Editing Abhinavagupta (section)

==Social background, family and disciples==

==="Magical" birth===
The term by which Abhinavagupta himself defines his origin is "yoginībhū", 'born of a [[Yogini|yoginī]]'.<ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|20}}<ref>Luce dei Tantra, Tantrāloka, Abhinavagupta, Raniero Gnoli, page 3</ref> In Kashmir Shaivism and especially in Kaula it is considered that a progeny of parents "established in the divine essence of [[Bhairava]]",<ref>Re-accessing Abhinavagupta, Navjivan Rastogi, page 2</ref> is endowed with exceptional spiritual and intellectual prowess. Such a child is supposed to be "the depository of knowledge", who "even as a child in the womb, has the form of [[Shiva]]",<ref name="The Kula Ritual" /> to enumerate but a few of the classical attributes of his kind.

===Parents===
Abhinavagupta was born in a [[Kanyakubja Brahmin]] family in Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7F6Sxu0-50QC |title=Proceedings and Transactions of the ... All-India Oriental Conference |page=48|date=1964 |publisher=Bihar and Orissa Research Society|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2rdnrfuOJ6sC&pg=PA188|title=Living Liberation in Hindu Thought|page=188|author1=Andrew O. Fort|author2=Patricia Y. Mumme|publisher=SUNY Press|date=1 January 1996|isbn=9780791427057}}</ref> His mother, ''Vimalā'' (''Vimalakalā'') died when Abhinavagupta was just two years old;<ref name="Tantra, Tantrāloka page 4">Luce dei Tantra, Tantrāloka, Abhinavagupta, Raniero Gnoli, page 4</ref><ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|31}} as a consequence of losing his mother, of whom he was reportedly very attached,<ref name="Abhinavagupta, Ganesh Tryambak Deshpande page 19" /> he grew more distant from worldly life and focused all the more on spiritual endeavour.

The father, Narasiṃhgupt, after his wife's death favoured an ascetic lifestyle, while raising his three children. He had a cultivated mind and a heart "outstandingly adorned with devotion to Mahesvara (Shiva)"<ref name="Tantra, Tantrāloka page 4" /> (in Abhinavagupta's own words). He was Abhinavagupta's first teacher, instructing him in [[Sanskrit grammar|grammar]], [[Indian logic|logic]] and [[Sanskrit literature|literature]].<ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|30}}

===Family===

Abhinavagupta had a brother and a sister. His brother, Manoratha, was a well-versed devotee of Shiva.<ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|22}} His sister, Ambā (probable name, according to Navjivan Rastogi), devoted herself to worship after the death of her husband in late life.

His cousin Karṇa demonstrated even from his youth that he grasped the essence of Śaivism and was detached of the world. His wife was presumably Abhinavagupta's older sister Ambā,<ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|24}} who looked with reverence upon her illustrious brother. Ambā and Karṇa had a son, Yogeśvaridatta, who was precociously talented in yoga<ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|23}}

Abhinavagupta also mentions his disciple Rāmadeva as faithfully devoted to scriptural study and serving his master.<ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|24}} Another cousin was Kṣema, possibly the same as Abhinavagupta's illustrious disciple Kṣemarāja. Mandra, a childhood friend of Karṇa, was their host in a suburban residence; he was not only rich and in possession of a pleasing personality, but also equally learned.<ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|25}} And last but not least, Vatasikā, Mandra's aunt, who got a special mention from Abhinavagupta for caring for him with exceptional dedication and concern; to express his gratitude, Abhinavagupta declared that Vatasikā deserved the credit for the successful completion of his work.<ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|26}}

The emerging picture here is that Abhinavagupta lived in a nurturing and protected environment, where his creative energies got all the support they required. Everyone around him was filled with spiritual fervor and had taken Abhinavagupta as their spiritual master. Such a supporting group of family and friends was equally necessary as his personal qualities of genius, to complete a work of the magnitude of [[Tantraloka|Tantrāloka]].

===Ancestors===
By Abhinavagupta's own account, his most remote known ancestor was called Atrigupta, born in antarved [[Kannauj|Kānyakubja]] in [[Madhyadesha]], i.e. the Middle Country. From Madhyadeśa he travelled to [[Kashmir]] at the request of king [[Lalitaditya Muktapida|Lalitāditya]],<ref name="Introduction" />{{rp|28}}<ref name="The Kula Ritual" />{{rp|3}} around year 740 CE.<ref name="Triadic Mysticism page 12">Triadic Mysticism, Paul E. Murphy, page 12</ref>