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InKaśmir Śaivism the world is described as being composed of four spheres (aṇḍa) that contain a series of phenomenal elements (tattva). The fouraṇḍa are described to appear by the means of the internal abundance ofŚiva's divine powers.[1] Outside the fouraṇḍa isŚiva tattva which is the substrate and essential nature of all the other tattvas.
Projected by theabsolute,Śakti aṇḍa is the first step of creation. Also calledthe pure creation because at this level the divine nature ofŚiva is not obscured, it manifests a state of diversity in unity. The divine powers (Śakti) gradually descend fromĀnanda Śakti (bliss) toIcchā Śakti (the power of will),Jñāna Śakti (the power of knowledge) andKriyā Śakti (the power of action), at the same time creating the basis for the dual creation. At this stage, though, the duality is only "in concept"; there is no actual division or limitation yet. Thisaṇḍa containsŚakti tattva,Sadāśiva tattva,Iśvara tattva andŚuddha-vidyā tattva (all the pure tattvas except the first one,Śiva tattva).[2]
Thesphere ofMāyā causes the divine nature and purity that exists inŚakti aṇḍa to be forgotten. The divine creation is covered with five limitations (kañcuka) that make the infinite, eternal, perfect in itself, all knowing and all powerful nature ofGod, as manifested first in theŚakti Aṇḍa, appear limited in space (Niyati tattva) and time (Kāla tattva), incomplete (Rāga tattva), with limited knowledge (Aśuddha-vidyā tattva) and power of action (Kalā tattva). Thisaṇḍa contains seven tattvas, fromMāyā tattva toPuruṣa tattva.[2]
Prakṛti aṇḍa describes the world as it is perceived from the common human level of consciousness. It contains the śakti of the individual soul (puruṣa):Prakṛti tattva, the intellect (Buddhi tattva), the ego (Ahamkāra tattva), the sensory mind (Manas tattva), the five sense organs (Jñānendriya), the five organs of action (Karmendriya), the five subtle essences (Tanmātra) and the last four physical elements (Mahābhutā) :Ākāśa tattva,Vāyu tattva,Tejas tattva andJala tattva.[2]
Pṛthvī aṇḍa is the terminal point of creation – solid matter. There is only one tattva in this sphere:Pṛthivi tattva. This tattva has a special statute because it contains in essence all the other tattvas and is the home ofKuṇḍalinī Śakti.[2]
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