Fourth, it suggests a Yoga for the realization of self.

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 an 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 the author's own words is given.

This book presents the historical account of its teachers. To make the reading easy and intelligible its technical terms are explained. The book also explains how Pratyabhijna system was formulated and developed by the great teachers. It contain also essence of Ksemaraja's book Pratyabhijna-hrdaya which explains both the philiosophy and ways of Siva realisation and even a layman can understand what Pratyabhijna is. The book also presents a brief survey of the argument and explains the relevance of Pratyabhijna. The book contains a glossary of technical terms and bibliography to make the reading comprehensive.

On the fundamentals of Trika philosophy of Kashmiri Sivaism.