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 Īśhvarapratyabhijña Kārikā, the seminal text of Utpaladeva, the profounder of the Pratyabhijña 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 Īśhvarapratyabhijña Vimarśinī by the celebrated Abhinavagupta, the catalysist systematizer of the entire tradition. The IP Vimarśinī is a commentary on Utpala Deva's ĪP Kārikā. 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 Jñādhikāra 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 9th -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 15th 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.