Srinagar, June 25 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha on Thursday attended the Rudra Abhishek ceremony on the auspicious occasion of Shivacharya Abhinavgupta Jayanti and Nirjala Ekadashi at Shri Anandishwar Bhairav Nath Ji Maharaj Asthapan in Srinagar’s Maisuma.

Taking to his official X account, L-G Sinha said, “Today attended Rudra Abhishek Ceremony on the auspicious occasion of Shivacharya Abhinavgupta Jayanti and Nirjala Ekadashi at Shri Anandishwar Bhairav Nath Ji Maharaj Asthapan in Srinagar’s Maisuma.”

“The life and teachings of Shivacharya Abhinavgupta, foremost exponent of Kashmir Shaivism, continue to illuminate India’s spiritual heritage. From aesthetics to profound philosophy of Self-recognition, his vision remains a timeless beacon of non-dual consciousness.”

The L-G interacted with the devotees and extended his heartiest greetings.

On the occasion, L-G Sinha said that Shri Anandishwar Bhairav Nath Ji Maharaj Asthapan continues to occupy a cherished place in the collective consciousness of Jammu and Kashmir.

He offered his prayers for the peace, well-being, and prosperity of all.

He said the vision of great sages reminds us that our collective growth and harmony are beautifully interconnected.

The members of Shri Anandishwar Bhairav Nath Asthapan Trust’s Organising and Management Committee and senior civil and police officers were present on the occasion.

Acharya Abhinavagupta (950–1025 CE) was a legendary 10th-century philosopher, mystic, and polymath from Kashmir. He is considered the foremost exponent and systematiser of Kashmir Shaivism, a non-dual tradition that views the entire universe as a divine manifestation of Shiva consciousness.

His teachings and contributions span several core areas. Abhinavagupta taught that the universe is not an illusion, but a real, joyous projection of Lord Shiva’s energy (Shakti).

He emphasised ‘Pratyabhijna’ (the path of Self-recognition) — the realisation that the individual soul and Lord Shiva are essentially one.

His encyclopedic masterpiece, the ‘Tantraloka’, weaves together complex, pre-existing tantric and Shaivite traditions into a comprehensive spiritual guide.

He is equally celebrated in Indian literature for his commentaries on aesthetics, particularly the Abhinavabharati (his commentary on Bharata’s Natya Shastra), which explains how art evokes ‘Rasa’ (aesthetic emotion) to bring the audience into a transcendent state of consciousness.

Breaking away from strict monastic traditions, Acharya Abhinavagupta taught that anyone with pure desire could achieve spiritual liberation, regardless of social standing or gender.

In his later years, he was revered by his contemporaries as an incarnation of Lord Shiva himself.

According to regional legends, he attained his final liberation by entering the sacred Bhairava Cave in Kashmir alongside 1,200 of his disciples.

–IANS

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