correlative offshoots of the Antahkarana. From Kriyā Shakti sprang the Prānas (vital spirits), ten in number, and the five Karmendriyas (active organs).
The Shaiva, the Vedānta, the Sānkhya and other kindred Shāstras chalk out the path towards oneness with Parama Shiva by virtue of Jñāna; and, in like manner, Purva Mimāmsā, Yoga (both Jñāna-Yoga and Karma-Yoga) and other relevant systems of philosophy pave the way towards the union with Almighty Shiva through the help of Kriya-Shakti.
The Rāja-Yoga or Highest Knowledge, as described by Parama Shiva to Bhairavi as interrogator, in these pages, is based on the alphabet which owes its origin from अ to ह in succession to Parā, Pashyanti, Madhyamā and Vaikhari, being, so to speak, the four stages of utterance. The epitome of the alphabet so described finds its clue in the word अहम् which may be termed the first Spanda or flutter of the All Pervading One. The first question of Bhairavi runs as follows:-
" O Lord of the Universe! I desire to be enlightened on significance of the All-Transcendent Word which enables one to acquire Self-Knowledge and thereby be united with Thy Omniscient-Self." In reply Parama Shiva sayeth :--"O the Shining One! I would reveal to Thee the Highest Self-
