Spanda Karika: A Study - Along With Sanskrit Text & Vrtti of Sri Bhattakallata (An Old and Rare Book)

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Preface

The Literature of the Trika System or Saivism is divided into three branches.

1. Spanda
2. Agama
3. Pratyabhijna

Hence Spanda may be called one of the main branch of Saivism, which has a very large following even today and its history goes back to the time of the Indus Valley Culture & Civilization. There seems to be a contemptous reference to the followers of Saivism as `Sisnedevah' in the earlier portion of the Rgveda. A careful study of the Saiva Philosophic literature, however, show that the Saiva Philosophy is prior to the Vaisesika, the Nyaya and the Vedanta. For the Vaisesika system is known to the tradition as Aulukya Dargana", because Siva is said to have revealed the doctrines incorporated by Kanada in his system. in the form of an owl. The Vaisesika and the Nyaya systems are called by competent authorities Pagupata and Saiva, because of the devotion of the founders of these systems, to Pasupata and Sada§iva respectively. Both of them adopt the Dualistic Pasupata meta-physics and the conception of Moksa. This system is referred to by Badarayana in his Vedanta-Sutras and is elaborated in upon and criticized in detail by Sankara and his commentators. The dualistic Saiva Philosophy, thus, seems to be prior to three recognised Vedic system. And if the validity of the traditions accepted that Nandikesvara was an older contemporary of Parini & admit that Patanjali refers to the view of Nandikesvara it will be found that there was already a Volontaristic School of Saivism in the fifth century B.C. a school the fundamentals of which were subsequently adopted and developed by the Monistic Saivism of Kasmira.

There are eight systems of Salva philosophy, the represent different currents of the philosophic thought such as dualizm, dualism cum monism, monism, qualified monism, idealism and voluntarism etc.. The Seism Philosophy thus seems to be complete in itself and to have had an independent tradition.

Spanda branch elaborates the purely advaitic principles as enunciated in the Siva-Sutra. The main and only the available one text of this branch is Spandakariki and its commentaries of Ksemaraja Bhatta-Kallata and Rama Kantha.

The present study of the Spanda-Karika has been divided into seven chapters.

I take the opportunity to record my intellectual debt to learned editors & scholars when I had to fall back upon my material and inspiration at different stages.

This is my duty to acknowledge my gratefulness to Prof. D.B. Sen Sherpa, under whose guidance. I have the privilege of Studying Saiva & Balm Philosophy. No words, no language is adequate to express my heartiest veneration for Dr. Sipra Banerjee whose learned and invaluable advice always kindled inspiration in the face of difficulties and obstacle encountered in the course of this work. Here, I also cannot fail to record my sincerest feelings for Dr. Smite Banerjee, whose unfailing blessings have guided me to work in the face of several odds and adversities.

In the end I curve the indulgence of readers for mistakes, which might have crept in advertently. I have tried to be faithful to the Sanskrit Texts so far as possible.

**Contents and Sample Pages**