तन्त्रसार (महामाहेश्वर अभिनवगुप्त - तन्त्रालोक का प्रामाणिक सार-संग्रह सटीक)

INTRODUCTION
Abhinavagupta is one of the most remarkable persona-
lities of medieval India. He was a versatile scholar of excep-
tional talent. It is only from his own description, we can
catch sight of the glorious glimpses of his life and erudition.
At the end of Parātriṅśikā and so in Tantrāloka, Abhina-
vagupta writes that the midland (Madhyadesa, the Doab
between the Ganga & the Jamuna) was the ancestral home
of his forefathers. This Antarvedi, that is, the Doab had
once been the home of sacred literatures, where in the noble
Brahman family one Atrigupta was born. He was accomplished
in all branches of learning. He was born in Atrigotra, in
the family of sage Atri and was named Atrigupta. He made
himself a distinguished scholar after mastering over the sea
of knowledge and acquired the rare art of disseminating it to
eager pupils. His erudition soon came to the notice of Lalitā-
dityā, the victorious prince of Kashmir. After the conquest of
Kanauj defeating Yasovarman, the King, felt an impetuous
desire for his friendship and brought him to Pravarpura, his
capital, in Kashmir, This happened some time between 785
and 795A.D.
A spacious house was built by the order of the king on
the bank of Vitastā to afford the view of Siva's temple for
Atrigupta, and for its proper maintenance the king granted
enough riches to it.
In that noble family of Atrigupta after a lapse of about
one hundred and fifty years one Varāhagupta, a highly reli-
gious and a devout worshipper of Siva was born. His son was
Narasimhagupta, popularly known as Cukhalaka who acquired