Description of Siva Sutra

ShivaSutras are believed to be a Rahasyagama Sastrasangraha or Sivopanisat Sangraha

a compendium containing secret doctrine revealed by Lord Shiva. It is stated that once
Srikanthanatha, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, appeared before sage Vasugupta in a dream
and directed him that the secret doctrines inscribed on a particular rock on the Mahadeva
mountain, about 18 kms., away from Srinagar, behind the famous Harvan garden, be
studied and taught to those who deserved such a favor. On awakening sage Vasugupta
visited the desired spot and the particular stone turned upside down by his mere touch. He
found the Sutras engraved on the big rock which is still known as 'samkaropala'.
Sage Vasugupta the discoverer of ShivaSutras was the guru of Kallata. He is believed to
have flourished in the beginning of the 9th century A.D. A prolific writer and learned
disciple of Acharya Abhinavagupta, Sh. Ksemaraja, must have written a lucid and
detailed exposition of each Sutras known as Vimarsini, in the 10th century AD The Sutras
are divided in three awakenings dealing with the three means of liberation viz.
Sambhava, Sakta and Anava upayas respectively. Thus these ShivaSutras throw a flood of
light on the entire system of Shivayogasupreme identity of the individual self with the
divine.
It is pertinent to mention here that our beloved master Shri Ishwara Swarupa Swami
Lakshmanjoo Maharaja explained these Siva Sutras (without Ksemaraja's commentary)
in four of his Sunday lectures in simple English some twenty years (Approximately Mid
1970's) ago at his Ishwara Ashram situated in the vicinity of the famous Mughal garden,
Nishat, Srinagar, Kashmir.
1. Caitanyamatma
1. Universal Consciousness is one's own nature.
It is not that that which we think of as the "I"
(i.e the self-concept/ego)
is the universal consciousness
but that the Univeral Consciousness
is all that exists.
2. Jnanam Bandhah
2. Knowing the individual consciousness as one's own nature
and not knowing the Universal Consciousness as one's
own nature, is bondage.
Thinking the "I" is ones-self brings about limitation
the realization "I am the Universal Consciousness"
brings about freedom while alive (jivanmukti).

3. Yonivargah Kalasariram
3. Differentiated perception
and the field of individual activities
are also bondage.
Non recognition that perception itself
causes the Universe to appear Diverse;
is the cause of mental bondage.
4. Jnanadhisthanam matrka.
4. This threefold bondage is attributable to - and commanded by the Universal Mother while she remains unknown.
Hence the field of ignorance comes into existence
through her and not through any other agency.
That Universal Mother is consciousness itself
The realization consists in the realization that consciousness transcends form
and the absence of form.
5. Udyamao Bhairava
5. To get rid of this triple bondage,
a sudden flash of transcendental consciousness
is identical with Bhairava.
It is said that with the opening
of the thousand petalled lotus of consciousness
(with realization) The truth is self-evident.
6. Sakticakrasandhane visvasambarah
6. With deep contemplation on the wheel of energies,
the whole differentiated Universe comes to an end.
The wheel has many spokes This wheel is the web of the perceptions ometimes called the web of karma.
However it is very difficult to get off that wheel;
it is far easier to stand at the center of it watch the senses wheeling about watch the thoughts as they arise watch the mind as it reports watch how perception arives in the mind watch how the mind modifies it watch how reaction arises to perceptions call.
7. Jagratsvapna susuptabhede turyabhogasambhavah

7. Such a Yogi, who has accomplished this stage, experiences Turiya

(transcendental GodConsciousness) in other three states also viz. Jagrat (wakefulness), Svapna (dream) and Susapti (deep sleep).
Look about The sky The room The dream Realize the Void It is only a void of definition of concepts inability to express the nature of consciousness.
8. Jnanam Jagrat
8. Common knowledge (arising out of differentiation) constitutes Jagrat (wakefulness).
The deliberate thought that a thing is that or this (naming it) i.e. conceptualizing reality Goes to constitute the entire waking state.
9. Svapna Vikalpah
9. Individual differentiated knowledge
in the recess of one's own mind is Svapna (dream).
From this reservoir of experience we create the dream world by going into it.
In meditation visions are common,
because the attention is turned inward.
10. Aviveko mayasausuptam
10. Loss of discrimination in the field of unawareness
is Susapti (deep sleep)
When the Void is realized,
it is non-different from deep sleep
yet consciousness reigns.
After deep sleep, we awake and remember we slept deeply thus some part of us was conscious,
else rememberance would not be possible.
11. Tritayabhokta viresah

11. The one who has digested (assimilated) all these three states in God Consciousness,
(Turya) is the Lord of heroes or master of his senses.
12. Vismayo yogabhumikah
12. The Yogic powers here (in this state of being) comprise indescribable astonishment
(wonder).
13. ieeha saktir uma kamari
13. For such a Yogi, any desire is identical with the Supreme Energy of Lord Siva and
hence his desire cannot be checked by any power.
14. Drsyam sariram
14. For such a Yogi, even his own body becomes an extraneous object or the totality of
extraneous objects is (constitute) his own Universal Body.
15. Hirdaye cittasanighattad drsyasvapadarsanam
15. By establishing one's mind in the heart-the Universal Consciousness-the whole world
of perception appears as one's own nature
16. Suddhatattvasandhanad va apasusaktih
16. Or by establishing uninterrupted awareness of Pure Supreme Nature, the energy of
Shiva is experienced.
17. Vitarka atmajnanam
17. For such a realized soul, any ordinary thought becomes the means of realizing one's
own self.
18. Lokanandah Samadhisukham
18. His being in the ecstatic state of Samadhi bestows bliss and happiness to the whole
humanity or the totality of enjoyment in the universe constitutes (or comprises) his
ecstatic state of Samadhi.
19. Saktisandhane sarirotpattih
l9. By putting (concentrating) one's mind on Universal Energy, body internal or external,
is formed by his mere will. (Such power is attainable by him in two other states also viz.
dream and deep sleep).
20. Bhutasandhanabhutaprthaktvavisvasamghattah.
20. Such a Yogi is capable of (i) helping humanity unbounded by space and time (ii)
casting off his body for specified timeperiods, and (iii) manifesting his body at various
places simultaneously, by remaining in God consciousness.
21. Suddhavidyodayaccakresatvasiddhih
21. When such a yogi abstains from such powers, he attains lordship over the wheel of
Universal Energies through the rise of Pure knowledge.

22. Mahahradanusandhanan mantraviryanubhavah

22. By contemplating on Supreme Ocean, Self experience of the UniversalI occurs.