In the summer of 1989, John Hughes received a letter from Swami Lakshmanjoo writing to him about the Aghora Mantra and its importance, after having the darshan of Svacchanda Bhairava.

In part one of this two-part series you learned about this mantra and its significance for Kashmir Shaivism and your own practice, and the whole world.

In this part we go deeper into what is the reality of Svacchandanatha and why is he so important in Kashmir Shaivism.

“He is the Light of all Darkness, all Ignorance of Light. All absence of Light and Presence of Light Have come out from that Light.” (Stava cintamani)

“Stava cintamani is the work of Bhattanarayana. Bhattanarayana is one of the...

This verse from the Svacchanda Tantra appears in Ksemaraja’s commentary on the last verse (109) of chapter nine. Similar in meaning is this verse #108 from The Magical Jewel of Devotion in Kashmir Shaivism – Bhatta Narayana’s Stava Cintamani (scroll down).

Listen to the audio (Kashmiri) by Swami Lakshmanjoo explaining the verse below and/or read the English translation below…

iti | ca evārthe, bhāvitātmaiva prayuñjītetyarthaḥ | pāṭalikī
saṅgatiradūra...

In this excerpt, from the weekly Sangha, Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Kashmir Shaivism, Swamiji gives a unique and new explanation of a well-known verse from the Bhagavad Gita, calling for moderation in using the senses. Here, in this amendment of the verse, he explains how to put the Trick of Yoga in all Activities of your Life. The recording includes questions and answers and further discussion of the subject.

You are welcome to join us for the free weekly Sangha, Bhagavad Gita in the...

This is an instruction to The Manual for Self Realization, 112 Meditations of the Vijnana Bhairava, and how to approach it, by Swami Lakshmanjoo.

Vijñāna Bhairava is one chapter in Rudrayāmala Tantra. And another chapter in Rudrayāmala Tantra is Parātriṁśikā. This chapter1 is from the Bhairava point of view. These are not Rudra śāstras nor Śiva śāstras.2 These are Bhairava śāstras–monistic, pure monistic.

You already know there are three upāyas, three means. One is superior, the...

A central theme of the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism is the highly esoteric principle known as spanda which means vibrationless/vibration or established stable movement. In Shaivism there are two texts that deal specifically with the spanda principal. The Spanda Karika (precise philosophical statements) on the Spanda theory and the Spanda Sandoha (exposition) of the spanda principle.

The theory of spanda was hidden in the body of the Tantras and was extracted by Vasugupta and given to us in...

Swamiji explains to us how and why Lord Shiva disconnects Himself from His energy and yet is never disconnected from it at the same time.

This is from the Bodhapañcadaśikā by Abhinavagupta, who wrote the “15 verses of wisdom” for ‘those dear devotees who are not intellectually inclined”.

This part is starting with verse 6 till verse 8. You can review the previous verse here.

एष देवोऽनया देवया नितयं करीडारसोतसुकः ।

विचितरान सृषटिसंहारान...

Swami Lakshmanjoo explains what is initiation and what is its most important feature. This excerpt is from the book, Kashmir Shaivism The Secret Supreme by Swami Lakshmanjoo, Chapter Twelve.

The Fivefold Contacts of Masters and Disciples

In this universe from time immemorial, the initiation of masters has taken place from Lord Śiva up to the mortal beings. This contact of the master with the disciple takes place in five different ways. The highest contact of the master with the disciple...

“Triple awareness carries one to God Consciousness!” ~Swami Lakshmanjoo

Shiva Sutras 3.35

35. mohapratisamhatastu karmatma //

The yogi whose God consciousness is destroyed...

In this excerpt from the Manual for Self Realization: 112 Meditations of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, Swami Lakshmanjoo reveals how to be born anew in days, not in months. His advice is one of the major practices of Kashmir Shaivism.

 

Dharana 28

यथा तथा यतर ततर 

दवादशानते मनः कषिपेत ।

परतिकषणं कषीणवृतते-

रवैलकषणयं दिनैरभवेत ॥॥

yatha tatha yatra tatra

dvadasante manah ksipet  /

pratiksanam ksinavrtter-

vailaksanyam dinairbhavet // 51 //

Next, fifty-one.

Or, in each and...

In this excerpt from the Bhagavad Gita, In the Light of Kashmir Shaivism Swami Lakshmanjoo elaborates on the question “What gives you liberation and what gives you enjoyment of the world”.

DVD 3.1 (26:07)

सहयजञाः परजाः सृषटवा पुरोवाच परजापतिः  ।

अनेन परसविषयधवमेष वोऽसतविषटकामधुक  ॥॥

sahayajñah prajah srstva purovaca prajapatih /

anena prasavisyadhvamesa vo‘stvistakamadhuk //10//

Prajāpati means Brahmā. It is translated by all commentators of the ...

In this excerpt from the Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Kashmir Shaivism, chapter 16, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains that there are two kinds of glories in Kashmir Shaivism, one is divine glory, one is not divine glory. Divine glory is godly behavior that is sentencing you in moksha, liberation. And not divine glory is demonic behavior that is entangling you in the wheel of repeated births and deaths.

“Now, Lord Siva (Lord Krsna) says that there are two kinds of glories: one is divine glory,...