Śaṅkara is well known for his Advaitika philosophy, expounded through his commentaries on the Brahma-sūtra, Upaniṣads and the Bhagavadgītā. However, his independent works on Tāntrika philosophy are not commonly acknowledged and appreciated. This book seeks to analyze and understand the metaphysical and conceptual framework and nuances of his Tāntrika philosophy, especially with reference to his Saundarya-laharī. Apart from this, it also examines the compatibility of this Tāntrika framework with the Advaitika framework, as elaborated by Śaṅkara and Gauḍapāda. The course of this enunciation and examination also presents a lucid discussion of the Śrī-vidyā tradition of Tantra, as well as the significance of devotion (bhakti) in Śaṅkara's philosophy. It is a must read for understanding Śaṅkara's philosophy holistically.
