Abhinavagupta's Bhairava Stavah
अभिनवगुप्त भैरव स्तवः
Sanskrit
व्याप्तचराचरभावविशेषं चिन्मयमेकमनन्तमनादिम्। भैरवनाथमनाथशरण्यं तन्मयचित्ततया हृदि वन्दे॥१॥
Transliteration
vyāpta-carācara-bhāva-viśeṣaṁ cinmayam-ekam-anantam-anādim | bhairava-nātham-anātha-śaraṇyaṁ tan-maya-citta-tayā hṛdi vande ||1||
Translation
I, Abhinavagupta, with one pointed devotion, am praying to that supreme all-pervading Lord Śiva, who is himself present in each and everything that exists, and who through realization reveals himself as the one limitless Bhairavanātha the protector of the helpless.
Deep Meaning
This opening invocation establishes Bhairava as the all-pervading consciousness (cinmaya) that exists in every aspect of creation - both moving and non-moving. He is beyond beginning (anādi) and infinite (ananta), yet reveals himself as the refuge for those who have no other refuge.
Sanskrit
त्वन्मयमेतदशेषमिदानीं भाति मम त्वदनुग्रहशक्त्या। त्वं च महेश! सदैव ममात्मा स्वात्ममयं मम तेन समस्तम्॥२॥
Transliteration
tvanmayam-etad-aśeṣam-idānīṁ bhāti mama tvad-anugraha-śaktyā | tvaṁ ca maheśa! sadaiva mamātmā svātmam-ayaṁ mama tena samastam ||2||
Translation
By the energy of your grace it has been revealed to me that this vibrating universe is your own existence. O Lord Śiva, this realization has come to me that you are my own soul and as such this universe is my own expression and existence.
Deep Meaning
Through divine grace (anugraha-śakti), Abhinavagupta realizes the non-dual truth - the entire universe is nothing but Bhairava's manifestation. When Bhairava is recognized as one's own Self (ātmā), the whole cosmos becomes one's own Self-expression. This is the essence of Pratyabhijñā philosophy.
Sanskrit
स्वात्मनि विश्वगते त्वयि नाथे तेन न संसृतिभीतिः कथाऽस्ति। सत्स्वपि दुर्धरदुःखविमोह-त्रासविधायिषु कर्मगणेषु॥३॥
Transliteration
svātmani viśvagate tvayi nāthe tena na saṁsṛti-bhītiḥ kathā'sti | satsvapi durdhara-duḥkha-vimoha-trāsa-vidhāyiṣu karma-gaṇeṣu ||3||
Translation
O possessor of everything, though your devotees, bound by karma and conditioning of mind, are caught in the net of destiny that arouses troubles and bondage, still they are not afraid of the fret and fever of this world. Having realized this universe as your own existence they are not afraid of worldly difficulties, because fear exists only when there is someone else to inflict it, but when there is none other than You how can fear arise.
Deep Meaning
When one realizes Bhairava as the all-pervading Self, fear of saṁsāra (worldly existence) dissolves completely. Even though karmic patterns may still cause suffering, delusion, and terror, the enlightened one remains fearless because there is no "other" to fear - all is recognized as the play of one's own consciousness.
Sanskrit
अन्तक! मां प्रति मा दृशमेनां क्रोधकरालतमां विदधीहि। शङ्करसेवनचिन्तनधीरो भीषणभैरवशक्तिमयोऽस्मि॥४॥
Transliteration
antaka! māṁ prati mā dṛśamenāṁ krodha-karāla-tamāṁ vidadhīhi | śaṅkara-sevana-cintana-dhīro bhīṣaṇa-bhairava-śakti-mayo'smi ||4||
Translation
O angel of death, do not look towards me with wrathful and frightening eyes as I am always absorbed in the worship of Lord Śiva. Through constant devotion, meditation and reflection, I have become steadfast and courageous, one with the energy of the terrifying Bhairava, your dreadful and frightening looks can do me no harm.
Deep Meaning
Abhinavagupta directly addresses Yama, the lord of death (antaka), fearlessly declaring his identification with Bhairava's power (śakti). Through unwavering devotion and contemplation, he has merged with the terrifying aspect of Bhairava itself, rendering death powerless. This is the tantric realization that by becoming one with the fierce deity, even death loses its sting.
Sanskrit
इत्थमुपोढभवन्मयसंवि-द्दीधितिदारितभूरितमिस्रः। मृत्युर्यमान्तककर्मपिशाचै-र्नाथ! नमोऽस्तु न जातु बिभेमि॥५॥
Transliteration
ittham-upoḍha-bhavan-maya-saṁvid-dīdhiti-dārita-bhūri-tamisraḥ | mṛtyur-yamāntaka-karma-piśācair-nātha! namo'stu na jatu bibhemi ||5||
Translation
O Lord Bhairava, I offer salutations to you who has awakened me to the realization that everything in existence is you alone. As a result of this awakening, the darkness of my mind has been destroyed and I am neither frightened of the evil family of demons nor am I afraid of Yama, the fearful Lord of death.
Deep Meaning
The light (dīdhiti) of non-dual awareness has shattered the dense darkness (tamisra) of ignorance. With this realization that all is Bhairava's consciousness, neither death (mṛtyu), Yama, nor the demonic forces of karma (karma-piśāca) hold any terror. The enlightened one bows in gratitude, utterly fearless.
Sanskrit
प्रोदितसत्यविबोधमरीचि-प्रोक्षितविश्वपदार्थसतत्त्वः। भावपरामृतनिर्भरपूर्णे त्वय्यऽहमात्मनि निर्वृत्तिमेमि॥६॥
Transliteration
prodita-satya-vibodha-marīci-prokṣita-viśva-padārtha-satattvaḥ | bhāva-parāmṛta-nirbhara-pūrṇe tvayya'ham-ātmani nirvṛttim-emi ||6||
Translation
O Lord Śiva, it is through your existence, revealed to me by real knowledge, that I realize all attachments and all that exists in this universe is activated by you. It is by this awakening that my mind becomes saturated with immortal devotion and I experience supreme bliss.
Deep Meaning
The rays of true knowledge (satya-vibodha-marīci) sprinkle and all objects of the world, revealing their true nature (sat-tattva) as Bhairava himself. Filled with the supreme nectar of devotional feeling (bhāva-parāmṛta), Abhinavagupta experiences nirvṛtti - complete fulfillment and blissful rest in the Self.
Sanskrit
मानसगोचरमेति यदैव क्लेशदशाऽतनुतापविधात्री। नाथ! तदैव मम त्वदभेद-स्तोत्रपराऽमृतवृष्टिरुदेति॥७॥
Transliteration
mānasa-gocaram-eti yadaiva kleśa-daśā'tanu-tāpa-vidhātrī | nātha! tadaiva mama tvad-abheda-stotra-parā'mṛta-vṛṣṭirud-eti ||7||
Translation
O Lord, sometimes I feel misery which arouses torment in my mind, but at that same moment, blessed by a shower of your grace, a clean and clear vision of my oneness with you arises, the impact of which my mind feels appeased.
Deep Meaning
Even for the realized one, moments of mental affliction (kleśa) may arise. But simultaneously, the grace of non-dual recognition (abheda) descends like a shower of nectar (amṛta-vṛṣṭi), immediately dissolving the suffering. This verse reveals the dynamic interplay between human limitation and divine grace in the spiritual journey.
Sanskrit
शङ्कर! सत्यमिदं व्रतदान-स्नानतपो भवतापविनाशि। तावकशास्त्रपराऽमृतचिन्ता स्यन्दति चेतसि निर्वृत्तिधाराम्॥८॥
Transliteration
śaṅkara! satyam-idaṁ vrata-dāna-snāna-tapo bhava-tāpa-vināśi | tāvaka-śāstra-parā'mṛta-cintā syandati cetasi nirvṛtti-dhārām ||8||
Translation
O Lord Śiva, it is said that through charity, ritual bath and the practices of penance the troubles of worldly existence subside, but even more than this, by remembrance of the sacred śāstras and your words alone the current of immortality like a stream of peace enters my heart.
Deep Meaning
While acknowledging the value of traditional practices (vows, charity, sacred baths, austerities), Abhinavagupta declares the supreme efficacy of contemplating the sacred teachings (śāstra) of Kashmir Shaivism. This contemplation alone floods consciousness with streams of blissful fulfillment (nirvṛtti-dhāra), surpassing all ritual actions.
Sanskrit
नृत्यति गायति हृष्यति गाढं संविदियं मम भैरवनाथ!। त्वां प्रियमाप्य सुदर्शनमेकं दुर्लभमन्यजनैः समयज्ञम्॥९॥
Transliteration
nṛtyati gāyati hṛṣyati gāḍhaṁ saṁvid-iyaṁ mama bhairava-nātha | tvāṁ priyam-āpya sudarśanam-ekaṁ durlabham-anya-janaiḥ sama-yajñam ||9||
Translation
O Lord Bhairava, through my utmost faith I have perceived you in the unique sacrifice of oneness, which otherwise is not possible though performing mountains of rituals. Being filled with your presence my consciousness intensely dances and sings, enjoying its own ecstasy.
Deep Meaning
Having attained the vision of non-dual oneness (sama-yajña) - rare even through countless external sacrifices - Abhinavagupta's consciousness spontaneously dances, sings, and rejoices. This is the sahaja (spontaneous) state where the enlightened one becomes the cosmic dance itself, expressing the overflow of divine bliss.
Sanskrit
वसुरसपौषे कृष्णदशम्या-मभिनवगुप्तः स्तवमिदमकरोत्। येन विभुर्भवमरुसन्तापं शमयति झटिति जनस्य दयालुः॥१०॥
Transliteration
vasu-rasa-pauṣe kṛṣṇa-daśamyāṁ-abhinavaguptaḥ stavam-idam-akarot | yena vibhur-bhava-maru-santāpaṁ śamayati jhaṭiti janasya dayāluḥ ||10||
Translation
O compassionate Lord, under the influence of your glory and for the benefit of your worshipers, I Abhinavagupta have composed this hymn. By meditation and recitation of this hymn within a moment that merciful Lord Bhairava destroys the torments and sufferings springing from this wilderness of samsāra.
Deep Meaning
In this concluding verse (phala-śruti), Abhinavagupta reveals the date of composition (Kṛṣṇa Daśamī in the month of Pauṣa) and promises that this sacred hymn has the power to instantly (jhaṭiti) dissolve the burning afflictions of worldly existence. The compassionate Bhairava grants liberation from the desert-like suffering of saṁsāra.
Benefits of Recitation
- ✦Direct awakening of non-dual Bhairava consciousness
- ✦Liberation from fear of death and worldly existence
- ✦Dissolution of subject-object duality through grace
- ✦Realization of the universe as Self-expression
- ✦Protection from negative forces and karmic demons
- ✦Experience of spontaneous bliss and fulfillment
- ✦Instant relief from the suffering of samsāra
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