In the 10th century, India experienced a period of significant literary richness. The culturally abundant land saw the emergence of literary figures like Abhinavagupta, a renowned thinker, prolific Sanskrit writer, literary theorist, aesthete, philosopher, and exponent of Kashmir Shaivism. In 2023, UNESCO incorporated Abhinavagupta’s manuscripts as part of its Memory of the World International Register, highlighting its profound significance and global impact. Presently, most of his work is preserved at the National Museum Delhi Raghunath Temple Library in Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir. 
Abhinavagupta was born in 940 C.E. in the Kashmir Valley, into a distinguished family of Brahmin scholars. His lineage is traced back to Atrigupta, who had migrated from Kanyakubja (present-day Kannauj) to Kashmir in the 8th century C.E., at the invitation of King Lalitaditya of Kashmir. 
Abhinavagupta’s parents, Naramsimhagupta and Vimalakala, were devotees of Lord Shiva. Their home was a sanctuary of scholarly pursuit and spiritual devotion, which shaped Abhinavagupta’s formative years. From a young age, his father trained him in Sanskrit, laying a strong intellectual foundation. By choosing a life of spiritual and intellectual pursuit, Abhinavagupta sacrificed material comforts for extensive wisdom. He continued his family’s legacy of knowledge, renunciation, and devotion to Shiva.
According to local legend in Kashmir, it is believed that he was born of a Yogini and Siddha, thereby earning the title of Yoginibhu. In South Indian lore, he was revered as an incarnation of God Sesa (the Serpent God), further elevating his divine persona.
His guiding principle, ‘Knowledge for its own sake,’ drove him to seek wisdom from over fifteen revered Gurus beyond the borders of Kashmir. Among them, Guru Lakshmangupta had a profound impact on him, and he learned various systems associated with non-dualistic philosophy from him. Abhinavagupta's pursuit of enlightenment led him to explore diverse religious traditions, including Buddhism and Jainism, which helped him broaden his perspective.

In the field of literary knowledge, he established himself as a prolific writer and commentator. He has authored around 41 original works, although many have not survived the ravages of time.
Among his notable works include Malini Vijaya Vartika, Bodha Pancadasika, Tantraloka, Krama Stotra, and Bhairava Stotra. Malini Vijaya Vartika and Bodha Pancadasika are some of his earliest published works. The former provides a comprehensive exposition of the Sripurva Sastra, while the latter consists of 16 verses on monistic Shaivism.
His work Tantraloka is considered a significant contribution to religious philosophy. This text, consisting of 37 chapters, covers the non-dualistic sixty-four Agamas (traditions) and provides a detailed explanation of the concept of Kashmir Shaivism. He also composed devotional hymns, including the Bhairava Stotra and Krama Stotra, which are known for their spiritual depth.
Two of his most groundbreaking commentaries are the Dhanyaloka Locana on Dhvanyaloka by Anandavardhana and Abhinavabharti on Bharata’s Natyashastra. 
Abhinavagupta’s contribution to Sanskrit aesthetics is evident in his work Abhinavabharati. This text is one of the earliest commentaries on Bharata’s Natyashastra (2nd century BCE). The Natyashastra is India’s first treatise on the principles and concepts of drama as a performing art. It extensively discusses Rasa (sentiments) and Bhava (emotive states). 
In Abhinavabharati, Abhinavagupta extends the concept of Rasa by introducing the 9th Rasa, Shanta Rasa. Based on the concept of Purushartha (goals of human life), Shanta Rasa is considered by Abhinavagupta to be the ultimate form of Rasa realization. His explication of the Natyashastra not only re-examined existing interpretations but also offered a new perspective on the text. 
Abhinavagupta’s final moments in 1015 C.E. were marked by his deep spiritual dedication.  His insights into aesthetics, philosophy, and the arts have left a lasting impact and continue to resonate with scholars and philosophers around the world.