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

the indicative sound as represented by a, ā, i etc. Manifest- ation that occurs in this twofold way (Vācya and Vācaka) is in reality, the manifestation of Vāk, the Supreme Word. The Supreme known as akula, is possessed of power (Śakti) which gives rise to the universe. This power is called Kaulikī Śakti. It retains the universe within Herself in a very subtle form but on account of creative impulse she expands Herself in three stages. These stages of creation though lying within, yet are projected externally by the Lord by means of Visarga Śakti. Creation as known to us is predominantly of the nature of differnce (bheda). This is the gross form of creation. In the language of Āgama it is known as āṇava visarga, while the creation in which difference and non-difference (bhedābheda) shine, is called Śākta Visarga. This is the subtle from of creation and the creation of non-dual nature is known as Śāmbhava visarga. It is the subtlest of all crea- tions. Āṇava visarga is the grossest of all, because externality shines here in a gross form. The entire creation consisting of pramāṇa, and prameyas (the instrument of knowledge the object of knowledge), and knowledge with its limited nature shine as mutually different and different from the self. But in Śākta visarga the universe shines in dual-non- dual relation. In āṇava visarga difference is predominant. It is the characteristic of ha¹ while in Śākta visarga all that is experienced as seen, heard, touched etc by the self, is obliterated. The universe becomes perfectly intent on pure consciousness. It is awakening of citta toward cit. Citta, though cit by nature, yet in its empirical consciousness १. नरसम्बन्धी हकारात्मा स्थूलोविसर्गः –तं० आ० वि, आ३