Mahasiddha Yoga

Tantra as a spiritual tradition emerged from the cultures of the Himalayan Mountains well over a thousand years ago. In the time since it’s origins, it has spread throughout many civilisations, societies and peoples, leaving it’s distinct markings from Kashmir to Tibet and far beyond. It’s popularity and relevance today is a testament to the profound and timeless nature of its teachings.

The Tantric tradition was originally carried by an oral tradition,  transmitted from guru to disciple since the time of the Vedas. Only later was it recorded in written form and while scholars have long debated the exact time of that transition, we can conclude that since the writing of the Tantras is post-Panini Sanscrit they were compiled and put into writing in the period ranging from the second or third century B.C. to the third or fourth century A.D.

Trika or Kashmir shaivism as it’s more popularly called is widely considered to be the central pillar of tantric philosophy. Since Kashmir Shaivism is a non-dualistic system of knowledge, it’s philosophers, particularly Abinavagupta,  accept mainly those Tantras (scriptures) in which the theory of complete unity or absolutism is included, that is to be non-dual.

Throughout the broad history of Tantric philosophy, Abhinavagupta is the most prominent name. He is the central philosopher of the Trika or Pratyabhijna school, more commonly known as Kashmir Shaivism. Kashmir Shaivism is itself the most prominent and well known system within the Tantric tradition and Abhinavagupta was responsible for much of its compilation. His most famous work being the Tantraloka (Read more about Him here).