From the sensuous to the super-sensuous: An outline of Abhinavagupta’s Aesthetics A salient feature of the aesthetic thought of Abhinavagupta is its inclusive nature addressing both sensuous and super sensuous levels of experience alike . It is not accidental that many key terms of Indian aesthetics like rasa, carvaṇa, āsvāda and mādhurya are etymologically related to culinary sensations and their metaphorical avatar in aesthetics is tell tale of the basic sensuous orientations of Indian aesthetics. Bharata himself underlines the visual (dṛśya)and auditory (śravya) appeal of the play in the myth related to the genesis of nāṭya. The Nāṭyaśastra further reinforces this aspect through the theatrical techniques like the spectacular costume and props as well as the musical element of the play. On the other hand, both Bhaṭṭanāyaka and Abhinavagupta are also emphatic about the transcendental nature of aesthetic experience which they liken to the spiritual experience in tone and tenor. Both these experiences are characterized by the erasure of ego boundaries and the manifestation of innate bliss within, with the main difference that while the spiritual experience leaves a lasting impression on the person, the aesthetic experience is only transitory. A close look at the nature of the aesthetic experience outlined by Abhinavagupta in his Abhinavabhāratī would suggest that it a progression from the sensory realm to the transcendental realm and the later is the consummation of the former. In shaping his aesthetics, Abhinavagupta deftly uses the perspectives of the monistic Śaiva philosophy of Kashmir which looks upon the material world as a true manifestation of the creativity of the Absolute. C.Rajendran worked as Professor and Head of the department of Sanskrit and Dean, Faculty of Languages at University of Calicut. At present he is working as Visiting Professor in Sreesankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady. His noted works include Eco Aesthetic studies in Kalidasa, Excursions in Indian Aesthetics, Vyaktiviveka-A Critical Study, Studies in Comparative Poetics, The Traditional Sanskrit Theatre of Kerala, Sign and Structure, Understanding tradition, and Sisupalavadha of Magha (Eng.translation) . Many of his research papers have appeared in journals published from Germany, Belgium, Poland, Italy and Cezch Republic. He is the recipient of prestigious awards like the Ramakrishna Sanskrit Award, instituted by Canadian World Education Foundation for outstanding contributions in Teaching and Research, Kerala Sahitya Akademi award, G.N.Pillai Endowment Award ,I.C.Chacko Endowment Award, Keralapanini Award ,Prof.M.S.Menon Endowment Award, Parikshit Award, and O.K Munshi award .He delivered lectures at universities of Cambridge, Brussels, Warsaw, Berlin, Helsinki, Milan, Leipzig, Aix En Provence , Bangkok, Singapore and Cagliari, and worked as Visiting Professor at École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS), Paris and Jageillonian University, Krakow, Poland. He also serves as a member of the editorial board of Pandanus, the Indological journal published by Charles University of Prague. He has also served as a member of the general council of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and advisory boards for Malayalam and Sanskrit in Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. He has served as sectional convener in World Sanskrit Conference held at New Delhi , Vancouer, and been nominated convener for the next WSC at Canberra .