Vijñāna Bhairava

The Vijñāna Bhairava is a Tantric text presenting 112 meditation techniques for attaining the state of Śiva consciousness.

Overview

Composed at some time from the 7th to the 8th century CE, this text is a Śiva Tantra of the Kaula Trika tradition of Kashmir Śaivism. It is framed as a dialogue between Bhairava (Śiva) and the goddess Bhairavī in 163 anuṣṭubh stanzas, and is also called the Śiva-jñāna-upaniṣad by Abhinavagupta.

Content

The text describes 112 dhāraṇās (concentration techniques) ranging from breath awareness and visualization to sensory absorption and direct realization. Each technique is concise, offering a practical method for transcending ordinary consciousness.

Significance

The Vijñāna Bhairava is renowned for its practical approach to meditation, offering diverse methods suitable for practitioners of varying temperaments. It has been widely commented upon and remains influential in modern meditation traditions.

Verification notes

The text is part of the larger Śaiva Tantric corpus. Its dating is based on manuscript evidence and doctrinal analysis.

• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).