Emptiness in Shaivism

Emptiness in Shaivism

 

In Shivaism, emptiness emerges with the extinction of knowledge. In Vira - Shivaism, emptiness is seen as the true unity and identity of Siva (Linga) and soul (anga).

In the Spanda doctrine of kashmirian Shivaism, a distinction is made between 'nirmesa' (secrecy of essential nature) and 'unmesa' (phenomenon of the world as distinct from Shiva).

The Shiva Samhita mentions a emptyness - contemplation in chapter 6.6.47 with the aim of Chid Akasa and further in chapter 6.10.161.

The Madhyadhama (central channel) is also referred to as sunya or sunyatisunya (absolute emptiness) in Kashmiri Shivaism.

The Vijnanabhairava contains the expression sunya et al. In verses 39, 40, 45, 48, and 122, and teaches dharanas about it. The word sunya appearing in verse 42 of the Vijnanabhairava was interpreted as unmana by Sivopadhyaya. In verse 61 Madhya was interpreted by Sivopadhyaya as sunya.

The Shiva Sutra mentions emptiness as well.

Ksemaraja interpreted sunya in his commentary on the Svacchanda Tantra VI, 57, which in chapter IV.288-290 teaches six gradual contemplations of emptiness upt to Paramashiva, as Maya and sunyatisunya as Mahamaya, which runs here as far as Paramshiva.

The most common interpretation is that of Sivopadhyaya in his commentary on the verse 127 of the Vijnanabhairava: What is free from all carriers, whether from external existing such as glass or flowers, or internal existences such as joy, pain, or thought, which is free from all tattvas or constitutive principles, of traces of Kleshas, that is sunya (Emptiness).