Advaita Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism: A Study of Non-Dualistic Interpretations
Poornaprajna International Journal of Management Education & Social Science February 28, 2025 P. S. Aithal, Ramanathan Srinivasan
Advaita Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism are two non-dualistic Indian philosophies that both reject a fundamental separation in reality but differ in their metaphysical frameworks. Advaita Vedanta holds that the singular, formless Brahman is the only reality, and the perception of a separate self is an illusion born of ignorance. Kashmir Shaivism, by contrast, describes a dynamic, creative divinity that manifests through a spectrum of energies and conscious play. This paper compares classical texts and modern interpretations to explore the dialogue between static monism and dynamic realism, and it discusses the implications of these doctrines for contemporary spiritual practice and philosophical inquiry.