Manual For Masters
Commentary from Bhairava shashtra/Rudrayamala Tantra on "dharma" (theory & practice of path) & "AdhyAtma" (traversing the path).
Here, Question of seeker is put forth by Devi & Bhairava (monistic form of Shiva) answers.
किं रूपं तत्त्वतो देव
O Lord, in essence, what is real path to tread?
शब्दराशिकलामयम्
Are you power inherited within sound of alphabets (sabda rAsi kalA) from which all mantras arose?
Do we have to tread from a to ksa & return again from ksa to a?
16 vowels from "a" to "ha" are shiva tattva
If we combine "a" & "ha" then as per Sanskrit grammar rule, we have to append "m" in end, which gives rise to shiva mantra-"aham"
Consonants from "ka" to "sa" are shakti tattva
If we combine "ka & "sa" then becomes shakti mantra- "ksa"
किं वा नवात्मभेदेन भैरवे भैरवाकृतौ
Or is it journey of 9 states of consciousness to enter state of Bhairava?
These 9 states r represented by h r ks m l v y nu m alphabets & give rise to navAtma mantra
Nine states are:
1. prakritI
2. purusa
3. FIVE kanchukas (coverings)- kalA (limited skill) vidyA (limited knowledge) rAga (limited desire) kAla (limited time) niyatI (limited space)
4. maya (personified will of supreme self) – glue which binds kanchukas to purusa
5. suddhavidyA- pure knowledge
6. Isvara – Pure knowledge WITH action
7. sadAsiva – Establishment in pure knowledge with action
8. shakti – universal energy of supreme self
9. shiva – holder of supreme energy
So Devi asks on behalf of seeker if this is path to follow?
त्रिशिरोभेदभिन्नं वा किं वा शक्तित्रयात्मकम्
Or is trisirobhairava (tantra) as known as Bhairava AgamA just a differentiation of 3 shaktis
parA (supreme), parAparA (medium) & apArA (lower)?
So is that the path from apAra to parAparA to parA, Devi asks?
नादबिन्दुमयं वापि किं चन्द्रार्धनिरोधिकाः ।
चक्रारूढम् अनच्कं वा किं वा शक्तिस्वरूपकम् ॥ ४ ॥
To travel from nAda to bindu, from bindu to ardhacandra, from ardhacandra to nirodhikAh, from nirodhikAh to nAdAnta, then shakti, then vyApinI & then samanA
Is this the way?
1. nAda means a, u, m - akArasca, ukArasca, makArah
It applies to every mantra, everything in gross world – sAkAr. Manifest Brahm.
2. Bindu is 1 pointed awareness/ perception of gross/ nAda with movement of breath
3. Ardhacandra is state where due to uninterrupted 1 pointed awareness, breathing stops.
Consciousness is at twilight of manifest/ unmanifest sAkAr/ avyakt. At the door!
4. nirodhikA is establishment of awareness at cessation of breath
5. nAdAnta is entrance of soundless sound
6. shakti is establishment of consciousness in soundless sound. aham becomes shakti
7. vyapini is aham brahmasmi. Establishment in supreme oneness.
8. samanA is self- realization - sAkshAtkAr. Becoming shivA
9. unmanA - is moksha. All remains that there IS!
Bhairava gave answer:
यत्किंचित् सकलं रूपं भैरवस्य प्रकीर्तितम् ॥
Whatever form is described of bhairava in mantras, tantras…
तद् असारतया देवि विज्ञेयं शक्रजालवत् ।
मायास्वप्नोपमं चैव गन्धर्वनगरभ्रमम् ॥
…that is all bogus (asAr= without essence)
This is like indrajAl...
dream like illusion...
akin to walking in abode of celestial musicians (gandharva)
अप्रबुद्धमतीनां हि एता बलविभीषिकाः।
Things have been told about form of Bhairava like tales used to frighten children
मातृमोदकवत् सर्वं प्रवृत्त्यर्थं उदाहृतम्॥
..to induce people of immature intellect to follow spiritual path, just as mother entices her child with sweets.
Bhairava says that all practices/vidhIs given in Tantras/ Agamas/ shAstrAs are just ways to frighten naughty kids (whose intellect isn't yet developed) to not fall astray.
Or at best a sweet to lure before mother gives not so tasty medicine afterwards!
This is to introduce to path.
But those in themselves are no path
So what is path?
This follows series of 112 means/upAyas through which we can reach.
These are tasteless medicine 4 THOSE who have craving/ache/pain to reach- seeker/mumukshu.
They need to take it anyhow.
No sugar candy is required to lure them!
112 means/ upAyas are broadly categorized in THREE:
sAmbhavopAya (superior)
Where 1 enters (samAvesa) in supreme consciousness just by grace of Guru/Shiva without any process.
Uninterrupted awareness is maintained in thoughtlessness.
No use of thought (vikalpa), mantra or any aid
sAktopAya (medium)
Where 1 enters in supreme through contemplation of mental objects which can't b spoken/recited.
Awareness is maintained in "organic" world/ 5 organs of cognition (jnanendriyas)/ 3 internal organs (antahkArans- mind (manas), intellect (buddhI), ego (ahankAr)
AnavopAya (inferior)
Where 1 enters in supreme through concentration on objects of senses/cognition or body parts or acts like recitation with either breath (uccAra) or mantra as support.
Awareness is maintained in 5 great elements (mahAbhutas)
These 3 means are as per your strength of awareness.
In experience of limited subject, act of thinking overshadows subject/perceiver.
Firm strength means to have power of subjective consciousness that your 1pointed awareness isn't overshadowed by either objective experience or by thoughts.
In act of perception/cognition, "I" is eclipsed by very act.
Subject is lost. Only experience of object remains.
"I-consciousness" is so eclipsed that it isnt part of "conscious awareness".
This is nature of ignorance-being shadowed by outside world & not experiencing own nature.
VigyAna Bhairava Tantra/Shiva sutras is 1 chapter of Rudramalaya Tantra which states 112 such means.
These are practices to think thoughts & experience perceptions without losing self-awareness.
Once you no longer get lured by sugar-candy then you should find out which upAya suits you best.
ध्यानार्थम् भ्रान्तबुद्धीनां क्रियाडम्बरवर्तिनाम् ।
केवलं वर्णितम् पुंसां विकल्पनिहतात्मनाम् ॥
sAkAr sAdhnAs are described for people of deluded intellect who are liable to distractions
Or are inclined towards "acts"/ostentatious rituals, as an alternative to prepare them for path!
तत्त्वतो न नवात्मासौ शब्दराशिर् न भैरवः ।
न चासौ त्रिशिरा देवो न च शक्तित्रयात्मकः ॥
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.
नादबिन्दुमयो वापि न चन्द्रार्धनिरोधिकाः ।
न चक्रक्रमसम्भिन्नो न च शक्तिस्वरूपकः ॥
Bhairava's form cannot be perceived in nAda and bindu nor even in the obstructed half moon, nor in the piercing of successive cakrAs, nor does shakti or energy, constitute his essence!
अन्तःस्वानुभवानन्दा विकल्पोन्मुक्तगोचरा ।
यावस्था भरिताकारा भैरवी भैरवात्मनः ॥
One can have this inner experience for self when mind is free from modifications or thought patterns.
The atman of bhairava, known as bhairavi, is then experienced as bliss of one’s own inner awareness!
एवंविधे परे तत्त्वे कः पूज्यः कश् च तृप्यति
When you put this in your view, in this supreme essence of transcendental truth, who is to be worshiped & who is the worshiper? says Bhairava!
एवंविधा भैरवस्य यावस्था परिगीयते ।
सा परा पररूपेण परा देवी प्रकीर्तिता ॥
This state of Bhairava is already sung (parigiyate) in body of Tantra.
That state in supreme way (pararupena) is state of BhairavI/ ParAdevI.
So whenever you try to find out real nature of Bhairava, you cannot find out because the real nature of Bhairava is real state of knower/ perceiver.
You can only perceive it when it comes down to state of BhairavI.
Hence, YOU, perceiver are THE path!
YOU are YOUR own way!!
YOU are BhairavI!!!
What is relation of BhairavI to Bhairava?
न वह्नेर् दाहिका शक्तिर् व्यतिरिक्ता विभाव्यते
From fire power of burning cannot be separated.
Fire has energies of dAkikA(burning), UshmA(heat), prakAshikA(light) but these are inseparable from fire itself.
Similarly, BhairavI is Bhairava
शक्त्यवस्थाप्रविष्टस्य निर्विभागेन भावना
YOU have to enter state of ShaktI then that undifferentiatedness between energy & its holder comes in YOUR consciousness.
तदासौ शिवरूपी स्यात् शैवी मुखम् इहोच्यते
That moment, ShaivI becomes mukham (path) to Shiva as iha(here) ucyate(explained)
यथालोकेन दीपस्य किरणैर् भास्करस्य च
Like with light of your lamp or rays of Sun...
ज्ञायते दिग्विभागादि तद्वच् छक्त्या शिवः प्रिये
...differentiatedness of all is understood, similarly Shiva is understood by His Shakti, O dear (PArvatI)!
गूहनीयतमम् भद्रे तथापि कथयामि ते
Though it's a secret, it must not be exposed, it's worth concealing, yet I will explain it.
DhAranA 1
ऊर्ध्वे प्राणो ह्य् अधो जीवो विसर्गात्मा परोच्चरेत्
उत्पत्तिद्वितयस्थाने भरणाद् भरिता स्थितिः
Upwards (Urdhve) from heart, Outbreath (prAna) is "sa"
Adhah (from 12 finger spaces outside body to Heart), Inbreath (jIvah) is "ha"
Supreme energy(visarga :) appears at these 2 starting points.
In this state, YOU become ONE with Bhiarava!
YOU have to take outbreath (prAna) from heart to dvAdasAnta & recite "sa"
Take inbreath (jIvah) from dvAdasAnta to heart & recite "ha"
And at these 2 starting points recite visarga :
visarga of outbreath "sa" will b recited outside as "h"
& of inbreath, "ha" in heart as "m"
If YOU achieve uninterrupted awareness in breathing cycle with this recitation, YOU will eventually become BhairavI & thus ONE with Bhairava/Shiva
This is AnavopAya
DhAranA 2
मरुतोऽन्तर् बहिर् वापि वियद्युग्मानिवर्तनात्
भैरव्या भैरवस्येत्थम् भैरवि व्यज्यते वपुः
marutah(energy of breath), antar bahir(internally & externally) is followed by 2 voids which separate inbreath & outbreath.
By maintaining uninterrupted awareness in 2 voids YOU reach.
This is SAktopAya as there is no need to recite mantra of ham-sa/soham
YOU only need to be aware of 2 voids between 2 breaths & maintain awareness.
Thus becoming BhairavI, the path, Bhairava/Shiva is revealed to YOU.
DhAranA 3
न व्रजेन् न विशेच् छक्तिर् मरुद्रूपा विकासिते
निर्विकल्पतया मध्ये तया भैरवरूपता
When YOU establish 1 pointedness nirvikalpatyA (without thought) in central canal- suSumnA, then marut-rupa-SaktI, energy of breath neither goes out nor enters in (na vrajet, na viset)
suSumnA is vikAsite (gets illuminated).
Thus YOU become one with Bhairava (Bhirava rUpatA bhavati)
This is sAmbhavopAya
It has only "thoughtless 1 pointedness" as tool/ path.
It is very exhaustive list of all possible 112 ways in Vijnana Bhairava Tantra.
In Introduction to it, I have listed 1st 3 ways of 112 as an example of 3 category means/path.
There is always at least ONE available way for everyone if, so YOU seek!
An article by GS
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