Mark Dyczkowski (1951–2025), a renowned scholar of Kashmir Shaivism, passed away this week, leaving behind a legacy of rigorous academic inquiry. Born in London to a Polish father and an Italian mother, his soul, however, seemed unmistakably drawn to India, as if destined to make a life here.

His love for Indian philosophy took root in his teenage years, leading him to devour books on Indian philosophy and spirituality. At 19, he packed his bags and arrived in India to experience the wisdom first-hand. Later he enrolled formally at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and studied under Acharya Rameshwar Jha, a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, and an authority on Nyaya, Vyakarana, and Vedanta, and a prominent proponent of non-dualistic Shaivism, who is often credited with establishing Kashmir Shaivism in Varanasi.

Mark went on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Indian philosophy and religion, with distinction, before returning to Oxford for his doctoral research. His dissertation would later be published as The Doctrine of Vibration, a prominent work on Kashmir Shaivism.

During one of his trips to Kashmir, he received initiation from Swami Lakshman Joo, who became his guru, and he would spend six months each year learning from him.

Mark had students from around the world. My teacher introduced me to Mark’s work many years ago, though I met him only much later. Academically speaking, I learnt a great deal from him. Sometimes, students would gather at his home at Narad Ghat in........

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