Anugraha

At very early stage, on the path of transcendence, a person looks for a deity for worship,in temples,shrines, pilgrimage and various places near and far.

Just watching  and following people around him from family and society ,he gradually  begins kriya like Puja, jaap, pranayam, mantra, recitation, chorus ,havan and rituals etc. 

These actions are important for  a beginner because he is in the realm of duality, considering himself (his body) other than his deity whose protection , intervention  and benevolence he seeks,in the matters  related to his living and day to day life, beyond which thought he is unable to perceive due to the veils of ignorance erected by nature.

Most people continue with above mentioned physical efforts lifelong even without bothering to know the meaning and translation of their mantra, recitation and utterances, little realising that their all knowing deity need! not be addressed in the language ,which the speaker himself does not understand . 

One who receives lord's grace,Anugraha,  becomes inquisitive   in the course of conducting above-mentioned  daily rituals , listens and observes first. Then learns the meaning contemplates and analyses actions and rituals  before conveying it to lord.

elevated as the Seeker or "sadhak" he gradually understands however that these all actions are physical and carried out by gross body and gross senses. Whereas he  has to realise something or someone which is not gross.It is subtle and subtlest even beyond the reach of our subtle body and subtle senses also.

As a result of his contemplation(manan) through his subtle senses,(mann, budhi, ahankar) antahkaran, lots of questions and doubts arise within him ,For resolution of which he requires guidence. There are sanatan scriptures  like ved, shaivaagam tantra, upanishad, bhagwadgeeta with their commentaries and transliteration by realised sidhas and saints available.  study of  these sanatan philosophies by  a true seeker provide absolute and scientific resolution of a seekers doubts.

The other way is to get initiated through a physical guru.This nowadays however is very risky and requires verification of the teacher's level of detachment , his renunciation of desires and transcendental upliftment he has achieved to initiate others.Most teachers present themselves as the achievers and holders of mystic knowledge and powers. Following them could prove to be the wastage of this precious lifetime.The notion and description about supreme  consciousness being mysterious is absolutely misleading. One should immediately be alarmed about such godmen as there is nothing mysterious about creator and the creation.All realised saints through  their vakhs and lyrics would point towards  one non-dual consciousness,all pervading in sentient and insentient. They show the path of its realisation in one's own existence and everything  in sight . Supreme consciousness being one's own self and own nature. Once having the glimpse of his own true nature,A seeker would tread along the path of non duality away from delusion of Maya (which is none other than the independent free will of the supreme consciousness ,shiv).

Keeping unbroken awareness of this consciousness ,the seeker's ignorance veils start unveiling and all that he saw earlier as his means,the deities,mantra, recitation, shrines, pilgrimage, chorus,Puja,havan, meditation etc  residing  within him, however without a mention or expression through the outer body,senses etc. Such seeker at this stage  seems  not to be  following a religious routine, even any religion at all. Detached internally, master of subjects of his senses,doing all actions selflessly,he becomes blissful within,which is his true nature.

This is explained beautifully in the Bhairav stavaha by Acharya Abhinavgupt, writer of Tantraalok, Encyclopedic Tantra shastra of Shaivism.

व्याप्तचराचर भावविशेषं चिन्मयमेकमनन्तमनादिम्।

भैरवनाथंनाथशरण्यं त्वन्मयचित्ततया हृदि वन्दे।।

Soul pervading in living and lifeless

Conscious, singular, beginning and endless

Bhairav, the Refuge for miserable helpless

in my Thought I bear, and praise consciousness

त्वन्मयमेतदशेषमिदानीं भाति मम त्वदनुग्रहशक्त्या।

त्वं च महेश सदैव ममात्मा स्वात्ममयं मम तेन समस्तम।।

Now aware this moment,  entirely conscious 

 Seems to me ,your power of graciousness

 thou Shiv supreme are my life essence

 Thus  my nature is Supreme consciousness

स्वात्मनि विश्वगते त्वयि नाथे तेन न संसृति भीति कथास्ति।

सत्स्वपि‌दुर्धर दुःख विमोह त्रासविधायिषु कर्मगणेषु।।

Being my soul pervading everywhere

Why should  transmigration be a fear

attachment gripe  eventhough Inevitable

causing  Fright  are desires sensual 

अन्तक मां प्रति मा दृशमेनां क्रोध कराल तमां विनिधेहि।

शङ्कर  सेवन चिंतनधीरो भीषण भैरव शक्ति मयोऽस्मि।।

gaze you not me, O Lord of death 

Dreadful angry with  harsh  Wrath

Composed by Practice on  auspicious

I possess  powers  invincible intense

इत्थमुपोड भवन्मयसंविद् दीधितिधारितभूरितमिस्त्रः।

मृत्यु यमान्तक कर्म पिशाचैर्नाथ नमोऽस्तु न जातु‌विभेमि।।

omnipresent consciousness thus I gather

Illuminates ample  darkness  everywhere

So ghosts of destiny ,Death destroyer

By no means terrify me , Praises to master 

प्रोदितसत्यविबोध मरीचि प्रेक्षितविश्वपदार्थसतत्वः।

भावपरामृतनिर्भरपूर्णे त्वय्यहमातमनि निर्वृतिमेमि।।

awakening to knowledge of reflection,

Everything existing,  that I envision

Wholly Ows to you its state of origin

realising' thou art me'  is My Salvation

मानसगोचरमेति यद्यैव कलेशदशातनुतापविधात्री।

नाथ तदैव ममत्वदभेद स्तोत्रपरामृतवृष्टिरुदेति।।

however when  in my mind  I Observe,

Affliction, causing distress to my nerve

Readily my integrity with you, lord bhairav

Showers supreme hymns as honeydew

शंकर सत्यमिदंव्रतदानस्न्नानतपोभवतापविनाशि।

तावक शास्त्र परामृतचिन्ता स्यन्दतिचेतसिनिर्वृतिधाराम्।।

O Beneficiant,  true that  fasting ,charity 

penance and pilgrim bath, ward off misery

Brooding however on Trik scriptures 

Flows Consciousness current to immunity 

नृत्यति गायति हृष्यति गाढ़ं संविदियं मम भैरव नाथ।

त्वां प्रियमाप्य सुदर्शनमेकं दुर्लभ मन्य जनैः समयज्ञम।।

Dancing,singing, delighted ever

Such I perceive Bhairav,my master

his Well Pleased and divine cognition

sages omniscient, find hard to imagine

वसुरसपौषेकृष्णदशम्या़्ंअभिनवगुप्त स्त्वमिमकरोत।

येन विभुर्भवमरूसंतापं शमयतिझटितिजनस्यदयालु।।

On tenth darknight of paushya, year sixty eight

Abhinavgupt wrote this bhairav praise

By which way,  heat of mundane desert 

Propitious one shall pacify, in an instant

      Namah Swachchand Bhairavaya

       Transliteration by Virender bhat

          virenderbhat55@gmail.com