BHAIRAVA STOTRA SHIVA STUTI OF SRI ABHINAVAGUPTA

OM

vyaapta caraacara, bhaava viSheshaM cinmayanm ekam, anantam anaadim / bhairavanaatham, anaatha sharanyaM tanmaya citta, tayaa hridi vande // 1

I, Abhinavagupta, with one pointed devotion, am praying to that supreme all pervading Lord Siva, who is himself present in each and everything that exists, and who through realization revels himself as the one limitless Bhairavanatha, the protector of the helpless.

tvanmayam etad, ashesham idaaniM bhaati mama tvad, anugraha shaktyaa / tvam ca mahesha, sadaiva mamaatmaa svaatma mayaM mama, tena samastam // 2

By the energy of your grace it has been revealed to me that this vibrating universe is your own existence. Thus, O Lord Siva, this realization has come to me that you are my own soul and as such this universe is my own expression and existence.

svatmani vishva, gate tvayi naathe tena na saMsriti, bhiteh kathaasti / sat svapi durdhara, duhkha vimoha traasa vidhaayishu, karma ganeshu // 3

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 existente, they are not afraid of worldly dif-ficulties, because fear exists only when there is some one else to inflict it. But when there is none other than you, how can fear arise.

antaka maaM prati, maa drishamenaaM krodha karaala, tamaaM vida dhihi / shaMkara sevana, cintana dhiro bhiishana bhairava, shakti mayo smi // 4

O ngel of death, do not look towards me with wrathful and frightening eyes as I am always absorbed in the worship of Lord Shiva. Through constant devotion, meditation and reflection I have become steadfast and courageous, one with the energy of the terrifying Bhairava. Thus, your dreadful and frightening looks can do me no harm.

ittham upodha, bhavan maya saMvit diidhiti daarita, bhri tamisrah / mrityur yamaantaka, karma pishaacar naatha namostu, na jaatu bibhemi // 5

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. prodita satya, vibodha marici prokshita vishva, padaartha satatvah /

bhaava paraamrita, nirbhara puurne tvayy aham aatmani, nirvrittim emi // 6

O Lord Shiva, 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.

maanasa gocaram, eti yadaiva klesha dashaa tanu, taapa vidhaatri / naatha ! tadaiva, mama tvadabheda stotra paramrita, vrishti rudeti // 7

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 visin of my oneness with you arises, the impact of which my mind feels appeased.

shaNkara satyam, idaM vrata daana snaana tapo bhava, taapa vinaashi / taavaka shaastra, paraamrita cintaa sindhyati cetasi, nir vritti dhaaraa // 8

O Lord Siva, 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 shastras and your words alone the current of immortality like a stream of peace enters my heart.

nrityati gaayati, hrisyati gaadhaM

saMvid iyaM mama, bhairavanaatha / tvaaM priyam aapya, sudarshanam ekaM durlabham anya, janaih sama yajam // 9

O Lord Bhairava, through my utmost faith I have perceived you in the unique sacrifce 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 ecstacy.

vasu rasapaushe, krishna dasham yaam abhinavaguptah, stavam imam akarot / yena vibhur bhava, maru san tapaM shamayati jhatiti, janasya dayaaluh // 10

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 saMsara.

Sri Bhairava Stotram

By Sri Kamakoti Mandali on Feb 7, 2012 | In Srividya, Darshana, Bhakti

Bhairava Stava is a precious gem composed by MahAmAheshvara AchArya Abhinavagupta. It is said that one fine day, Abhinavagupta decided to shed his mortal coil and approached the BhairavaguhA (Cave of Bhairava), followed by twelve hundred disciples. This cave is located in today's town of Beerwah in Kashmir, which is also identified as BhadrakAlI tIrtha kShetra. He alone entered the sacred cave, reciting his favorite hymn, Bhairava Stotra. That was the last time Abhinavagupta was seen. This hymn is held in high regard by votaries of Kashmir Shaivism as it is considered to be siddhiprada. There are several transliterated versions of this hymn floating on the net but they seem to be filled with mistakes. Here is a relatively cleaner version of the hymn based

on the pAtha published by Shri Mukundarama Shastri. vyptacarcarabhvaviea cinmayamekamanantamandim | bhairavanthamanthaaraya tvanmayacittatay hdi vande || 1 || tvanmayametadaeamidn bhti mama tvadanugrahaakty | tva ca mahea sadaiva mamtm svtmamaya mama tena samastam || 2 || svtmani vivaga(ye)te tvayi nthe tena na sastibhtikathsti | satsvapi durdharadukhavimohatrsavidhyiu karmagaeu || 3 || antaka m prati m damen krodhakarlatam vinidhehi | akarasevanacintanadhro bhaa bhairava aktimayo.asmi || 4 || itthamupohabhavanmayasavidddhitidritabhritamisra | mtyuyamntakakarmapicairntha namo.astu na jtu bibhemi || 5 || proditasatyavibodhamarciprekitavivapadrthasatattva | bhvaparmtanirbharapre tvayyahamtmani nirvtimemi || 6 || mnasagocarameti yadaiva kleada.atanutpavidhtr | ntha tadaiva mama tvadabhedastotraparmtavirudeti || 7 || akara satyamida vratadna-

snnatapo bhavatpavidri | tvakastraparmtacint syandati cetasi nirvtidhrm || 8 || ntyati gyati hyati gha savidiya mama bhairavantha | tv priyampya sudaranameka durlabhamanyajanai samayajnam || 9 || vasurasapaue kadaamy abhinavagupta stavamimamakarot | yena vibhurbhavamarusantpa amayati jhaiti janasya daylu || 10 || || sampta stavamida abhinavkhya padyanavakam ||