Māyā as Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism

Advaita Vedanta or Śāntabrahmavāda of Śaṃkarācarya1 is often compared with Kashmir Śaiva philosophy2 of Īśvarādvyavāda because the term Advaita or non-dualism designates both. However, the two systems are significantly different, and the similarity is nominal. This chapter explores the principle of Māyā in Kashmir Śaivism which sets it apart from Śaṃkarācarya’s Advaita Vedanta and other philosophical traditions.3 We will see how, by using the principle of Māyā as a form of Śakti, Kashmir Śaiva philosophy establishes itself as an inclusive and perfect non-dualistic system while Advaita Vedanta of Śaṃkarācarya conceives Māyā, not only as an illusion and ignorance but also as a principle separate from the Supreme Consciousness and, therefore, this system of Advaita creates a breach in its claim to non-duality.