The Spandakarikas are a number of verses that serve as a sort of commentary on the Siva-sutras. According to Saivagama, the Divine Consciousness is not simply cold, inert intellection. It is rather spanda, active, dynamic, throbbing with life, creative pulsation. The self, according to Spandakarikas, is not simply a witnessing consciousness, but is characterized by both cognition and activity. He who is in communion with this active Self can alone rise to the status of his highest being.

The word karika means 'a collection of verses on grammatical, philosophical or scientific subjects'. The word spanda literally means a 'thorb'. It connotes dynamism or the dynamic aspect of the Divine creative pulsation.