JIGAS Marks Mahamaheshwara Abhinavagupta Jayanti with Religious Observances
Heritage Yatra and Academic Outreach
25/06/2026
Jammu/Srinagar, June 25 (KIP)- Mahamaheshwara Abhinavagupta Jayanti was celebrated with devotion and reverence across Jammu and Kashmir through a series of religious, cultural, and academic programmes honouring the great philosopher-sage, theologian, aesthete, and exponent of Kashmir Shaivism.
The day commenced with a special Pooja at Ram Shaiv (Trika) Ashram, Naseeb Nagar, Janipur, where devotees, scholars, and followers gathered to pay homage to one of the greatest minds produced by the Indic civilization. Addressing the gathering, Sanjay Raina described Abhinavagupta as the supreme luminary of Kashmir Shaiva Darshana, whose unparalleled synthesis of philosophy, spirituality, aesthetics, literature, and metaphysics elevated Kashmir to the pinnacle of global intellectual history. He observed that Abhinavagupta's works continue to illuminate the path of self-realisation, artistic excellence, and civilizational consciousness even after a millennium.
In Srinagar, special prayers and Rudra Abhishek were offered at the ancient Anandeshwar Bhairav Temple, Maisuma, where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha participated in the sacred rituals on the auspicious occasion of Abhinavagupta Jayanti, reaffirming the importance of preserving Kashmir's rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
As part of the commemorative events, the Abhinavagupta Chair of the Jonaraja Institute of Genocide & Atrocities Studies (JIGAS) organised a heritage and spiritual yatra to Beerwah, a place closely associated with the memory and legacy of the great Acharya.
Sunil Raina Rajanaka, Head of the Abhinavagupta Chair, stated that the Chair is committed to restoring Abhinavagupta to his rightful place in global intellectual discourse. "Abhinavagupta belongs not merely to Kashmir but to humanity. Through research, lectures, publications, podcasts, and public engagement, we seek to reconnect contemporary society with his timeless vision of consciousness, aesthetics, and spiritual freedom," he said.
Javed Beigh, Coordinator of the yatra, remarked that the pilgrimage was conceived as an act of civilizational remembrance. "Beerwah is not simply a geographical destination. It is a sacred reminder of Kashmir's profound philosophical inheritance and our collective responsibility to preserve and transmit that legacy to future generations," he said.
The Jonaraja Institute of Genocide & Atrocities Studies, through its Abhinavagupta Chair, is presently conducting an extensive series of podcasts, lectures, and academic interactions on the life and philosophy of Mahamaheshwara Abhinavagupta in universities and institutions across India and abroad. These initiatives aim to introduce younger generations and the wider academic community to the enduring contributions of Kashmir's greatest philosopher and to strengthen global scholarship on Kashmir Shaivism and Indic knowledge traditions.