Pratyabhijna is the Philosophy of Self-Recognition and Divine Consciousness

Pratyabhijna or Pratyabhijya (प्रत्यभिज्ञा) is an idealistic, monistic, and theistic school of philosophy in Kashmir Shaivism, originating in the ninth century CE. The name of the system is derived from…

Aura Refers to a Subtle, Invisible Energy Field

Aura (आभा) most commonly refers to: Aura (paranormal), a purported field of luminous multi-colored radiation around a person or object,…

Prana is Energy Behind Breathing, Thinking, Moving, and Feeling

Prana (प्राण) in yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, permeates reality on all levels, including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, praṇa is sometimes…

Shaiva Siddhanta is one of the Oldest Continuous Shaiva Traditions

Shaiva Siddhanta (शैव सिद्धांत) is a form of Shaivism from South India and Sri Lanka that propounds a dualistic philosophy where the ultimate and…

Spanda is the Sacred Vibration of Kashmir Shaivism

Spanda (स्पंद), a Tantric term meaning “cosmic pulsation” in Kashmir Shaivism. In Hindu philosophy, especially within the non-dual tradition of…

Yogini is a Supernatural Female Deity Associated With Shakti

A yogini (योगिनी) is a female master practitioner of tantra and yoga, as well as a formal term of respect for female Hindu…

Rudrayamala is Considered one of the Most Important Sanskrit Tantric Texts

The Rudrayamala (रुद्रयामल), also known as Rudra Yamala (रुद्र यमला), Rudra-Yamala, or Parātriṁśaka, is considered one of the most important Sanskrit Tantric texts. It is…

Kashmir Shaivism Teaches that Shiva is the One Ultimate Reality

Kashmir Shaivism (कश्मीर शैव धर्म) is a 20th-century umbrella term for a body of Sanskrit exegetical literature from several non-dualist Shaiva-Shakta tantric and monistic…

Tantraloka Literally Means the Light on the Tantras

Tantraloka (तन्त्रलोक) is a treatise of Abhinavagupta, a writer and philosopher of the Kashmir Shaivism school of Hindu philosophy. The Tantraloka…

Turiya Refers to the Fourth State of Consciousness

In Hindu philosophy, Turiya (तुरीय), also referred to as chaturiya or chaturtha, is the true self (atman) beyond the three common states of consciousness…