240. 240 HISTORY OF SANSKRIT POETICS

240 HISTORY OF SANSKRIT POETICS

Śaiva monism was systematized by the Śāstrakāra (Utpala ?) and was correctly expounded by लक्ष्मणगुप्तपाद. In the मालिनी- विजयवार्तिक1 Abhinavagupta highly praises his guru Laksmana- gupta. As regurds अभिनवगप्त himself he wrote two very important works on the प्रत्यभिज्ञाशास्त्र viz. ईश्वर प्रतिमिश्ञाविमर्शिनी (also called लघुवृत्ति) on उत्पलदेव's प्रत्यमिश्ञाकारिका and ईश्वरप्रत्यमिन्वा- विवृतिविमर्शिनी (also called वृहतीवृत्ति) on उत्पलदेव's टीका on his own प्रत्यभिश्ञाकारिका. The guru-paramparā to his study of the Tantras was as follows : सुमतिनाथ-सोमदेव-शम्भुनाथ-अभिनवगुप्त. Vide जयरथ on तन्त्रालोक vol. I. p. 236, तन्त्रालोक 1st भाह्निक verses 13 and 21 and तन्त्रसार (3rd Intro. verse about शम्भुनाथ.). In his eager search for knowladge Abhinavagupta states that he resorted to teachers of tarka (Nyāya and Vaiseşika systems), and of Bauddha, Arhata and Vaisnava doctrines.2 Abhinavagupta was proficient in yogic practices, he believed that he had realized the Highest Reality (Siva) and was inspired by Siva to proclaim an easy way of Release out of compassion for less favoured people struggling to find spiritual enlightenment and peace. Even after having become blessed, for the sake of others he wrote works.3 At the end of the प्रत्यभिश्ञाविमर्शिनी Abhinava says that he has opened an easy and new way which former great teachers declared in the 'Sivadrsti'; a man planting his feet on this path becomes perfect and one with Siva. At the end of his परमार्थसार (verse

1. तद्दृष्टिसंसृतिच्छ्ेदिप्रत्यमिश्ञोपदेशिनः । श्रीमल्लद्मणगुप्तस्य गुरोर्विजयते वच: । verse 8. 2. अहमप्यत एवाधःशास्त्रृष्टिकुतूहलाद्। तार्किकश्रौतबौद्धादृदवैष्णवादीन- सेविषि l तन्त्रालोक, 13 आहनिक verses 345-346; vol. VIII. p. 206 of Kashmir S. S. 3. शिवस्मृतिकृतार्थोपि परार्थ दुःखलात्मजः (चुखलात्मजः १)। त्र. भा. vol. II. p. 117; इति यज्जेयसतत्त्वं दर्श्यंते तच्छिवाश्ञया । मया स्वसंवित्सत्त- कपतिशास्त्रत्रिकक्रमात्। तन्त्रालोक 1st श्राहनिक verse 106. स्वसंवित् स्वानुभवः सचर्को युक्तिः पतिशासत्रं भेदप्रधानं शैवं त्रिकं परादिशक्तित्रयाभिधायकं शाखतरं क्रमः चतुष्टयार्थ: (जयरथ's विवेक). 4. इति प्रकटितो मया सुघट एष मार्गो नवो महागुरुमिरच्यते स्म शिवदृष्टि- शाखे यथा। तदत्र निदवत्पदं भुवनकर्नृ तामात्मनो विभाव्य शिवतामयीमनिशमाविशन् सिद्धयति॥ ईश्वरप्रत्यभिश्ञाविमर्शिनो vol. 2 p.271 No. 33 of Kashmir S. S.).