On consciousness. An Outline of Abhinavagupta’s soteriology in the Mālinīvijayavārttika (paper).

On consciousness. An Outline of Abhinavagupta’s soteriology in the Mālinīvijayavārttika, 2

By Xicoténcatl Martinez-Ruiz, Lancaster University UK, Religious Studies Department.

London, April 2008

http://www.cesnur.org/2008/london_ruiz.pdf

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to analyse how Abhinavagupta’s concept of

consciousness plays a central role to articulate both, the theoretical congruence and

the plausibility of Trika śaiva soteriological project; as it is expressed in

Abhinavagupta’s works. In the most general sense I use the word soteriology in this

context as the path or liberative method to the highest goal in life and the sudden

arousal of the highest goodness called liberation (mokṣa). This method and its goal

stand for “the benefit of humanity” (jana),3 without restriction of caste or gender.