Pratyabhijñāhṛdayam: The Secret of Self-recognition

Sanskrit text with english translation, notes and introduction by Jaideva Singh

This little work is a digest of the Pratyabhijna system of Kashmir Saiva philosophy, prepared by Ksemaraja, the illustrious disciple of Abhinavagupta. It avoids all polemics and gives in a very succinct form (20 sutras) the main tenets of the Pratyabhijna presented by Utpala. Pratyabhijna means recognition. Jiva is Siva; by identifying himself with his body, Jiva has forgotten his real nature. This teaching is meant to enable Jiva to suggest to him the spiritual discipline needed to attain ‘at-one-ment’ with SIVA.

Dr. Jaideva Singh has considerably revised and enlarged his translation, and provided a scholarly Introduction, Notes, Glossary of technical terms and Indexes. It serves as the best introduction to Pratyabhijna philosophy.