तन्त्रसार (महामाहेश्वर अभिनवगुप्त - तन्त्रालोक का प्रामाणिक सार-संग्रह सटीक)

'xiv

them is the Trika system and the most important of them is Mālinīvijaya. Abhinavagupta writes that he will give an exposition of Mālinīvijaya, for he thinks unless the real nature of things is determened, it fails to bestow liberation. Pure knowledge only possesses the quality of bestowing release. The highest principle which is of the nature of Light is Śiva. He, the most acceptable of all, is svabhāva. It is of the nature of light ( prakāśarūpa ), for that which is not light cannot be known, hence it cannot be the svabhāva. Light ( prakāśa ) is pure consciousness which is the very life of everything, though shining in all, shines as blue and jar distinctly separate from each other. This notion of separateness, the knowledge of duality, is considered as ajñāna but ( Caitanyam ) pure consciousness is really jñāna. It is universal ( sarvasāmānya ). It is present everywhere and is possessed of absolute freedom of wisdom and activity ( jñānakriyāvān ). The non-shining of this universal light to the person who is limited is the prime ignorance of the self. The Light of which we have spoken above is independ- dent. Its independence means that it depends on nothing. It is all-compassing, eternal, is of the nature of assuming all forms and at the same time it is without any form ( sarvākāra nirākāra svabhāva ). Its absolute freedom is ānandaśakti, the relishment of one's own ānanda is icchāśakti, its nature of light is cicchakti, its self-reflective light is jñānaśakti, its enactive relation with all is kriyāśakti. Śiva, though associated with all His principal śaktis, always remains free from limitations and rests in His blissful nature. When by His absolute freedom of will he manifests Himself as limited, He is then known as aṇu. Then again