THE CONVERGENCE OF AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE, TRANSCENDENTAL BLISS, AND ŚIVA IN ABHINAVAGUPTA’S PHILOSOPHY

Abstract [English]

Abhinavagupta, a preeminent scholar in the tradition of Kashmir Śaivism and a pivotal figure in Indian aesthetics, offers a profound synthesis of aesthetic experience (rasa), transcendental bliss (ānanda), and ultimate reality (Śiva). His interpretation of rasa, as expounded in the Abhinavabhāratī, the most authoritative commentary on Bharata’s Nāṭyaśāstra, extends beyond conventional aesthetic theory and integrates seamlessly into the non-dualistic (Advaita) metaphysical framework of Kashmir Śaivism. Within this philosophical paradigm, rasa is not merely an artistic enjoyment but an elevated state of consciousness that corresponds to the realization of the Supreme Self (Paramaśiva). A central tenet of Abhinavagupta’s aesthetic theory is the doctrine of sādhāraṇīkaraṇa (universalization), which enables the spectator to transcend personal emotions and partake in a shared, impersonalized aesthetic experience. This process, he argues, mirrors the dissolution of individual identity in the spiritual journey toward self-recognition (pratyabhijñā), a fundamental principle of Kashmir Śaivism. The bliss (ānanda) derived from aesthetic experience is thus conceived as an approximation of divine bliss (brahmānanda), wherein the distinction between subject and object collapses, facilitating an experiential recognition of the non-dual reality of Śiva.
This study critically examines Abhinavagupta’s conceptualization of rasa as both an epistemological and ontological bridge between artistic experience and spiritual realization. By situating his exegesis within the broader Śaiva metaphysical framework, this research elucidates the convergence of aesthetic and mystical experiences, establishing artistic engagement as a legitimate means of attaining mokṣa (liberation). Furthermore, the study contextualizes Abhinavagupta’s synthesis within the larger discourse of Indian philosophy, particularly in relation to Advaita Vedānta and Buddhist thought. Ultimately, this paper argues that, for Abhinavagupta, artistic experience is not merely an imitation of life but a revelatory process through which supreme consciousness is made manifest, thereby rendering aesthetic engagement both transformative and sacrosanct.