Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra

The text presents itself as containing the essence of the Rudrayamala-tantra, a Bhairava tantra that is now lost.[1] In the Vijñāna-bhairava-tantra (VBT), Bhairavi, the goddess (Shakti), asks Bhairava (the terrifying form of Shiva) to reveal the essence of how to realize the true nature of reality. In his answer Bhairava describes 112 ways to enter into the universal and transcendental state of consciousness. References to it appear throughout the literature of Kashmir Shaivism, indicating that it was considered to be an important text in this tradition.[1][2]

The VBT describes the goal of these practices, the "true nature of reality", as follows:

“Beyond reckoning in space or time; without direction or locality; impossible to represent; ultimately indescribable; Blissful with the experience of that which is inmost; a field of awareness free of mental constructs: that state of overflowing fullness is Bhairavī, the essence of Bhairava. It is that essence which is ultimately real & fundamental; it is that which ought to be known & experienced; it is that which is inherently pure, and it is that which pervades everything.” (Christopher Wallis translation, 2018)[8]

According to Christopher Wallis, Bhairava and Bhairavi are also used to refer to expanded states of consciousness, with Bhairavi referring more to energetic and active (śakti) states, and Bhairava referring to still and quiescent (śūnya) states.[6] Wallis also notes that the text exhibits a "strong Buddhist influence", and one of the most common meditations taught in the text focuses on the ‘voidness’ (śūnya) of things, such as verse 48 which offers a meditation on the body as empty space, and verses 45 and 49 which teach meditations on the empty space of the heart.[6]

Part of a series on
Shaivism
Deities Paramashiva (Supreme being) Shiva Sadasiva Bhairava Rudra Virabhadra Shakti Parvati Sati Durga Kali Ganesha Kartikeya Sastha Shiva forms Others
Scriptures and texts Vedas Upanishads (Svetasvatara) Agamas and Tantras Shivasutras Tirumurai Vachanas
Philosophy Three Components Pati Pashu Pasam Three bondages Anava Karma Maya 36 Tattvas Yoga Satkaryavada Abhasavada Svatantrya Aham
Practices Vibhuti Rudraksha Panchakshara Bilva Maha Shivaratri Yamas-Niyamas Guru-Linga-Jangam
Schools Adi Margam Pashupata Kalamukha Kapalika Mantra Margam Saiddhantika Siddhantism Non - Saiddhantika Kashmir Shaivism Pratyabhijna Vama Dakshina Kaula: Trika-Yamala-Kubjika-Netra Others Nath Inchegeri Veerashaiva/Lingayatism Siddharism Sroutaism Aghori Indonesian
Scholars Lakulisha Abhinavagupta Vasugupta Utpaladeva Nayanars Meykandar Nirartha Basava Sharana Srikantha Appayya Navnath
Related Nandi Tantrism Bhakti Jyotirlinga Shiva Temples

The text appeared in 1918 in the Kashmir Series of Text and Studies (KSTS).[9] The Kashmir Series published two volumes, one with a commentary in Sanskrit by Kshemaraja and Shivopadhyaya and the other with a commentary, called Kaumadi, by Ananda Bhatta.

In 1957, Paul Reps brought the text to wide attention by including a poetic English translation in his popular book Zen Flesh, Zen Bones.[10] Reps' translation was the subject of a voluminous commentary by Osho.[11]

As the Sanskritist Christopher Wallis writes, many of English VBT translations have been done by persons who lack training in reading Sanskrit and who lack the background of reading the sanskrit tantric texts that the VBT relies on. The result has been various poetic or free form renderings which fail to properly communicate the actual practices which are briefly outlined in the text. Two exceptions to this are Jaideva Singh's translation and Mark Dyczkowski's translation.[6]

The various VBT translations include the following:

• Sri Vijnana Bhairava Tantra: The Ascent, by Swami Satyasangananda Saraswati[12]
• The Manual for Self Realization: 112 Meditations of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, by Swami Lakshmanjoo, edited by John Hughes[13]
• Vijnana Bhairava: The Practice of Centring Awareness, by Bettina Baumer & Sarla Kumar, commentary by Swami Lakshmanjoo[14]
• Vijnanabhairava or Divine Consciousness: A Treasury of 112 Types of Yoga Sanskrit Text with English Translation, Expository Note, Introduction and Glossary of Technical Terms by Jaideva Singh.[15]
• Tantra Yoga: Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, by Daniel Odier[16]
• 112 Meditations for Self Realization: Vigyan Bhairava Tantra by Ranjit Chaudhri[17]
• So You Wanna Meditate: A Concise Guidebook With Commentary on the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra by Swami Anantananda Giri[18]
• Radiance Sutras: 112 Gateways to the Yoga of Wonder and Delight by Lorin Roche[19]
• Vijnanabhairava or Techniques for Entering Liminal Consciousness by Dmitri Semenov[20]
• The Book of Secrets: 112 Meditations to Discover the Mystery Within by Osho[11]
• Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, by Mike Magee, a commentary on Jaideva Singh's translation[21]
• Handbook of Consciousness: Vijnana Bhairava Meditations by Jnani Christian Karl[22]
• Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, Insight into reality by Swami Nischalananda
• Vijnana Bhairava Tantra by Paramhansa Nithyananda
• Vijnana Bhairava Tantra by Satya Narayanan Sarma Rupengunta
• Vijnana Bhairava Tantra by Christopher Wallis.
• Vijnana Bhairava Tantra by Jason Augustus Newcomb