Vasugupta ( – 850 CE) was the author of the Shiva Sutras, an important text of the nondual tradition of Kashmir Shaivism, also called Trika (sometimes called Trika Yoga).

The author is believed in Shaiva tradition to have amassed knowledge and recognition through direct realization. He was a native of Kashmir and a Shaiva. It is unclear how and what inspired him to write the Shiva Sutras, and early texts mention no legends. Later tradition and hagiographic texts present inconsistent stories. One states that Vasugupta found the sutras inscribed on a rock called Sankaropala. Another states that Shiva appeared in his dream and recited it to him, who then wrote it down. There are additional stories, but the texts of the immediate students of Vasugupta mention none of these legends except the one where Vasugupta discovers the Sutras in his dream.

Philosophy and Kashmir Shaivism

Vasugupta is regarded by some as the founder of the system of Hindu philosophy known as Advaita Shaivism of Kashmir, or Trika. and by Jaideva Singh.

Bibliography

References

  • About Shiva Sutras - Swami Lakshmanjoo
  • Siva Sutras-The yoga of Supreme Identity http://bibleoteca.narod.ru/tantra/Jaideva_Singh_Siva_Sutras.pdf ]
  • The Shiva Sutras http://www.shivashakti.com/sutras.htm
  • The Shiva Sutras http://www.inannareturns.com/files/ShivaSutras.pdf
  • MARK-DYCZKOWSKI-1992-THE-APHORISMS-OF-SIVA-THE-SHIVA-SUTRAS-WITH-BHASKARA'S-COMMENTARY-(267P)