Aesthetic Philosophy of Abhinavagupta

Pages: 207
About the Book
Abhinavagupta propound his Aesthetic philosophy in light of his Tantric philosophy. Tantrism is non-dualistic as it holds the existence of one Reality, the Consciousness. This one Reality, the Consciousness, is manifesting itself in the various forms of knower and known. According to Tantrism the whole process of creation and dissolution occurs within the nature of consciousness. In the same way he has propounded 'Rasadvaita darsana' the Non-dualistic philosophy of Aesthetics. The Rasa, the aesthetic experience, lies in the consciousness, is experienced by the consciousness, and in a way, it itself is experiencing state of consciousness. As in Tantric metaphysics, one Tattva, Siva, manifests itself in the forms of other Tattvas, so the one Rasa, the Santa, assumes the forms of other Rasas, the Santa, assumes the forms of other Rasas and finally dissolves in itself.
The present book traces and explains the connecting points, the running threads, between Abhinavagupta's Tantric philosophy o Reality and Aesthic Philosophy logically, philosophically and critically.
Preface
It can not be said categorically that Abhinavagupta propounded his aesthetic theories to support or to prove his Tantric philosophy but it can be said definitely that he expounded his aesthetic philosophy in light of his Tantric philosophy. Tantrism is non-dualistic as it holds the existence of one Reality, the Consciousness. This one of knower and known. According to Tantrism the whole world of manifestation is manifesting out of itself (consciousness) and is manifesting in itself. The whole process of creation and dissolution occurs within the nature of consciousness. In the same way he has propounded Rasadvaita Darsana, the Non-dualistic philosophy of Aesthetics. The Rasa, the aesthetic experience, lies in the consciousness, is experienced by the consciousness and