Scholars recall Abhinavagupt’s contribution to Indian aesthetics

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 2: Various programmes were organised today across the country in connection with birth anniversary of great Shivacahriya and renowned scholar Abhinavagupt in which scholars, religious heads and art lovers threw light on the life, contribution and teachings of this great saint of Kashmir who is said was an incarnation of Bhairva.
The Centre for Comparative Religions and Civilizations, Central University of Jammu organized the National Webinar on the occasion of Acharya Abhunavgupt Jayanti though stream yard and broadcast live in the Facebook.
The event started with the welcome address of Prof. Mushtaq Ahmed, the Dean of School of Humanities and Social Sciences, followed by Dr Richa Kothari, Director incharge of the Centre.
Prof Ashok Aima, the Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu chaired the programme and spoke on the remarkable contribution of Abhinavagupt to the philosophy and cultural tradition of Kashmir.
Prof Rajneesh Kumar Shukla the Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi, Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishvavidyalya spoke on the personality , philosophy and cultural role of Abhinavagupt in his key note address.
Prof Neeraja A Gupta, Director, Institute of Indiac Studies, Gujarat University Ahmedabad described the cultural leadership of Acharya Abhinavagupt in which she underlined that he was not only a philosopher but also a keen practitioner and contributor to his culture. Prof G M Khawaja the former Director of Center highlighted the impact of Acharya on Kashmir culture. No one can ignore Abhinavagupt in the cultural traditions of Kashmir, he added.
Prof Rajnish Mishra , of the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies , JNU, New Delhi emphasized on Abhinavagupt ke Darshan Me Aham Pratyavimarsh in which core philosophy of this great scholar was explained by him.
Total 1041 registered participants participated across the country from about 300 institutes and around 6000 viewers viewed within two hours. The webinar was convened and moderated by Dr Ajay Kumar Singh, Assistant Profesor and co-convened by Dr Murugesan A , Assistant Professor of Center.
JK Vichar Manch (JKVM) and All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) also held programmes at Union Capital today to highlight the philosophy and contributions of Abhinavagupt to Indian aesthetics, culture and darshan Shaster. They said Abhinavagupt was a great scholar an embodiment of knowledge and wisdom and there was no parallel to him in the entire Universe.
AIKS which observed the Jayanti of Abhinavagupt today at New Delhi described him the fountain head of Kashmir Shaiva Darshan. The ceremony was observed by the representatives and followed on Webinar and recitation of Bhairav Stotra. The function was adhered to by all the affiliates of the AIKS.
Another programme was organised by Sharda Radio 90.4 in which scholars threw light on the philosophy of Abhinavagupt and his contribution to Darshan Shastra. In his speech Ramesh Hangloo founder Director Sharda Radio said that there is no parallel to this great scholar in the world.
The Jayanti of this great Shivachariya was also observed by Jammu Chapter of Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora through video conferencing which was organised by its Jammu unit incharge Aryan Ramesh.