>Scyrme at 20:43, 7 June 2021

2021-06-07T20:43:32Z

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{{Saivism}}

In [[Kashmir Shaivism|Kaśmir Śaivism]] the world is described as being composed of four spheres ('''{{IAST|aṇḍa}}''') that contain a series of phenomenal elements ([[tattva]]). The four ''{{IAST|aṇḍa}}'' are described to appear by the means of the internal abundance of [[Shiva|Śiva]]'s divine powers.<ref>Essence of the Exact Reality or Paramārthasāra of Abhinavagupta, B.N. Pandit, 1991, page 21</ref> Outside the four {{IAST|aṇḍa}} is [[The 36 tattvas#.C5.9Biva|Śiva tattva]] which is the substrate and essential nature of all the other tattvas.

=={{IAST|Śakti aṇḍa}}==
Projected by the [[Absolute (philosophy)|absolute]], '''{{IAST|Śakti aṇḍa}}''' is the first step of creation. Also called ''the pure creation'' because at this level the divine nature of [[Śiva]] is not obscured, it manifests a state of diversity in unity. The divine powers ([[Śakti]]) gradually descend from ''Ānanda Śakti'' (bliss) to ''Icchā Śakti'' (the power of will), ''Jñāna Śakti'' (the power of knowledge) and ''Kriyā Śakti'' (the power of action), at the same time creating the basis for the dual creation. At this stage, though, the duality is only "in concept"; there is no actual division or limitation yet. This ''{{IAST|aṇḍa}}'' contains [[The 36 tattvas#.C5.9Bakti|Śakti tattva]], [[The 36 tattvas#sad.C4.81.C5.9Biva|Sadāśiva tattva]], [[The 36 tattvas#.C4.AB.C5.9Bvara|Iśvara tattva]] and [[The 36 tattvas#.C5.9Buddha vidy.C4.81|Śuddha-vidyā tattva]] (all the pure tattvas except the first one, [[The 36 tattvas#.C5.9Biva|Śiva tattva]]).
<ref name="Tantric Mysticism page 103">{{IAST|Parā-trīśikā-Vivaraṇa}}, The Secret of the Tantric Mysticism, Abhinavagupta, Jaideva Singh, page 103</ref>

=={{IAST|Māyā aṇḍa}}==
The ''sphere of [[Maya (illusion)|Māyā]]'' causes the divine nature and purity that exists in {{IAST|Śakti aṇḍa}} to be forgotten. The divine creation is covered with five limitations (''kañcuka'') that make the infinite, eternal, perfect in itself, all knowing and all powerful nature of [[God]], as manifested first in the ''{{IAST|Śakti Aṇḍa}}'', appear limited in space ([[The 36 tattvas#niyati - spatial limitation|Niyati tattva]]) and time ([[The 36 tattvas#k.C4.81la - limitation in time|Kāla tattva]]), incomplete ([[The 36 tattvas#r.C4.81ga - incompleteness.2C the limitation of desire|Rāga tattva]]), with limited knowledge ([[The 36 tattvas#vidy.C4.81 - the limitation of knowledge|Aśuddha-vidyā tattva]]) and power of action ([[The 36 tattvas#kal.C4.81 - limitation in power|Kalā tattva]]). This {{IAST|aṇḍa}} contains seven tattvas, from [[The 36 tattvas#m.C4.81y.C4.81 - the origin of illusion and duality|Māyā tattva]] to [[The 36 tattvas#puru.E1.B9.A3a|{{IAST|Puruṣa tattva}}]].<ref name="Tantric Mysticism page 103"/>

=={{IAST|Prakṛti aṇḍa}}==
'''{{IAST|Prakṛti aṇḍa}}''' describes the world as it is perceived from the common human level of consciousness. It contains the śakti of the individual soul ({{IAST|puruṣa}}): [[The 36 tattvas#prakṛti tattva|{{IAST|Prakṛti tattva}}]], the intellect ([[The 36 tattvas#buddhi - the intellect|Buddhi tattva]]), the ego ([[The 36 tattvas#aha.E1.B9.83k.C4.81ra - the empirical ego|Ahamkāra tattva]]), the sensory mind ([[The 36 tattvas#manas - the lower mind|Manas tattva]]), the five sense organs ([[The 36 tattvas#The five j.C3.B1.C4.81nendriyas - sense organs|Jñānendriya]]), the five organs of action ([[The 36 tattvas#The five karmendriyas - organs of action|Karmendriya]]), the five subtle essences ([[The 36 tattvas#The five tanm.C4.81tras - subtle mediums of the sensations|Tanmātra]]) and the last four physical elements ([[The 36 tattvas#The five mah.C4.81bh.C5.ABtas|Mahābhutā]]) : [[The 36 tattvas#.C4.81k.C4.81.C5.9Ba - ether|Ākāśa tattva]], [[The 36 tattvas#v.C4.81yu - air|Vāyu tattva]], [[The 36 tattvas#tejas - fire|Tejas tattva]] and [[The 36 tattvas#jala - water|Jala tattva]].<ref name="Tantric Mysticism page 103"/>

=={{IAST|Pṛthvī aṇḍa}}==
'''{{IAST|Pṛthvī aṇḍa}}''' is the terminal point of creation – solid matter. There is only one tattva in this sphere: [[The 36 tattvas#p.E1.B9.9Bithv.C4.AB - earth|{{IAST|Pṛthivi tattva}}]]. This tattva has a special statute because it contains in essence all the other tattvas and is the home of [[Kundalini energy|{{IAST|Kuṇḍalinī Śakti}}]].<ref name="Tantric Mysticism page 103"/>

==See also==
*[[The 36 tattvas]]
*[[Trika]]
*[[Turiya]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Brahmanda}}
{{Shaivism}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anda}}
[[Category:Kashmir Shaivism]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Spiritual faculties]]
[[Category:Hindu tantra]]

Aṇḍa - Revision history

>Scyrme at 20:43, 7 June 2021