83. SAIVA BASIS OF ABHINAVA'S ÆSTHETICS 91

SAIVA BASIS OF ABHINAVA'S ÆSTHETICS 91

ness of the Self, technically called "Sakti", is therefore admitted to be the second category.

Abhinavagupta puts the æsthetic experience at this level. We shall, therefore, deal with it in detail, in order to show what is the essential nature of the asthetic experience and how it cannot be explained in terms of the Vedanta, in the light of which its explanation has been attempted by scholars, who have written so far on the subject. The fact is that the tradition of the Monistic Saivaism died out very early outside Kashmir and the Vedanta acquired supreme position in the philosophic thought of India. In ignorance of Abhinava's system, therefore, scholars attempted to interpret Abhinavagupta's æsthetic theory in the light of the system, which was known to them as the best. The main object of the volumes, which are being written on Abhinavagupta, is, therefore, to revive the Monistic Saiva tradition and to put his æsthetic theory in the proper perspective of his general philosophy.

THE CATEGORY OF SAKTI (CONSCIOUSNESS) AS CAMATKĀRA

Abhinavagupta, in the course of his presentation of the essential nature of the æsthetic experience, says that it is nothing but the basic mental state (Sthayin) which figures in the consciousness, which is free from all impediments (Vītavighna pratītigrāhyo bhāva eva Rasah). And while explaining the implication1 of "consciousness, free from impediments", he adds that it is nothing but "Camatkara". He explains "Camatkara" as an activity of the subject which has got merged into "Spanda", which is essentially a wonderful "Bhoga".

1. A. Bh., Vol. I. 281.