KS

Here’s a refined overview of Shaiva Ādīśāstra (foundational Shaiva shastra) with a focus on Shiva and Shakti within Kashmir Shaivism (Trika) framework:

🕉 1. What is Ādīśāstra?

• The term Ādīśāstra means “first scripture—or root teaching”—in Shaiva Tantra  .
• It belongs to the Agama corpus—Sanskrit texts revealed by Shiva, detailing rituals, metaphysics, yoga, and temple philosophy  .
• In Kashmir Shaivism (Trika Shastra), these constitute one of three branches: Agama, Spanda, and Pratyabhijñā  .

2. Shiva–Shakti Duality & Ādīśāstra

• In Advaita-influenced Shaivism, Shiva = the changeless, transcendental principle (prakāśa), while Shakti = its dynamic, creative aspect (vimarśa)  .
• The union of Shiva and Shakti is the ultimate reality—the ground from which all manifestation (tattvas) and individual soul arise.

3. The Trika Triads

Kashmir Shaivism articulates multiple interlinked triads, central to the teaching:

Triad Type	Elements
Cosmic reality	Shiva (transcendent), Shakti (creative energy), Nāra (individual soul)
Energies (Śakti)	Icchā (will), Jñāna (knowledge), Kriyā (action)—powerful triad in Kula Tantra ()
Shakti aspects	Parā (pure transcendence), Parāparā (mixed), Aparā (immanent) ()
Spiritual methods	Śāmbhavopāya, Śāktopāya, Āṇavopāya—three paths of realization ()

4. Tattvas — Manifestation of Shiva + Shakti

• Kashmir Shaivism speaks of 36 tattvas (levels), in contrast to Vedanta’s 25, extending from the absolute (Parameśvara) down to material and egoic levels  .
• Emergence: Parāśiva → Para­para → Para → Nada-Bindu → Siva‑Shakti → the energies of I Will‑Know‑Do, etc.  .

5. Example Texts & Lineages

• Shaiva Agamas (28 canonical texts) include Malinī, Vijñāna Bhairava, Śiva‑Sutras, foundational to Kashmir Shaivism  .
• Śiva‑Sutras, revealed to Vasugupta (~9th century CE), form the mystical backbone of Trika  .
• Key later philosophers: Abhinavagupta, Kshemarāja, Kallata, Meykandar, and southern Tamil line Shaiva Siddhanta  .

6. Practical Essence of Ādīśāstra

• Union of Shiva‑Shakti transcends and includes the manifest world.
• Awakening via will‑knowledge‑action brings realization: the self (Nāra) recognizing its identity with Shiva.
• Agama shastra guides rituals (kriyā kōndas), meditation (yoga kōndas), secret knowledge (jñāna kōndas), and worship practices (carya kōndas)  .

🔍 Final Takeaway

Shaiva Ādīśāstra (root scripture) in the Kashmir Shaivism (Trika) tradition:

• Upholds Shiva–Shakti as inseparable aspects of ultimate reality.
• Unveils a rich, triadic framework of cosmic forces, energies, consciousness levels, and spiritual paths.
• Teaches that divine awakening comes through active realization of inner energies—will, knowledge, and action—leading to union with Shiva.

Would you like me to dive deeper into any area—like the Śiva‑Sutras, Abhinavagupta’s Trika philosophy, or the daily practices prescribed in Agama shastra?