Define Kashmir-Shavism.

Kashmir Shaivism, also known as Trika Shaivism, is a profound and esoteric philosophical and spiritual tradition that emerged in the Kashmir Valley in medieval India. It is a form of Shaivism, which venerates Lord Shiva, but it distinguishes itself through its unique metaphysical and experiential teachings.

Key features of Kashmir Shaivism include:

1. Monistic Philosophy: Kashmir Shaivism expounds a monistic philosophy, asserting the ultimate reality, known as Shiva or Paramashiva, as the unifying and all-encompassing consciousness that permeates the entire universe.

2. Recognition of Shakti: The tradition places a significant emphasis on Shakti, the divine feminine energy, as the dynamic force through which the unmanifest Shiva manifests the universe. The interplay of Shiva and Shakti is central to Kashmir Shaivism's cosmology.

3. Spanda and Vibration: Kashmir Shaivism introduces the concept of Spanda, the pulsation or vibration of divine consciousness, which is considered the source of creation. The universe is seen as a continuous dance of Spanda.

4. Path of Self-Realization: Kashmir Shaivism offers various paths to self-realization, including the practices of meditation, mantra, and rituals. It emphasizes the direct experience of divine consciousness as the ultimate goal.

5. Tantric Practices: The tradition incorporates Tantric practices, which involve the harnessing of energy, ritual worship, and the transformation of ordinary experiences into avenues for spiritual realization.

Kashmir Shaivism has had a profound impact on Indian philosophy, particularly in its exploration of consciousness, divine energy, and the intimate connection between the individual soul (atman) and the universal consciousness (Paramatman).