Bhairavī Brahmāṇī
Bhairavī Brahmāṇī (fl. 1861–1873) was a Bengali Hindu ascetic, guru, and Yogeshwari of 19th-century Bengal. She played a pivotal role in guiding Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa through the 64 tantric sadhanas (spiritual practices) and initiated him into Vaishnava Tantra, establishing herself as one of the most important tantric teachers of the era.
Life/History
Little is recorded about her early life, but she was known as an accomplished tantric practitioner and teacher. She arrived at Dakshineswar in 1861 and became Ramakrishna’s primary guide in Tantra during his most intensive years of practice.
Teachings/Contributions
Her principal contribution was the transmission of the 64 tantric sadhanas to Ramakrishna, along with his initiation into Vaishnava Tantra. Through these practices, she helped him access various states of spiritual realization and deepened his understanding of the Divine Mother as the ultimate reality. She demonstrated that women could be accomplished practitioners and teachers of advanced tantra.
Legacy
Bhairavī Brahmāṇī’s influence on Ramakrishna was profound and far-reaching. Through him, her teachings contributed to the global spread of Vedantic and Shakta philosophy. She is remembered as an exemplar of the feminine principle in tantric spirituality and as a teacher who transcended the social limitations placed upon women of her era.
Verification notes
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