WORKSHOP ON TRIKA PHILOSOPHY OF KASHMIR

(i.e. KASHMIR SAIVISM)

In this millennium year of the great philosopher Abhinavagupta the ICPR pays its
homage to this great savant of India by re-launching the workshops on Trika
Shaivism so assiduously nurtured by him.
The eleven-day workshop being organized by the ICPR at its Academic Centre
Lucknow from September 21 to October 1, 2016 with Prof. Navjivan Rastogi as
its Director comes in the wake of logical continuation of two earlier workshops. The
first two workshops (during 2011 & 2012) were in the nature of Level 1
(Introduction) and Level 2 (Covering the hvarapratyabhija Krik, the seminal
text of Utpaladeva, the profounder of the Pratyabhija system). The present
workshop represents the Irst phase of the level 3. The level three workshop
represents a 4-year programme of four annual workshops consisting of four phases
taking within its ambit the entire text of the hvarapratyabhija Vimarin by the
celebrated Abhinavagupta, the catalysist systematizer of the entire tradition. The IP
Vimarin is a commentary on Utpala Deva's P Krik. The whole text has four
sections. In the Irst phase, that is, the upcoming workshop, the objective is to cover
the four chapters (ahnikas') of the book, called Jdhikra i.e., section on logic and
metaphysics.
It seems pertinent to recall the observation made in the concept note of the first
workshop : "The word "Trika" stands for the monistic tradition/s of the tantric
Saivism of Kashmir (of medieval India, specially 9 th -12th centuries) subscribed to
and nourished by the contributions of Abhinavagupta , one of the foremost Indian
thinkers and his entire lineage. The system challenged the established paradigms of
Indian philosophical thinking and re-constructed a life-affirming world-view
revolutionizing philosophical responses to the core issues, extending from
soteriology, logic, epistemology to language, fine arts, aesthetics and social ethos."
The basic purpose of these workshops is to prepare the new generation of young
Indian scholars in an area which is suffering from the acute scholarship-deficit by
letting them have direct exposure to the textual wisdom of the system.
The duration of the workshop well be 11 days from September 21 to October 1,
2016 both days inclusive. Each day will have two academic sessions i.e., from 10:30
am to 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm with a lunch break from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
The workshop will be conducted by Prof. Navjivan Rastogi together with some of the
other eminent scholars such as Professors S.R. Bhatt, K.D. Tripathi, V.N. Jha, Ambika
Datt Sharma and others.
The workshop will be open to all those who are interested in Kashmir Shaivism. As
such faculty members and research scholars in the departments of philosophy,
Indian philosophy, Department of Sanskrit with philosophy as one of its courses

(including Sanskrit Universities) and also those who are connected with academic
centres and institutions operating in the similar field will be eligible to apply.
However preference will be given to the participants of earlier workshops. The
candidates must be clear in their mind that this workshop constitutes the first leg of
a four-workshop programme. Hence those candidates who undertake to participate
in future workshops as well will be more welcome.
The number of participants would be limited to 25-30 (outstation). The expenses for
travel by 3rd class A/C, boarding and lodging and course-literature would be borne
by the ICPR. The intending participants may apply by 15 th July, 2016 on the ICPR's
form which could be downloaded from its website, http://www.icpr.in/forms.html
Filled in application may be sent scanned copy via email at icprlkw@gmail.com by
15th July 2016 followed by hard copy via post to Dr. Saroj Kant Kar, In-Charge ICPR,
Academic Centre, 3/9 Vipul Khand, Gomtinagar, Lucknow-226010.