The sacred syllable representing the primordial sound of the universe, used here as an auspicious invocation.

Kashmir Series of Texts and Studies

Volume No. 23

The Illustrious Tantraloka

Composed by the venerable and great Master of Masters, the illustrious Abhinavagupta.

Abhinavagupta (c. 950–1016 CE) was a preeminent philosopher, mystic, and aesthetician of medieval India.

Accompanied by the commentary titled Viveka original: "Viveka", meaning "Discernment" or "Exposition" by the great Master of Masters, the illustrious Jayaratha.

At the Department of Ancient Research established by the Sun of the Path of Indian Dharma, the illustrious Maharaja of Kashmir, Pratap Singh.

By the head of that department, the Great Teacher Mahamahopadhyaya: a title for a highly distinguished scholar Pandit Mukund Ram Shastri,

with the assistance of other scholars within and outside the office,

having collected, edited, indexed, and annotated the text,

and refined it according to modern, accessible, and accurate methods approved by Western scholarly assemblies.

At the City of Prayag Modern-day Allahabad

Printed and published at the establishment named the "Indian Press."

(Volume One)

Circular official seal of the Research Department of the Jammu & Kashmir State. The seal depicts two armored figures holding banners on either side of a central crest. The outer border contains the English text "RESEARCH DEPARTMENT JAMMU & KASHMIR STATE". At the bottom of the inner circle, there is a motto in Devanagari script.

Samvat Year 1975	Christian Era 1918

Srinagar, Kashmir.

(All rights regarding the publication and printing of this book have been reserved by the aforementioned Maharaja.)