Jaskaran Singh
Divosūnupriyaḥ
If I can venture or hazard a guess, speaking somewhat from personal experience, it's because it's so radically different from western thought, especially Christianity. It may appeal to some westerners because they do have an affinity for certain eastern philosophies, and they find there is a name for it. Attraction to the eastern philosophies may also be a rebellion against the dogma of western philosophy and religion.
I have a feeling that it is the latter. Much of the nonsense that Abhinavagupta advocates (in the Tantrālokaḥ is unorthodox even by Tāntrika standards; he's also quite misogynistic and supports the view that male sādhaka-s should have sex with dūtī-s (prostitute women whom he views as dvāra-s to mokṣa):
क्षुभ्नात्यनुचक्राण्यपि तानि तदा तन्मयानि न पृथक्तु।
इत्थं यामलमेतद्गलितभिदासंकथं यदेव स्यात्॥२९.११५॥
क्रमतारतम्ययोगात्सैव हि संविद्विसर्गसङ्घट्टः।
तद्ध्रुवधामानुत्तरमुभयात्मकजगदुदारसानन्दम्॥२९.११६॥
नो शान्तं नाप्युदितं शान्तोदितसूतिकारणं परं कौलम्।
अनवच्छिन्नपदेप्सुस्तां संविदमात्मसात्सदा कुर्यात्॥२९.११७॥
Blech...and I haven't even mentioned how he supports the offering of wine, alcohol, and sex to the devyaḥ. :cover:
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