‘Abhinavagupta Sandesh Yatra’ begun today at Kanchipuram, the sacred town of Tamilnadu. The millennium (1000th) year celebrations of Acharya Abhinavagupta is being celebrated across the nation. The sacred soil is collected from the pruthvi sthal at Kanchipuram and the yatra collecting the sacred offerings at various places will end on 7th June 2016 at Bhairava Caves, Kashmir.
A function is organized to spread the message of Abhinavagupta in Kanchipuram at Sankara College. Shri Srinivasu, Registrar of the Sankara Vishwavidyalaya presided the gathering. Shri Prakash, Vibhag Karyavah, Kanchipuram and Shri Ma Ko Chi Rajendran Co-ordinator of Abhinavagupta programme and the Organiser of Desiya Chinthanai Kazhagam were present. Shri Ajay Bharati, Organiser, Kashmir Vichar Manch, Jammu-Kashmir Study Centre addressed the gathering. He said:
Aacharya Abhinavagupta a great intellect, philosopher and a multi-faceted scholar from Kashmir. The ancient Kashmir is the land of Goddess Sarada has been a centre of Indian culture. Today Kashmir is identified as a place of violence. The real identity has been concealed for many years. Pen is the identity and not the gun of Kashmir. Society is forced to forget, but still it is mystic.
His Abhinava Bharati was an analysis of the Natyasastra of Bharatha Muni. He is a great thinker who shattered to pieces the established belief which laid heavy emphasis on caste and gender restrictions in relation to spiritual practice.
Today one can see Abhinavagupta’s Kashmiri Shaivism taught all over the world. It is learnt that he authored 42 books whereas only 22 are available today. The most famous of his works is Tantraloka, an encyclopedic treatise on all the philosophical practical aspects of Kashmiri Shaivism. He had 19 gurus across the communities, gaining different source of knowledge. The manuscripts of his works have been found in South India. A poetic tribute to Abhinavagupta was rendered by Madhuraja from Madurai.
Secularism in real sense can be seen from the works of Abhinavagupta. His holistic philosophy paved the way for the society to get rid of many ways of extremist thinking which affected the society. Abhinavagupta emphasized on equality and no distinction between genders.
His works were translated by many countries across the world, to say in 1956 itself in Italy, whereas only 10 years ago in Hindi.
Recent article in ‘The Hindu’ written by Ronald D’Souza who holds Dr. Radhakrishnan Chair of the Rajya Sabha suggests many names including Abhinavgupta for arts academies located in Mandi House, Delhi.
At the age of 70, he entered with his disciples in a cave at Bheerva chanting the hymns of Bhairava. Even today this cave exists and is known as ‘Bhairava Gufa’.
The gathering concluded by paying homage to the tallest scholar.
#Abhinavagupta1000
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