bahurupa garbha stotram

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Bahuroopa Garbha Stotram

Bahuroopa Garbha Stotram!"#$%&'()*+,-.

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*Dr Chaman Lal Raina

hen we turn the pages of the Kashmir Shaiva agamas, we come across the Bahuroopa Garbha

Stotram. Our ancestors would recite this Stotramafter the morning Sandhya--oblations in their Puja

rooms, popularly known as the Thokur Kuth. Since Kashmir Shaivism has influenced the very

nerve of Kashmiri Pandit spiritual heritage, it was obligatory for the elders in the family to memorise this

Stotram, to avoid any obstacle in their Puja, meditation, pilgrimage etc., and to be self confident in their

routine work. It would serve them as their Kavacham/spiritual sheild. A few elderly do recite this stotram in

the morning and evening, but it is being recited during Kashmiri Pandit traditional Homas/Yajnas before

performing the Shiva Swahakara of 1000 names.

For the devotees,it is believed to be a boon,given by Shri Svachhanda Bhairavanathhimself, to protect the

Dharma --Artha--Kama -- Mokhsha. The recitation of Bhawani Sahsranama along with the IndrakshiStotram, during Homa--Yajnas,is still practised in kashmiri Pandit heritage. Indrakshi Stotramhas become a

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part of the daily Puja even in K P diaspora. Indrakshi and the Bahuroopa Garbha are said to be

complementary to each other. It is known as the SAMPUTA Patham, as the tradition goes.

What is Bahuroopa Garbha?

Literally Bahuroopa means--multifaceted, and Garbhameans -the womb. Bahualso reflects much, many,frequent, numerous, and considerable in quantity. Therefore, the Bahuroopa means variegated and

manifold. Garbha stands for an inner apartment,abode of the creation, and a temple. Thus it means that the

Bahuroopa Garbhais the multifaceted existence of the Eternal womb,having its source in the Yajurveda,

which speaks of Hiranya Garbhaas under:

"Hiranya Garbha Samvarttata-agre Bhutasya Jatah Patir Eka--aasit

Sa Dhadhar Prithvim dhyaam- utamaam Kasmai Devaya Havisha Vidyema"

The One, who is the Lord of Eternal Light--the creator of self-illumination, the creator of the radiant Solar

system and the luminous. He is conscient being--the omnipresent One moon, He sustains the earth, and

other planets, still we do not know to whom Devata/Godhead, should we make our oblations.

- -------------------Yajurveda Chaper13, Mantra 4

The Bahuroopa Garbhais an answer to the Vedic Rishi's prayer, to know about the mystery of the Absolute

Truth. This Stotramequipped with its own Gayatriand the Bija Mantrahas been given to Bhairavi by Rudra

Bhairava himself.

Bahuroopa Garbhais an aspiration of the Divine Mother --Bhairaviin the paradox of life. Divine Mother is

an inward urge, because she intends to nurse the sleepless children through a discussion about a

Kavacham/ spiritual sheath. It lends a purport to the renderings of the mind. Bahuroopa Garbha is an

absolute potent Mantra, governed by Bhairavi's immense love for humanity--the torch bearers of the

Sanatana Dharma/ Eternal truth.


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Format of Bahuroopa Garbha:

It is unlike the Upanishadic tradition, where the deliberation takes between the disciple and the

preceptor,about the nature of Godhead, which is termed as 'Brahman.

It is a dialogue between Bhairava-- the Male principle of Divinity and Bhairavi--the Female principle of

Divinity about the welfare of the devotees in general and the initiated Shaivitesin particular.

The main subject matter revolves around the aggression caused by the Anti divine forces. The human

beings suffer from the natural calamities, with the wrath of wild beasts,vipers and poisonous snakes and

other venomous reptiles. Bahuroopa Garbharecitation saves a man from untimely death etc., and grants

mental strength to fightfearful odds, which do occur in life.

Svachhandanath Bhiravais the subject matter of the Bahuroopa Garbha Stotram. The name suggests theSelf willed Bhairava, who is Shiva himself. He is adored as the Chieftain of the Bhairavas.Verily, he is the

cause of Brahma--Vishnu --Maheshvara. He is in harmony with his own Shakti--the Bhairavi, who is herself

the innate force behind the Svachhanda roopa, which isAghora Roopaof Shiva.

His abode is Kailasa, always absorbed in his meditative nature, but Devi Parvati--the spiritual consort is

concerned about thewelfare of the devotees,who are subjected to the evil doings of the anti divine forces,

bent upon hurting them,and deviating them from their Dharma. Her focus is on Dharma, both immanent and

beyond, which transcendent in nature. It supervises the measureless movements of the soul,in the realm of

boundless silences. Thus it creates theAghor Mantra--highly potent.

The Bhairaviwants that the devotees not knowing the multitude of the Mantras of various frequencies,

syllables with ascent--descent and balanced,as described in the Vedas, should keep themselves away fromall types of evil forces,be taught the simple Mantra, easily intelligible which is but the Mantrik body of the


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Bhairava.

Shiva explains her the truth hidden in the word and syllable of the Bahuruupa Garbha Mantra, which is All

Benign in nature. It helps the devotees to make the Yajnasfully directed towards the Devataswhen the

Stotramis recited before the Yajnas.

All the curses caused by way of deviation, from the violition of 'time', needs a Prayashchita----atonement. It

should be recited in the morning as well as in the evening for bestowing upon the devotees unparralled

peace of mind,higher sense of spirituality and one pointed devotion to Svacchhanada-- nath Bhairava. It fills

with the glory of happiness,with safe Mudra--clinging of fingers locked in the Shaivi tradition.

The Dhyana Mantra says: The Svachhanda nath Bhairava is of five faces with fifteen eyes.His aura

surpasses the millions and billions of solar galaxies.His Shaktirevered as Bhairaviis on her left side. The

moon is visible on his face, which looks like a crown on his heads.

He holds "Shakti missile"and roams with theAbhaya mudra, to protect his devotees,and to maintain the

cycle of cosmos in motion.

Niceties of the dialogue:

During discussion about the welfare of the devotees--both Shaktasand Shaivas, the Svacchanda-- nath

Bhairavaaddresses Parvati as "Devi, Priya, Raja Rajeshvari, Maheshaani and Bhairavi". This suggests that

Shiva explains to Parvati that she is the Ultimate Shakti, which controls the whole universe, in your

MotherNature aspect of reality. Verily, this is the jewel word, as seen in the Shakti tradition from Kashmir toKanyakumari. Our life hasopened with divinity.,enveloped in a cloak of unsurpassing love ,seen in the

Ardhanareshwarahuman earth still demands that Divinity, and for that cery reason Bhairavaand Bhairavi

become enchanted in giving the Bhahuroopa-- Gabha Mantra.

Philosophically, this Storam is dualistic in nature,but with an emphasis on the "Bhairava--Bhairavi Eka

Ruupah"--One form of Bharavaand Bhairavi.

In the Vibhava/emotional state of Bhairava, Bhairavi is is quite Raja rajeshwari of acquitance, with a clear

concept of differentials,where she supports the universe through Bhairava in his various forms--literally

Bahuroopa, ans sees the Garbha in its eternal form of "Prologue, Mudras--Gayatri--Chhandas/meter,

Dhyanamand epilogue. Form theAgamicpoint of view, this stotram is a Natyam--a Divine play played at the

mount Kailasa, always curious to explain the visual effects of the earth bound humanity, where the sky


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bound, celetial deities, and the other embodied souls play their part, but man/woman being the central

figure,needs divine intervention,due to his/her limited physical strength and mental poise. Divine intervention

is called theAnugraha--supreme grace.

Shiva has been described as a foot-soldier, with no rest in his Bahuroopa manifestation. The secret behind

Bhairava'sself manifestation is the urge of Bhairavitosee Unseen grow visible to the devotees, and audible

to the Rishis.

Why in this celestial play the role of Dakini and Sakini?

A description about Dakini-- Sakinietc.has been given to suggest that the Bhairavi assumes some dreadful

forms, only to defeat the malicious designs of the Asuras. These evil forces diturb the law of nature and

prevents the Sadhakasto carry on the Homasand Yajnas.

Dakini's provokes man/woman's ignorance and his/her obstinate strength.only to yoke pain grief and

suffering.

Ritualistic approach

It needs to be recited with Nyasas--feeling the Divine energy in one's own self, followed by its own Gayatri

evolved from the Bahuroopa Garbha Mantra.


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Epilogue needs to be recited, to maintain its efiicacy in the Mantraand Stotra.

About the Pattern of recitation

1 The first 4 Shlokaswork out as the prologue.

2 Bhairavaputs the sufferings before Devi, and suggests the means to end the sufferings, in 12

Shlokas.

3 Sankalpa, which is to make a "will to do" the recitation. It consists of one Mantra in prose,as an

invocation.

4 Viniyoga is application.It is a combination of Rishi-Chhanda, Devata, Bijam Shakti, Kilkam and

Prityartha.

5 Nyasa--Inviting the Devatato be in limbs.

6 Pranayamawith the Bhahuroopa Garbha mantra.

7 Dhyana Murticonsisting of 15 Shlokas.

8 Stotram consists of 34 Shlokas.

9 Phala shruti-- 9 Shlokas, as epilogue

*Dr. Chaman Lal Raina

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