Vignana Bhairava Tantra - 44

The empty space

Prushta Shoonyam Moola Shoonyam Yugapad Bhavayeccha Yaha
Shareera Niripekshinya Shaktya Shoonyaman Bhaveth
There is a space behind the thoughts that arise in the mind and before there thoughts arise, at the root of it, there is space. One who contemplates on the space around the thoughts, soon merges into that void as the mind is not now dragged here and there by any particular thought form, but is focussing on the space around and through the thoughts.
- Swahilya Shambhavi.

Vignana Bhairava Tantra - 43

Your true body

Nijadehe Sarvadikkam Yugapad Bhaavayet Viyat

Nirvikalpa Manaas Tasya Viyat Sarvam Pravartate

As one contemplates on the four directions around the body, one comes to realise that the true body is directionless space. There is space to the front of you, space behind you, space to your right and space to your left. This space in which you are in, is endless. Contemplating on this space, the mind becomes motionless, like space and becomes that space ultimately. - Swahilya Shambhavi. (Pic: Above the clouds somewhere on earth between the United States and France! The Universe is shrouded by an ocean of endless space, which is our real body.)

Vignana Bhairava Tantra - 42

Beejakshara Sounds

Pinda Mantrasya Sarvasya Sthoola Varna Kramena tu
Ardhendubindunaadantaha Shoonyoccharaad Bhaveth Shivaha

Pinda is an egg. Egg is a seed, also called Beeja. Mantra is a word, when expanded, reads as Mananath Trayate Iti Mantraha - that sound which protects and liberates the mind. This Tantra says that, when one chants all the Beeja Mantras - letters of the Sanskrit alphabet dotted with a Makara or the sound of mmm...., the mind gets attuned to the most subtle vibrations that merges into consciousness. The way to chant these Bija mantras - for instance Aum...is like this.
Take in a deep breath. Experience the awareness in the navel region. When you exhale, let the breath go out with the sound of Om. After the sound is chanted fully, be with that silence and space. That is the experience of merging with Shiva. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Vignana Bhairava Tantra - 41

Riding the wave of music

Tantryadi Vadyashabdeshu Deergheshu Kramasamsthithehe

Ananya Chethaf Pratyante Paravyoma Vapurbhaveth

December is a season of song, dance and music. Here is a method mentioned in the Vignana Bhairav Tantra, to reach that supreme space through music. With a gradual and continuous strumming of a musical stringed instrument, hearing a flute or a percussion's sound, the mind becomes in tune with the vibration and frequency of the music and rhythms. The sound frequencies eventually merge into that supreme space and into consciousness of the one who hears the music. Riding on the wave of music and rhythm can eventually take one into this supreme body, says Shiva.

- Swahilya Shambhavi. (Pic: In Chicago, December 2005.)

Vignana Bhairava Tantra - 40

Merge with the silence before and after sound

Yasya Kasyapi Varnasya Purvantavanubhavayet

Shoonyaya Shoonyabhootosau Shoonyakarah Puman Bhaveth

Whoever meditates on the silence before the chanting of a mantra or sound and the silence at the end of the mantra - such a person who meditates on the silence, stillness and void - becomes that which he meditates upon.

Just like sound which has vibrations of a particular wavelength and frequency, silence also has the highest frequency of vibrations. when the mind focusses on something for a while, it becomes that. In this method, the mind that focusses on the silence becomes the silence itself. - Swahilya Shambhavi. (Picture taken by Bina Aditya during the Dua at the Sufi Dar in Chennai - a place where God in every form is worshipped.)

Vignana Bhairava Tantra - 39

The Pranava Mantra

Pranavadi Samuccharat Plutante Shoonya Bhavanat
Shoonyaya Paraya Shakthya Shoonyatameti Bhairavi

Shiva addresses Parvati here as Bhairavi and describes the process of merging with the transcendental void by chanting the Pranava Mantra. The Pranava Mantra - Om - AUM - is called so because it contains Prana Shakti, the cosmic energy of the Universe. Chanting the Pranava Mantra with perfection is to take in the breath deeply, experiencing it at the navel and while exhaing - letting it with the sound of Om as 'A.....U.....M.....' in equal proportion. At the end of the chanting, there is a silence. The silence has always existed but there is a possibility of experiencing it better after a sound rises and falls. That silence and void is the Truth of one's being. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Vignana Bhairava Tantra - 38

Anahata Naada

Anahate Patrakarne Bhagnashabde Sariddrute

Shabdabrahmani Nishnataha Param brahmadhigacchathi

Sound or Naada is classified as two types in classical music. One is Ahata Naada or sound that is created by playing on a musical instrument or by the human voice. The other is Anahata naada that is not created, but just exists in creation. This Tantra talks about listening to the unstruck sound that happens uninterruptedly like a flowing river. One who is able to withdraw into a silent space without and even from the noise of the mind within, becomes an adept in hearing this sound in the heart energy centre or the Anahata chakra. Listening to this sound absorbs one into the supreme Brahman consciousness. - Swahilya Shambhavi. (Photo: Guilia strumming at my veena when she came home, clicked by my friend Susan. Muthalaly)