Kshemaraja
10th/11th century Hindu philosopher
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Rajanaka Kṣemarāja (क्षेमराज) (late 10th to early 11th century) was a philosopher disciple of Abhinavagupta,[1] who was considered a master of tantra, yoga, poetics, and dramaturgy.[2] Not much is known of Kṣemarāja's life or parentage. His chief disciple was a sage known as Yogāraja.[3]
Kṣemarāja's magnum opus was the Pratyabhijñāhṛdayam ('The Heart of Self-Recognition'). In this text, Kṣemarāja explains the main tenets of the Pratyabhijñā philosophy in a succinct set of sutras for students. The work occupies the same place in Kashmir Shaivite or Trika literature as Sadananda's Vedantasara does in Advaita Vedanta.
Works
- Pratyabhijñāhṛdayam
- Spandasandoha
- Spandaniraya
- Svacchandoddyota
- Netroddyota
- Vijnanabhairavoddyota, a commentary on the Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra
- Shivasūtravimarśinī, a commentary on the Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta
- Stavacintamanitika
- Parapraveshika
- Tattvasandoha.[2]
Pratyabhijñāhṛdayam
The text elucidates the main tenets of the pratyabhijñā system in a succinct set of sutras, expounding the core of the philosophy and explaining how self-recognition arises within, culminating in the consciousness of Shivoham (I am Shiva).[4][5] Pratyabhijñāhṛdayam consists of 20 aphorisms plus a commentary by Kṣemarāja himself.[6] Translations are given by:
- Singh, Jaideva (1982). Pratyabhijñāhrdayam. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 8120803221.
- Tagare, G.V. (2002). The Pratyabhijna Philosophy. Motilal Banarsidass.
Chapter 18 is also commented on by Shankarananda (2016).
