BHAIRAVA TANTRA

श्री देव्युवाच।
श्रुतं देव मया सर्वं रुद्रयामलसम्भवम्।
त्रिकभेदमशेषेण सारात्सारविभागशः॥ १॥

Sri Devi said: O Deva, I have heard in detail all that has been revealed through the union of Rudra and his shakti or what has emerged from the Rudrayamala Tantra. I have also understood Trika, or the three divisions of Shakti, which forms the quintessence of all knowledge. (1)

अद्यापि न निवृत्तो मे संशयः परमेश्वर।
किं रूपं तत्त्वतो देव शब्दराशिकलामयम्॥ २॥

O Supreme Lord, in spite of everything that I have heard, even today my doubts are not dispelled. What is your reality, O Divine One? Are you the power or energy contained in sound from which all the mantras have originated? (2)

किं वा नवात्मभेदेन भैरवे भैरवाकृतौ।
त्रिशिरोभेदभिन्नं वा किं वा शक्तित्रयात्मकम्॥ ३॥

Can your reality be perceived through the nine different ways by which one can enter the realm of higher consciousness, as enumerated in Bhairava Agama? Is it different from the procedure in Trishira Bhairava Tantra? Or can it be perceived through knowledge of the triple forms of shakti, ie. para, parapara and apara? These are my doubts, O Bhairava! (3)

नादबिन्दुमयं वापि किं चन्द्रार्धनिरोधिकाः।
चक्रारूढमनच्कं वा किं वा शक्तिस्वरूपकम्॥ ४ ॥

Is it nada and bindu or can it be known by concentrating on the ascending psychic centres or the unstruck sound which emanates without any vibration? Or is it the form of the obstructing half moon or else is it the form of shakti? (4)

परापरायाः सकलमपरायाश्च वा पुनः।
पराया यदि तद्वत्स्यात्परत्वं तद् विरुध्यते॥ ५॥

(Is your reality) transcendent and immanent or is it completely immanent or completely transcendental? If it is immanent (then the very) nature of transcendence is contradicted. (5)

न हि वर्णविभेदेन देहभेदेन वा भवेत्।
परत्वं निष्कलत्वेन सकलत्वे न तद् भवेत्॥ ६॥

Paratva, or transcendence, cannot exist in the divisions of varna (colour), shabda (sound) or roopa (form). If transcendence is indivisible, then it cannot be defined or co-exist with composite parts. (6)

प्रसादं कुरु मे नाथ निःशेषं चिन्द्धि संशयम्।

O Lord, be pleased to destroy all my doubts completely.

भैरव उवाच।
साधु साधु त्वया पृष्टं तन्त्रसारम् इदम् प्रिये॥ ७॥

Then Bhairava says: Good, well spoken, O dear one! What you have asked about is the essence of tantra. (7)

गूहनीयतमम् भद्रे तथापि कथयामि ते।
यत्किञ्चित्सकलं रूपं भैरवस्य प्रकीर्तितम्॥ ८॥

Noble lady, although this is the most secret part of the tantras, yet I will speak to you about what has been expounded regarding the (defined) forms of Bhairava. (8)

तद् असारतया देवि विज्ञेयं शक्रजालवत्।
मायास्वप्नोपमं चैव गन्धर्वनगरभ्रमम्॥ ९॥

O Devi, the sakara aspect of Bhairava is insubstantial and of no spiritual value, like the illusory dream-like web of Indra, and is also like the delusion of celestial musicians. (9)

ध्यानार्थम् भ्रान्तबुद्धीनां क्रियाडम्बरवर्तिनाम्।
केवलं वर्णितम् पुंसां विकल्पनिहतात्मनाम्॥ १०॥

(The sakara sadhanas) are described for those people of deluded intellect, who are prey to distracted thought patterns or are inclined towards the performance of action and ostentatious rituals to traverse the path of meditation. (10)

तत्त्वतो न नवात्मासौ शब्दराशिर् न भैरवः।
न चासौ त्रिशिरा देवो न च शक्तित्रयात्मकः॥ ११॥

In reality (the essence) of Bhairava is not the nine forms, nor the garland of letters, nor the three flows and not even the three powers of shakti. (11)

नादबिन्दुमयो वापि न चन्द्रार्धनिरोधिकाः।
न चक्रक्रमसम्भिन्नो न च शक्तिस्वरूपकः॥ १२॥

His (Bhairava’s) form (cannot be perceived) in nada and bindu nor even in the obstructed half moon, nor in the piercing of successive chakras, nor docs shakti, or energy, constitute his essence. (12)

अप्रबुद्धमतीनां हि एता बलविभीषिकाः।
मातृमोदकवत्सर्वं प्रवृत्त्यर्थम् उदाहृतम्॥ १३॥

These things have been told (about the form of Bhairava), like the tales used to frighten children, to induce people of immature intellect to follow the spiritual path, just as the mother entices her child with sweets. (13)

दिक्कालकलनोन्मुक्ता देशोद्देशाविशेषिनी।
व्यपदेष्टुमशक्यासाव् अकथ्या परमार्थतः॥ १४॥

Ultimately (that state of bhairava) cannot be measured in terms of time, space or direction, nor can it be indicated by any attribute or designation. (14)

अन्तःस्वानुभवानन्दा विकल्पोन्मुक्तगोचरा।
यावस्था भरिताकारा भैरवी भैरवात्मनः॥ १५॥

One can have this inner experience for in oneself when the mind is free from modifications or thought patterns. The atman of bhairava, which is known as bhairavi, is then experienced as the bliss of one’s own inner awareness, a state whose form is fullness, free from all contradictions (which is the abode of the entire universe). (15)

तद् वपुस् तत्त्वतो ज्ञेयं विमलं विश्वपूरणम्।
एवंविधे परे तत्त्वे कः पूज्यः कश्च तृप्यति॥ १६॥

The essence of his nature is known to be free of dross and pervades the entire universe. This being the nature of the highest reality, who is the object of worship and who is to be pacified by worship? (16)

एवंविधा भैरवस्य यावस्था परिगीयते।
सा परा पररूपेण परा देवी प्रकीर्तिता॥ १७॥

In this way the transcendental state of bhairava, which is described or sung of, is known by means of the absolute or highest form that is Paradevi, the highest goddess. (17)

शक्तिशक्तिमतोर् यद्वद् अभेदः सर्वदा स्थितः।
अतस् तद्धर्मधर्मित्वात्परा शक्तिः परात्मनः॥ १८॥

Just as shakti, or power, is not different from shaktimaan, the holder of power, similarly parashakti, the highest power, who is the essence of the absolute (and therefore) identical with dharma, can never be separated from Bhairava, the possessor of dharma. (18)

न वह्नेर् दाहिका शक्तिर् व्यतिरिक्ता विभाव्यते।
केवलं ज्ञानसत्तायाम् प्रारम्भोऽयम् प्रवेशने॥ १९॥

(Just as) the power to burn is not separate from fire, (similarly parashakti is not different from Bhairava). However, it is imagined as separate in the beginning, as a preliminary step towards entry into its knowledge. (19)

शक्त्यवस्थाप्रविष्टस्य निर्विभागेन भावना।
तदासौ शिवरूपी स्यात्शैवी मुखम् इहोच्यते॥ २०॥

One who enters the state of shakti has the feeling of identification with Shiva, without division. Then one verily becomes like the form of Shiva. In this context, it is said that Shakti is the face of Shiva. (20)

यथालोकेन दीपस्य किरणैर् भास्करस्य च।
ज्ञायते दिग्विभागादि तद्वच् चक्त्या शिवः प्रिये॥ २१॥

Just as space, direction and form are revealed by the flame of a candle or the rays of the sun, similarly Shiva is revealed by the medium of Shakti, O clear one. (21)

श्री देव्युवाच।
देवदेव त्रिशूलाङ्क कपालकृतभूषण।
दिग्देशकालशून्या च व्यपदेशविवर्जिता॥ २२॥

Sri Devi said: O Lord of the Gods, who bears the trident and skulls as ornaments, (tell me) of that state (which is) devoid of time, space and direction and free from (any) characteristics. (22)

यावस्था भरिताकारा भैरवस्योपलभ्यते।
कैर् उपायैर् मुखं तस्य परा देवि कथम् भवेत्।
यथा सम्यग् अहं वेद्मि तथा मे ब्रूहि भैरव॥ २३॥

By what means can that state of fullness of Bhairava be achieved, (and) how does Paradevi, the highest Shakti, become the face (or entrance of Bhairava)? Tell me (this), O Bhairava, in the manner (whereby) I shall know it completely. (23)

भैरव उवाच।
ऊर्ध्वे प्राणो ह्यधो जीवो विसर्गात्मा परोच्चरेत्।
उत्पत्तिद्वितयस्थाने भरणाद् भरिता स्थितिः॥ २४॥

Sri Bhairava said: Paradevi, whose nature is visarga, or creation, manifests as the upward prana and the downward apana. By fixing the mind at the two points of gene you realize her. (24)

मरुतोऽन्तर् बहिर् वापि वियद्युग्मानिवर्तनात्।
भैरव्या भैरवस्येत्थम् भैरवि व्यज्यते वपुः॥ २५॥

When the ingoing pranic air and outgoing pranic air are both restrained in their space from their (respective points of) return, the essence of bhairava, which is not different from bhairavi, manifests. (25)

न व्रजेन् न विशेच् चक्तिर् मरुद्रूपा विकासिते।
निर्विकल्पतया मध्ये तया भैरवरूपता॥ २६॥

When Shakti in the form of vayu or pranic air is still and does not move swiftly in a specific direction, there develops in the middle, through the state of Nirvikalpa, the form of Bhairava. (26)

कुम्भिता रेचिता वापि पूरिता वा यदा भवेत्।
तदन्ते शान्तनामासौ शक्त्या शान्तः प्रकाशते॥ २७॥

When Kumbhaka takes place after Puraka or Rechaka, then the shakti known as shanta is experienced and through that peace (the bhairava consciousness) is revealed. (27)

आमूलात्किरणाभासां सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्मतरात्मिकम्।
चिन्तयेत्तां द्विषट्कान्ते श्याम्यन्तीम् भैरवोदयः॥ २८॥

Concentrate on the shakti arising from the root like the rays of the sun, gradually becoming subtler and subtler, until at last she dissolves in the dwadashanta and bhairava manifests. (28)

उद्गच्चन्तीं तडित्रूपाम् प्रतिचक्रं क्रमात्क्रमम्।
ऊर्ध्वं मुष्टित्रयं यावत्तावद् अन्ते महोदयः॥ २९॥

(Meditate on that shakti) moving upwards like lightning through all the chakras one by one to the dwadashanta. Then at last the glorious form of Bhairava dawns. (29)

क्रमद्वादशकं सम्यग् द्वादशाक्षरभेदितम्।
स्थूलसूक्ष्मपरस्थित्या मुक्त्वा मुक्त्वान्ततः शिवः॥ ३०॥

The twelve (centres) should be pierced successively through proper understanding of their (associated) twelve letters. Thus becoming liberated from the gross then the subtle, one by one, at the end (of its journey) the kundalini becomes Shiva. (30)

तयापूर्याशु मूर्धान्तं भङ्क्त्वा भ्रूक्षेपसेतुना।
निर्विकल्पं मनः कृत्वा सर्वोर्ध्वे सर्वगोद्गमः॥ ३१॥

Then, having filled the tip of moordha (forehead) and crossed the bridge between the eyebrows, the mind rises above all dichotomizing thought patterns and omnipresence (prevails). (31)

शिखिपक्षैश् चित्ररूपैर् मण्डलैः शून्यपञ्चकम्।
ध्यायतोऽनुत्तरे शून्ये प्रवेशो हृदये भवेत्॥ ३२॥

Like the live different coloured circles on the peacock’s feathers, one should meditate on the five voids. Then by following them to the end, which becomes the principle void, enter the heart. (32)

ईदृशेन क्रमेणैव यत्र कुत्रापि चिन्तना।
शून्ये कुड्ये परे पात्रे स्वयं लीना वरप्रदा॥ ३३॥

In this way, wherever there is mindful awareness, either on the void, or on another (object such as a) wall, or on an excellent person (such as guru), gradually the boon of absorption into the self is granted. (33)

कपालान्तर् मनो न्यस्य तिष्ठन् मीलितलोचनः।
क्रमेण मनसो दार्ढ्यात्लक्षयेत्लष्यम् उत्तमम्॥ ३४॥

Having closed the eyes, and fixing the attention at the crown of the head, gradually stabilize the mind and direct it towards the goal, which will become discernible. (34)

मध्यनाडी मध्यसंस्था बिससूत्राभरूपया।
ध्यातान्तर्व्योमया देव्या तया देवः प्रकाशते॥ ३५॥

One should meditate on the inner space of the medial nadi (sushumna) situated in the central axis of the body (the spinal column), which is as slender as a fibre of the lotus stem, and then by the grace of Devi, the divine (form) is revealed. (35)

कररुद्धदृगस्त्रेण भ्रूभेदाद् द्वाररोधनात्।
दृष्टे बिन्दौ क्रमाल् लीने तन्मध्ये परमा स्थितिः॥ ३६॥

By using the hands (as tools) to block the entrances in all directions, the eyebrow centre is pierced and bindu (or light) is seen. Being gradually absorbed within that, the supreme state is realized. (36)

धामान्तःक्षोभसम्भूतसूक्ष्माग्नितिलकाकृतिम्।
बिन्दुं शिखान्ते हृदये लयान्ते ध्यायतो लयः॥ ३७॥

Whenever one meditates upon the subtle lire, in the form of a tilak (like the mark on the forehead), or on the bindu at the end of the shikha, a condition of agitation and shaking is produced, followed by absorption and dissolution in the cave of the heart. (37)

अनाहते पात्रकर्णेऽभग्नशब्दे सरिद्द्रुते।
शब्दब्रह्मणि निष्णातः परम् ब्रह्माधिगच्चति॥ ३८॥

One, who is adept in listening to the unstruck sound in anahata, (which is) uninterrupted like a rushing river, attains the supreme state of Brahma by mastery of shabdabrahman, the form of Brahman as sound. (38)

प्रणवादिसमुच्चारात्प्लुतान्ते शून्यभावानात्।
शून्यया परया शक्त्या शून्यताम् एति भैरवि॥ ३९॥

O Bhairavi, one who repeats the Pranava (Aum) perfectly, while concentrating on the void for protracted periods, experiences the void, and by that void the transcendental shakti (is revealed). (39)

यस्य कस्यापि वर्णस्य पूर्वान्ताव् अनुभावयेत्।
शून्यया शून्यभूतोऽसौ शून्याकारः पुमान् भवेत्॥ ४०॥

Whoever contemplates even on the matras or letters (of Aum) from first to last, in the form of void, verily that sadhaka by meditation on the void becomes the void. (40)

तन्त्र्यादिवाद्यशब्देषु दीर्घेषु क्रमसंस्थितेः।
अनन्यचेताः प्रत्यन्ते परव्योमवपुर् भवेत्॥ ४१॥

When one-pointed awareness on the prolonged inner sounds of different musical instruments, such as stringed, wind and percussion, is gradually established, in the end the body becomes the supreme space. (41)

पिण्डमन्त्रस्य सर्वस्य स्थूलवर्णक्रमेण तु।
अर्धेन्दुबिन्दुनादान्तः शून्योच्चाराद् भवेच् चिवः॥ ४२॥

By repetition of all the gross letters of the bija mantras successively, including the ‘M’, (and meditating thus! on the void within each sound, one verily becomes Shiva. (42)

निजदेहे सर्वदिक्कं युगपद् भावयेद् वियत्।
निर्विकल्पमनास् तस्य वियत्सर्वम् प्रवर्तते॥ ४३॥

All the directions should be contemplated upon simultaneously in one’s own body as space or void. The mind (too) being free from all thoughts becomes dissolved (in the vacuous space of consciousness). (43)

पृष्टशून्यं मूलशून्यं युगपद् भावयेच् च यः।
शरीरनिरपेक्षिण्या शक्त्या शून्यमना भवेत्॥ ४४॥

One who contemplates simultaneously on the void of the back (spinal column) and the void of the root becomes void-minded (completely free of all thought constructs or Vikalpas) by that energy which is independent of the body. (44)

पृष्टशून्यं मूलशून्यं हृच्चून्यम् भावयेत्स्थिरम्।
युगपन् निर्विकल्पत्वान् निर्विकल्पोदयस् ततः॥ ४५॥

By steady contemplation on the void of the back (sushumna), the void of the root and the void of the heart simultaneously, there arises the state of nirvikalpa, which is free from thought constructs. (45)

तनूदेशे शून्यतैव क्षणमात्रं विभावयेत्।
निर्विकल्पं निर्विकल्पो निर्विकल्पस्वरूपभाक्॥ ४६॥

If one concentrates on the body as a void, even for a moment, with the mind free from thought, then one attains thoughtlessness and verily becomes that form of void (known as Bhairava). (46)

सर्वं देहगतं द्रव्यं वियद्व्याप्तं मृगेक्षणे।
विभावयेत्ततस् तस्य भावना सा स्थिरा भवेत्॥ ४७॥

O gazelle-eyed one, concentrate upon all the constituents of the body pervaded by space, so that the thought becomes steady. (47)

देहान्तरे त्वग्विभागम् भित्तिभूतं विचिन्तयेत्।
न किञ्चिद् अन्तरे तस्य ध्यायन्न् अध्येयभाग् भवेत्॥ ४८॥

One should contemplate on the skin of the body as a mere wall or partition with nothing inside it. By meditating thus, he becomes like the void, which cannot be meditated upon. (48)

हृद्याकाशे निलीनाक्षः पद्मसम्पुटमध्यगः।
अनन्यचेताः सुभगे परं सौभाग्यमाप्नुयात्॥ ४९॥

O embodiment of good fortune, one who contemplates with closed eyes and one-pointed concentration on the mantra in the middle of the lotus in the heart space achieves the highest spiritual realization. (49)

सर्वतः स्वशरीरस्य द्वादशान्ते मनोलयात्।
दृढबुद्धेर् दृढीभूतं तत्त्वलक्ष्यम् प्रवर्तते॥ ५०॥

When the mind is dissolved in dwadashanta by steady
awareness and steady practice, the true nature or essence of
the goal manifests everywhere in one’s body. (50)

यथा तथा यत्र तत्र द्वादशान्ते मनः क्षिपेत्॥
प्रतिक्षणं क्षीणवृत्तेर् वैलक्षण्यं दिनैर् भवेत्॥ ५१॥

By bringing the mind forcibly to dwadashanta again and
again, however and wherever possible, the fluctuations of
the mind diminish day by day, so that each moment
becomes an extraordinary state. (51)

कालाग्निना कालपदाद् उत्थितेन स्वकम् पुरम्।
प्लुष्टम् विचिन्तयेद् अन्ते शान्ताभासस् तदा भवेत्॥ ५२॥

One should contemplate that one’s own body has been
burnt by Kaalagni, arising, from the movement of time.
Then at last one will experience tranquility. (52)

एवम् एव जगत्सर्वं दग्धं ध्यात्वा विकल्पतः।
अनन्यचेतसः पुंसः पुम्भावः परमो भवेत्॥ ५३॥

In the same way, having meditated with an unwavering
and one-pointed mind on the entire universe being burnt
(by Kaalagni), that man becomes a godman or attains a
supreme state of manhood. (53)

स्वदेहे जगतो वापि सूक्ष्मसूक्ष्मतराणि च।
तत्त्वानि यानि निलयं ध्यात्वान्ते व्यज्यते परा॥ ५४॥

Dharana on those constituents which comprise one’s own
body and the whole universe, such as the tattwas and
tanmatras, from subtle to subtlest, leads to the source of
existence. (In this way) Paradevi, the supreme goddess, (is
revealed) at the end of meditation. (54)

पिनां च दुर्बलां शक्तिं ध्यात्वा द्वादशगोचरे।
प्रविश्य हृदये ध्यायन् मुक्तः स्वातन्त्र्यमाप्नुयात्॥ ५५॥

Having meditated on the gross and weak shakti in the
twelve Indriyas (thus making it subtle), one who enters the
heart space and meditates there attains mukti and becomes
liberated. (55)

भुवनाध्वादिरूपेण चिन्तयेत्क्रमशोऽखिलम्।
स्थूलसूक्ष्मपरस्थित्या यावद् अन्ते मनोलयः॥ ५६॥

By meditating on the entire form of the universe and the
course of its development through time and space,
gradually dissolve the gross into the subtle and the subtle
into the state of being beyond, until the mind is finally
dissolved (into pure consciousness). (56)

अस्य सर्वस्य विश्वस्य पर्यन्तेषु समन्ततः।
अध्वप्रक्रियया तत्त्वं शैवं ध्यत्वा महोदयः॥ ५७॥

By this method one should meditate on all the sides or
aspects of the universe up to the Shiva tatwa (which is the
quintessence) of all. In