KASHMIR SAIVISM

also called Pratyabhija (Sanskrit: Recognition), an important religio-philosophical system of India that worships Lord Siva as the supreme reality. The school is idealistic and monistic, as contrasted with the realistic and dualistic school of Saiva-siddhanta (q.v.). The principal texts of the school are the Siva-sutra, said to have been revealed to Vasugupta; Vasugupta's Spanda-karika (Verses on Activity; 8th9th century); Utpala's Pratyabhija-sastra (c. 900; Manual on Recognition); Abhinavagupta's Paramarthasara (The Essence of the Highest Truth), Pratyabhijavimarsini (Reflections on Recognition), and Tantraloka (Lights on the Doctrine), 10th century; and Ksemaraja's Siva-sutra-vimarsini (Reflections on the Aphorisms on Siva). Siva is seen as the sole reality and both the material and efficent causes of the universe. His power is known in five aspects: cit (consciousness), ananda (bliss), icha (desire), jana (knowledge), and kriya (action). For the adherents of Kashmir Saivism, liberation comes about through intense meditation on the Lord and recognition of the identical nature of the individual soul and the Lord. (Compare Saivism.)