The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (21 page)

 
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Abhijñ
(supernatural powers)
:

see
ABHIÑÑ
.

 
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(Skt., ‘self-esteem’). The self in Hinduism that has made a declaration of independence, i.e. of self-sufficiency, and is therefore far removed from the true realization of the unity of all appearance in relation to
Brahman
.

 
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(960–1050 CE).
A Hindu theologian of
Kashmir
aivism
who wrote extensively on poetics, aesthetics, and religious doctrine and practice. In his work
Tantrism
finds its philosophical articulation. His comprehensive
Light on Tantra
(
Tantr
loka
, Ital. tr. R. Gnoli
Lucce delle sacre scritture
, 1960) is a synthesis of the traditions, teaching, and practice of Kashmir
aivism. His ideas are summarized in his
Essence of Supreme Meaning
(
Param
rthas
ra
, Fr. tr. L. Silburn, 1957). He also contributed to aesthetics (
r
sa
), writing a commentary (
locana
) on the great aesthetician
nandavardhana's
Dhvany
loka
and Bharata's
N
tya
stra
(Eng. tr. R. Gnoli,
The Aesthetic Experience According to Abhinavagupta
, 1956). Abhinavagupta was probably the first Indian philosopher to link aesthetic and religious experience, maintaining that the aesthetic emotions (r
sa) originate in the aesthetic emotion of tranquility (
ntarasa