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…

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…

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…

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra is a Shiva Tantra

The Vijnana Bhairava Tantra (विज्ञान भैरव तंत्र) is a Shiva Tantra of the Kaula Trika tradition of Kashmir Shaivism, possibly authored by Guru…

Pancha Siddhantika Means the Treatise of the Five Astronomical Systems

Pancha Siddhantika (पंच सिद्धांतिका) is a 6th-century CE Sanskrit–language text written by astrologer-astronomer Varāhamihira in present-day Ujjain, India. It summarizes the contents of the treatises of…

Matsara Serves as a Guidepost for Inner Growth

Matsara (मत्सर) is a Buddhist/Hindu term translated as “stinginess” or “miserliness”. It is defined as being incapable of enjoying one’s…

Mada Leads to the Corruption of the Mind

Mada (मद) is a term used in both Hindu theology and mythology and is one of the Arishadvargas. It refers…