Shiva Sutras
(Revealed by Vasugupta in the 8th to 9th century A.D.)
NAMO.
1. Chaitanyamatma.
(chaitanya{m}·atma)
Unrestricted awareness is the ground of existence.
2. Jñanam bandha.
(jñana{m} bandha)
Knowledge is bondage.
3. Yonivarga: kalashariram.
(yoni·varga: kalā·sharira{m})
The source of the classes of sound: the measure of the body.
4. Jñanadhishthanam matrika.
(jñana·dhishth·anam matrika)
Creating through the classes of sound is the Eightfold Mother, knowledge without understanding.
5. Udyamao Bhairavah.
(udyama{o} Bhairava)
Bhairav* is an upswell gushing forth.
(*the terrible form of Shiva that represents universal consciousness and creative power together, having absolute freedom of knowledge and activity)
6. Shaktichakrasandhane vishvasamhara.
(shakti·chakra·sandhan{e} vishva·samhara)
When all the powers are merged in focused awareness, the universe disappears.
7. Jagratsvapnasushuptabhede turyabhogasambhava.
(jagrat·svapna·sushupta·bhede turya·abhoga·sambhava)
The states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep are grounded in the fourth state, turya.
8. Jñanam jagrat.
(jñana{m} jagrat)
Knowledge obtained through the senses by direct experience is the waking state.
9. Svapno vikalpa.
(svapna{o} vikalpa)
Mental activity and mind constructs are the dreaming state.
10. Aviveko mayasaushuptam.
(a·viveki{o} maya·sushupta{m})
The unconscious, undiscerning state is deep sleep.
11. Tritayabhokta viresha.
(tri·taya·bhokta viresha)
The enjoyer of the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep is master of his senses.
12. Vismayo yogabhumika.
(vismaya{o} yoga·bhumika)
The stages of yoga are a wonder.
13. Iccha shaktir uma kumari.
(iccha shakti{r} uma kumari)
The power of will is the splendour of the bride.
14. Drishyam shariram.
(drishya{m} sharira{m})
Everything visible is the body.
15. Hridaye cittasamghattad drishyasvapadarshanam.
(hridaya{e} citta·samghatta{d} drishya·svapada·darshan{am})
When the heart merges with the individual mind it gives a glimpse of one’s true place.
16. Shuddha-tattva-sandhanad va apashushakti.
(shuddha-tattva-sandhana{d} va apashu·shakti)
When meditating on pure being, the binding power is absent.
17. Vitarka atmajnanam.
(vitarka atma·jñana{m})
One-pointed awareness is knowledge of the Self (Atma).
18. Lokananda samadhisukham.
(loka·ananda samadhi·sukham)
The joy of one’s true place is blissful absorption.
19. Shaktisandhane sharirotpatti.
(Shakti·sandhan{e} sharira·utpatti)
Union with Shakti begets the body.
20. Bhutasandhana-bhutaprithaktva-vishvasamghatta.
(bhuta·sandhana-bhuta·prithaktva-vishva·samghatta)
Joining elements, isolating elements, merging with the universe.
21. Shuddhavidyodayachakrashatva-siddhi.
(shuddha·vidya·udaya·chakra·sattva siddhi)
With pure knowledge arises mastery over all powers.
22. Mahahriadanusandhanam·mantraviryaanubhava.
(maha·hridaya·anu·sandhana{m}·mantra·virya·anu·bhava)
Merging with the Great Heart is the source and strength of all mantra.
23. Cittam mantra.
(citta{m} mantra)
The mind is mantra.
24. Prayatnah sadhaka.
(prayatna sadhaka)
The effort of the aspirant.
25. Vidyasharira-satta mantrarahasyam.
(vidya·sharira-satta mantra·ra·hasyam)
The divine body of knowledge is the secret of mantra.
26. Garbhe cittavikaso vishishtavydiasvapna.
(garbha{e} citta·vikasa{o} vishishta·vydia·svapna)
The mind unfolding from its source is unreal compared to the true knowledge revealed in dreams.
27. Vidyasamutthane svabhavike khechari Shivavastha.
(vidya·samutthan{e} svabhava·avika{e} khechari Shiva·avastha)
Highest knowledge arises as the cream of self-knowledge, the celestial state of Shiva.
28. Gururupaya.
(guru{r} upaya)
By means of the Guru.
29. Matrikachakrasvabodha.
(matrika·chakra·svabodha)
Assembly of mothers its own understanding.
30. Shariram havih.
(Sharira{m} havih)
The body is oblation to be offered.
31. Jñanam annam.
(jñana{m} an·na{m})
Knowledge is food to be devoured.
32. Vidyasamhare taduttha-svapna-darshanam.
(vidya·samhara{e} taduttara{ha}-svapna-darshana{m})
Once true knowledge withdraws, then it is glimpsed in dreams.
OM NAMO NAMAHA.
Shiva Sutras, verses 1 – 32 of 77 (translation only)
1. Unrestricted awareness is the ground of existence.
2. Knowledge is bondage.
3. The source of the classes of sound: the measure of the body.
4. Creating through the classes of sound is the Eightfold Mother, knowledge without understanding.
5. Bhairav* is an upswell gushing forth.
6. When all the powers are merged in focused awareness, the universe disappears.
7. The states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep are grounded in the fourth state, turya.
8. Knowledge obtained through the senses by direct experience is the waking state.
9. Mental activity and mind constructs are the dreaming state.
10. The unconscious, undiscerning state is deep sleep.
11. The enjoyer of the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep is master of his senses.
12. The stages of yoga are a wonder.
13. The power of will is the splendour of the bride.
14. Everything visible is the body.
15. When the heart merges with the individual mind it gives a glimpse of one’s true place.
16. When meditating on pure being, the binding power is absent.
17. One-pointed awareness is knowledge of the Self (Atma).
18. The joy of one’s true place is blissful absorption.
19. Union with Shakti** begets the body.
20. Joining elements, isolating elements, merging with the universe.
21. With pure knowledge arises mastery over all powers.
22. Merging with the Great Heart is the source and strength of all mantra.
23. The mind is mantra.
24. The effort of the aspirant.
25. The divine body of knowledge is the secret of mantra.
26. The mind unfolding from its source is unreal compared to the true knowledge revealed in dreams.
27. Highest knowledge arises as the cream of self-knowledge, the celestial state of Shiva.
28. By means of the Guru.
29. Assembly of mothers its own understanding.
30. The body is oblation to be offered.
31. Knowledge is food to be devoured.
32. Once true knowledge withdraws, then it is glimpsed in dreams.
_________
* Bhairav : the terrible form of Shiva, universal consciousness and creative power together, with unlimited freedom of knowledge and activity.
** Shakti : power ; capitalized, the absolute power present in the universe, the source of all manifestation and activity. As Shiva-Shakti, universal consciousness and creative power together form the indivisible Bhairav who is the ground of all existence.
Pratyabhijñahridayam: The Heart of Self-Recognition
(Short treatise on metaphysics and returning to the source by resting in the center, transmitted by Kshemaraja in the 9th to 10th century A.D.)
1. The divine power of absolute consciousness, Citti (fem.), by Her own free will causes the manifestation, maintenance and withdrawal of the universe. She is the means of reaching Her and the final goal.
2. By the power of Her own will she unfolds the universe upon Her own screen.
3. That the universe is manifold is due to the differentiation of reciprocally adapted objects and subjects.
4. The individual, in whom citti or consciousness is contracted, also has the universe in a contracted form.
5. Citti Herself, descending from the uncontracted state of cetanya becomes citta, individual consciousness, inasmuch as She becomes contracted in conformity with the objects of consciousness.
6. The individual experiencing the sphere of limitation consists of citta, which is also only Citti.
7. And though Cit [masc.], or Shiva, is one, He becomes twofold, threefold, fourfold and of the nature of seven pentads.
8. The positions of the various systems of philosophy are only various roles of that.
9. In consequence of its limitation of power, reality, which is all consciousness, becomes the sufferer, covered by impurities.
10-11. Even in this condition, he carries on the processes of the five acts like Shiva: emanating, withdrawing, maintaining, concealing and revealing, also called Grace — these five.
12. To be a sufferer, a “samsarin,” means to be deluded by one’s own powers because of ignorance of that fact.
13. On acquiring full knowledge of it, citta becomes Citti by returning to the state of cetanya.
14. The fire of Citti, even in the contracted state of citta, though covered, partly burns the fuel of the known.
15. In reasserting Her power, She makes the universe Her own.
16. When the bliss of Cit is attained, there is stability in the identity with Cit even while the body and other objects are experienced. This is the state of jivanmukti, a soul who is liberated while still alive.
17. By the development of the center there is the acquisition of the bliss of Cit.
18. The means of developing the center are the tantric methods: stopping the formation of mind-constructs by becoming absorbed in the heart; withdrawing the senses back into the center; focusing on the center while staring at some object without moving; internal repetition of sounds; kundalini methods such as fixing the kundalini power between the eyebrows; resting the attention at a point between two thoughts; and other methods.
19. By immersing oneself in the center over and over again and dwelling on the bliss of Cit upon returning to normal consciousness, one stabilizes the state of resting in the Self.
20. Then, as a result of resting in the Self whose essence is cit-ananda, consciousness-bliss, and whose nature is the power of great mantra, one attains the powers of Shiva.
The Heart of Self-Recognition (in narrative form)
Absolute Power of Consciousness
The divine power of absolute consciousness, Citti (fem.), by Her own free will causes the manifestation, maintenance and withdrawal of the universe. She is Her own means of reaching Her and the final goal. By the power of Her own will she unfolds the universe upon Her own screen.
Appears as Many
That the universe is manifold is due to the differentiation of reciprocally adapted objects and subjects. The individual, in whom citti or consciousness is contracted, also has the universe in a contracted form.
Citti Herself, descending from the uncontracted state of cetanya, becomes citta, individual consciousness, inasmuch as She becomes contracted in conformity with the objects of consciousness. The individual experiencing the sphere of limitation consists of citta, which is also only Citti.
And though Cit [masc.], or Shiva, is one, He becomes twofold, threefold, fourfold and of the nature of seven pentads. The positions of the various systems of philosophy are only various roles of that.
Reality, which is all consciousness, in consequence of its limitation of power becomes the sufferer, covered by impurities. Even in this condition, he carries on the processes of the five acts like Shiva: emanating, withdrawing, maintaining, concealing and revealing, also called Grace — these five. To be a sufferer, a “samsarin,” means to be deluded by one’s own powers because of ignorance of that fact. On acquiring full knowledge of it, citta becomes Citti by returning to the state of cetanya.
Returns to Self
The fire of Citti, even in the contracted state of citta, though covered, partly burns the fuel of the known. In reasserting Her power, She makes the universe Her own.
When the bliss of Cit is attained, there is stability in the identity with Cit even while the body and other objects are experienced. This is the state of jivanmukti, a soul liberated while still alive.
By these Means
By the development of the center there is the acquisition of the bliss of Cit. The means of developing the center are the tantric methods: stopping the formation of mind-constructs by becoming absorbed in the heart; withdrawing the senses back into the center; focusing on the center while staring at some object without moving; internal repetition of sounds; kundalini methods such as fixing the kundalini power between the eyebrows; resting the attention at a point between two thoughts; and other methods.
By immersing oneself in the center over and over again and dwelling on the bliss of Cit upon returning to normal consciousness, one stabilizes the state of resting in the Self. Then, as a result of resting in the Self whose essence is cit-ananda, consciousness-bliss, and whose nature is the power of great mantra, one attains the powers of Shiva.