The Stanzas on Vibration: The Spandakarika with Four Commentaries

by Mark S.G. Dyczkowski

Spanda is the vibratory dynamism of the absolute consciousness. In this book, the author focuses on the school of Kashmir Shaivism that presents this doctrine as its cardinal principle and whose literature consists in a large part of the works translated here.

In his introduction and in his exposition of the four commentaries, the author shows both how the Spanda tradition contributes to the other schools of Kashmir Shaivism and how it is different from them. He presents for the first time a detailed treatment of this tradition and analysis of its development

The Siva Sutra was revealed to Vasugupta by Siva in order to counter the effects of dualism. This revelation initiated the hermeneutics of syntheses and exegesis climaxed by the great Abhinavagupta. The Siva Sutra is the most important scripture in the Trika system of Kashmir Shaivism. As a book on yoga, it explains the nature and cause of bondage and the means to liberation from bondage.

Contents of the Book:

• Foreword.
• The Siva Sutras.
• Introduction.
• 1. The first light : The description of the light of universal consciousness.
• 2. The second light : The arising of innate knowledge.
• 3. The third light : The vibration of the powers.
• Appendix: The Stanzas on Vibration.
• Notes.
• Bibliography.
• Index.

About the Author:

Mark Dyczkowski, at present, is a research associate at Sampurnananda Sanskrit University for a project to edit the Manthanabhairavatantra. He is the author of the Doctrine of Vibration as well as several articles in learned journals.