Somananda

Somananda (875–925 CE)[1] was one of the teachers of Kashmir Shaivism, in the lineage of Trayambaka, author of the first philosophical treatise of this school, Śivadṛṣṭi.

[2] A contemporary of Bhaṭṭa Kallaṭa,[3] the two formed the first wave of Kashmiri Shaivites to propose in a rigorous and logical way the concepts of nondual Shaivism.

Durvasa received from Shiva the spiritual mission of keeping the tradition and secrets of Agamic Shaivism alive.

[6][7] Thus, from Vasugupta emerged two disciples, Somananda and Bhatta Kallata, each proposing a school of monistic Shaivism, Pratyabhijna and respectively Spanda.

While Somananda's Sivadristi has a philosophical bent, Bhatta Kallata's Spanda Karika is more practical and shorter in length.

[11] Utpaladeva wrote a number of texts to continue and develop his teacher's work including the Īśvarapratyabhijñākārikā, of which Abhinavagupta's Īśvarapratyābhijñāvimarśinī is a commentary.

He had minute attention for detail and a great capacity to express in clear terms even the most difficult points.

[15] When debating opposing views, he makes an effort to understand exactly what they are and present them in his work, then refute them by subtle logic.

His son, Utpaladeva refined and developed it, leaving the task of bringing it to completion and integrating it with the other schools of Kashmir Shaivism to the great master Abhinavagupta.

The author exposes his theory of non-differentiation, unity of subject and object, everything being of the nature of consciousness, cid-rupa.

[26] A large portion of the book is dedicated to the exposition, analysis and critique of the Vivarta theory of the grammarians, the Shakta approach to the ultimate reality, the Vijnanavadin nuanced differences with respect to the principle of monism, the Advaita Vedanta concept of ignorance and the fundamental principles of all the other major spiritual schools of the time.