Samvidullasah: Manifestation of Divine Consciousness. Swami Lakshman Joo, Saint Scholar of Kashmir Saivism -- A Centenary Tribute

by Bettina Bäumer (Editor), Sarla Kumar (Editor)

Swami Lakshman Joo Raina, also called Lakshman Brahmacarin and Ishvara Svarupa (1907-1991) was one of the greatest saints of 20th century India, who was at the same time an extraordinary scholar who relived and revived the almost forgotten tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. His high spiritual state was matched by his profound knowledge of the Shaiva scriptures and of the great thinkers and commentators of the tradition -- Abhinavagupta, Kshemaraja and others. Swami Lakshman Joo lived a secluded life in his ashram in Kashmir, but he taught the texts of Kashmir Shaivism to Pandits and scholars from different countries, besides giving spiritual guidance to a number of seekers and disciples.

On the occasion of his Birth Centenary, a volume in his memory is being brought out containing articles by scholar-disciples, devotees and relatives which throw light on the extraordinary life of this saint and on his contribution to reviving and continuing the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. Articles on his life by his close disciple Prabha Devi and his scholar-disciples Jaideva Singh and Jankinath Kaul 'Kamal', an exhaustive article on his place in the Kashmirian Shaiva tradition by Professor Alexis Sanderson of Oxford, to mention only a few, provide an insight into his saintly personality and his great qualities as a teacher. Even scholars and seekers who have never met him and have been deeply influenced by his spiritual presence have contributed an account of their experience.

The volume is richly illustrated by historical photographs which provide a visual testimony of the life of Swami Lakshman Joo. A list of his published works is an important complement.

258 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

Bettina Sharada Bäumer is an Austrian-Indian scholar of religion. Vandana Parthasarathy, writing in The Hindu, described Baumer as a "renowned Indologist, one of the foremost expounders of Kashmir Shaivism and a well-known figure in the field of inter-religious dialogue". She was awarded the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art by Government of Austria in 2012 and Padmashri by Government of India in 2015 for her contribution to Literature and Education.