Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta
Encyclopedia
Shiva Sutras are a collection of seventy seven aphorism
s that form the foundation of the tradition of spiritual mysticism
known as Kashmir Shaivism
. They are attributed to the sage Vasugupta
of the 8th century C.E.
Vasugupta is said to have lived near Mahadeva Mountain in the valley of the Harvan stream behind the what are now the Shalimar Gardens near Srinagar
. One myth is that he received the aphorisms in a dream visitation of a Siddha
or semi-divine being. Another is that Lord Shiva
came to him in a dream and instructed him to go to a certain rock on which he would find the teachings inscribed. This rock called Shankaropala is still visited by devotees. The other theory is that Lord Shiva
taught the Siva-Sutras to Vasugupta in a dream. Whatever the truth is these myths point to the traditions belief that the Shiva sutras are of divine origin or revelation and are not considered the product of the human mind.
Historically the Shiva Sutras and the ensuing school of Kashmir Shaivism are a Tantric
or Agamic tradition. The Tantrics saw themselves as independent of the Vedic
mainstream schools of thought and practice, and as beyond the rules that had been put in place by them.
A number of commentaries were written by Vasugupta’s contemporaries or successors. Most famous of them is Kshemeraja’s Vimarshini (10th Century C.E.) which has been translated into English by Jaideva Singh and Swami Lakshman Joo
. Another is a commentary called the Varttika by Bhaskara (11th century C.E.) which has been translated into English by Mark Dyczkowski.
There are many translations of the Shiva Sutras in to English. A translation by Swami Shankarananda
can be found on Wikisource s:Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta.
It is also available a painstaking Italian translation of the Sutras and the Kshemaraja's Vimarshini by Raffaele Torella.
Kriya yogi
Shri Shailendra Sharma
translated Shiva Sutras from Sanskrit to Hindi with commentary http://www.shailendrasharma.org/shiva-sutras.
Aphorism
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...
s that form the foundation of the tradition of spiritual mysticism
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
known as Kashmir Shaivism
Kashmir Shaivism
Among the various Hindu philosophies, Kashmir Shaivism is a school of Śaivism consisting of Trika and its philosophical articulation Pratyabhijña...
. They are attributed to the sage Vasugupta
Vasugupta
Vasugupta was the author of the famous Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta. The author was believed to have amassed knowledge and recognition through direct realization. He was a native of Kashmir and was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. One night Shiva appeared to Vasugupta in a dream and instructed him to...
of the 8th century C.E.
Vasugupta is said to have lived near Mahadeva Mountain in the valley of the Harvan stream behind the what are now the Shalimar Gardens near Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
. One myth is that he received the aphorisms in a dream visitation of a Siddha
Siddha
A Siddha सिद्ध in Sanskrit means "one who is accomplished" and refers to perfected masters who, according to Hindu belief, have transcended the ahamkara , have subdued their minds to be subservient to their Awareness, and have transformed their bodies into a different kind of body dominated by...
or semi-divine being. Another is that Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
came to him in a dream and instructed him to go to a certain rock on which he would find the teachings inscribed. This rock called Shankaropala is still visited by devotees. The other theory is that Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
taught the Siva-Sutras to Vasugupta in a dream. Whatever the truth is these myths point to the traditions belief that the Shiva sutras are of divine origin or revelation and are not considered the product of the human mind.
Historically the Shiva Sutras and the ensuing school of Kashmir Shaivism are a Tantric
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
or Agamic tradition. The Tantrics saw themselves as independent of the Vedic
Vedic period
The Vedic period was a period in history during which the Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, were composed. The time span of the period is uncertain. Philological and linguistic evidence indicates that the Rigveda, the oldest of the Vedas, was composed roughly between 1700–1100 BCE, also...
mainstream schools of thought and practice, and as beyond the rules that had been put in place by them.
A number of commentaries were written by Vasugupta’s contemporaries or successors. Most famous of them is Kshemeraja’s Vimarshini (10th Century C.E.) which has been translated into English by Jaideva Singh and Swami Lakshman Joo
Swami Lakshman Joo
Swami Lakshman Joo Raina was a famed mystic and scholar of Kashmir Shaivism. He was known as Lal Sahib by followers and considered by them to be a fully realized saint.- Family :...
. Another is a commentary called the Varttika by Bhaskara (11th century C.E.) which has been translated into English by Mark Dyczkowski.
There are many translations of the Shiva Sutras in to English. A translation by Swami Shankarananda
Swami Shankarananda (Shiva Yoga)
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shankarananda is an American-born guru in the lineage of Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri. The gurus of this lineage are noted for awakening the kundalini energy of seekers by means of shaktipat. Swami Shankarananda is an author and authority on the philosophy and practice...
can be found on Wikisource s:Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta.
It is also available a painstaking Italian translation of the Sutras and the Kshemaraja's Vimarshini by Raffaele Torella.
Kriya yogi
Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga finds mention in the ancient spiritual texts of Patanjali Yogasutras "Tapah svadhyayeshvara pranidhani kriyayogah" . It was later revived by Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri in the 19th century. Subsequently Paramhansa Yogananda in his Autobiography of a Yogi reported the same for his...
Shri Shailendra Sharma
Shailendra Sharma
Shri Shailendra Sharma – is kriya yoga yogi and guru. Shailendra wrote commentaries on such fundamental philosophical and yogic texts as Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta.-Youth and Search for a Guru:...
translated Shiva Sutras from Sanskrit to Hindi with commentary http://www.shailendrasharma.org/shiva-sutras.