1.- Dhumavati and the power of absolute emptiness
1.1.- The tenth Mahavidya
The seventh Mahavidya of the Hindu pantheon is Dhumavati. This Goddess reveals to us the ultimate knowledge, the one that is beyond the illusory world with which we identify ourselves. By his grace, the division that prevents us from recognizing that we are actually part of a pure Consciousness disappears.
Dhumavati makes it easier for the Yogi to overcome the last step that prevents him from reaching salvation and liberation in life, Moksha.
Red-skinned and shaggy-haired, Bhairavi has three eyes that exude ferocity. He dresses in red and blue, and wears a necklace of skulls around his neck. He wears a belt decorated with severed hands linked by bones. Of her four hands, two hold a rosary and a book and two are open performing the Chin and Varada mudras.
1.2.- The Goddess Dhumavati and the transformation that knowledge gives us
Unlike the three main Gods from Hindu pantheon (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), that represents the functions of creating, sustaining and at the same time destroy, Tripura Bhairavi represents the harmony of these aspects, which may seem contradictory to us.
These aspects refer to the beauty and the sometimes terrible action of the Universe and the passing of time. So Tripura Bhairavi specifically represents an aspect of radical transformation.
The amazing action of this knowledge destroys suffering, and at the same time removes the traps and illusions of the reality in which we feel represented.
From this perspective, this transformation is a “rebirth“, since the human being re-emerges from the ashes of a reality, consumed, that we can now perceive without the filters of the mind.
Consequently, Tripura Bhairavi represents the transforming power of fire (Tejas) that consumes the discursive mind with its energy. It also represents the transforming heat of constancy (Tapas), rather than as the concept of asceticism, as that of (high) aspiration that consumes all fruitless interests and attachments.
2.- The transformative effect of Tripura Bhairavi
From our ego, we perceive Tripura Bhairavi’s action as a terrifying, even terrifying force. This perception is due to the fact that its fiery power burns and destroys our limitations, as well as any preconceived ideas, all misconceptions, and the many illusions that we accumulate. about our individual existence.
The most important thing that Tripura Bhairavi reveals to us is that our focus should be on both removing physical and mental impurities and avoiding negative influences that tend to block our spiritual progress.
2.1.- The wisdom granted by Tripura Bhairavi
The profound and terrible Wisdom teaching that comes from Tripura Bhairavi is not easy for a large majority of people to accept. But above all, accept that its purifying action is necessary to avoid our own mental influence, and that we can allow ourselves to follow the path towards a consequent spiritual liberation.
Tripura Bhairavi teaches us that our personal transformation comes from an act of destruction; as he ultimately embodies this transforming principle. But the deepest teaching that Tripura Bhairavi offers us, is the method to leave behind the fear of death.
We must accept that such destruction is not necessarily negative, but represents the opportunity to leave behind the chains of suffering that come from the mental plane.
Finally, he teaches us that destructive habits, such as eating tamasic foods, ignorance, lust, anger, jealousy and selfish emotions, strengthen within us the need for his wisdom and transforming power.
3.- Represents the powerful flame of Consciousness
3.1.- Subtle reality and non-duality
Tripura Bhairavi represents the willpower necessary to live: in which we put effort to dominate. When we focus our thoughts (through meditation), and unite them with the liberating image of the Goddess, the mind consolidates into a single entity. In this unification, all names and forms vanish, and we have the experience of non-duality.
A Yogi or Yogini who abandons his mind, becomes Ananda, or supreme happiness, which does not depend on anything or anyone, and is absolute happiness, without limits. It is the door for spiritual liberation in this life, and the end of the cycle of reincarnation: we will no longer return to die.
The aspirant who worships Tripura Bhairavi, abandons his mind and becomes free from the cycle of birth and death.
3.2.- The relationship between Bhairavi and Kali
Bhairavi‘s name has the meaning of “fierce and terrifying“. These characteristics are common and practically indistinguishable from the first Mahavidya, Kali.
Kalarathri means ‘black night’, another attribute of Kali. This attribute is linked to Bhairavi and personified as Kala-Bhairavi. With an aspect of a terrifying Goddess, Bhairavi is distinguished by being the consort of Bhairava, a manifestation of Lord Shiva.
Kala-Bhairavi is the goddess who presides over the world in decomposition, also related to the era in which we currently live, the Kali Yuga. It is said that whoever wants to master the power of sexuality and sensual desires must worship the Goddess Kala Bhairavi.
4.- Tripura Bhairavi sustains our spiritual aspiration
The energy necessary to transform ourselves is manifested in the human being with the transforming heat and ardor of Tapas, austerity and directed effort focused on the Yogic goal.
In its highest expression, Tapas means the fiery aspiration that consumes and burns away all worldly attachments, illusions and desires.
The characteristic consequence of performing tapas is the appearance of a burning heat, generated by the force of discipline and (spiritual) aspiration, which ends up determining that you end up eliminating from your life everything that impedes your own spiritual evolution.
A main characteristic of Bhairavi is its close connection with the manifestation of the subtle element of fire, Tejas. This is how it is represented in the transforming heat of Tapas.
One consequence of the fiery and intense action of the Great Cosmic Wisdom Tripura Bhairavi is to gain the ability to control our senses and emotions.
It also helps sincere yogis to successfully complete their efforts and austerities to achieve spiritual goals, and to sustain the perseverance required to maintain sustained discipline.
Tantric traditions urge Yogis and Yoginis to sincerely and ardently invoke the help of Tripura Bhairavi, giving themselves over to the practice, in order to overcome the different obstacles or difficulties in sustaining their spiritual aspiration.
5.- Its nature and absolute dimension
As in the case of the Mahavidya Tripura Sundari, Tripura Bhairavi is present in all three manifested worlds: the physical world, the astral world and the physical world .
Being part of all manifested existence, and ruling over all Creation.
Bhairavi represents a terrible aspect. This indicates that in reality the beauty, and at the same time the terrible and terrifying aspects, are facets of the same divinity.
Thanks to the nature of Tripura Bhairavi and the powerful transformation to which it subjects us, it is said that the human being naturally travels the terrible path of suffering, towards the most beautiful communion with happiness and absolute bliss.
6.- Its light illuminates the three states and the three worlds
Tripura Bhairavi subtly takes the form of the three states of consciousness, wakefulness, sleep and deep sleep. In his name we also recognize the three forms of light characteristic of the three worlds: the light of Agni or fire, the light of Vajra or lightning, and the light of Surya or the Sun, which illuminates, in this order, the underworld, the intermediate world and the upper world, which correspond to the physical, astral and causal worlds.
Tripura Bhairavi also takes the form of the three goddesses who defeated the demons in the Devi Mahatmya text. These goddesses, Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali, represent Saraswati the consort of Brahma, Lakshmi the consort of Vishnu and Kali the consort of Shiva.
These three forms of Tripura Bhairavi represent his ability to destroy obstacles and difficulties on the spiritual path.
7.- Bhairavi, Rudra and the ascension of Kundalini
Bhairava was known as Rudra, a Rigvedic deity associated with storm and hunting, and who was one of the most important deities in the ancient Vedic pantheon. Later the Hindu tradition transformed him into Shiva Mahadeva.
Rudra, who represents an aspect of power of Shiva (Sadasiva), encourages the Yogi to achieve his final goal, eradicating any difficulty from his initiatory path.
So Rudra represents the terrible power of divine knowledge. Therefore, Bhairavi, his consort (also known as Rudrani), is the one who prepares and purifies us to reach Rudra (Shiva). The Goddess allows this ultimate knowledge to finally be revealed.
Bhairavi reside en el Chakra raiz, el primer centro de poder (Muladhara Chakra), ubicado en la base de la columna vertebral. Tripura Bhairavi nos preparar para la ascensión de la energía primordial Kundalini,y que esta energía se eleve purificando nuestro ser.
Tripura Bhairavi is the ascending, furious and transforming power of Kundalini energy. It is the hidden, veiled divinity, the sleeping power. She is represented in the coiled serpent in deep sleep in the Muladhara Chakra. And it is what prepares us to get out of this state, to finally wake up.
8.- Access the grace of Tripura Bhairavi
To access the grace that Tripura Bhairavi offers us, in addition to following the main rules that govern the life of the yogic aspirant (Yamas and Niyamas), we must focus mainly on meditation.
Through the persevering practice of meditation, we experience the opening of our third eye, Ajna Chakra. We will observe how this divine experience is accompanied by the perception of internal sounds.
Another way to access Tripura Bhairavi is with the practice of different types of austerities (Tapas), understood as perseverance and continuity in spiritual practice. Our progress is not possible without evolving from desires to the real facts.
A subtle way to obtain the grace of Tripura Bhairavi is to gradually give up all desires, attachments and illusory pleasures, to get out of the prison of karma.
Finally, obtaining the grace of Bhairavi, provides control of the senses and emotions, and facilitates the cessation of mental speech.
9.- The cessation of suffering and light in our lives
If we want to reveal the wisdom of Tripura Bhairavi, we must offer our thoughts, with great sincerity and devotion, in the fire of meditation, to access the sacred light of pure Consciousness.
This act means transcending the content of our mind, dissolving it in the subtle repetition of the Mantra, which represents the manifest nature of the Goddess and the hidden Consciousness that is revealed to us.
The highest form of practice is perfect control over our minds and emotions.
In ancient times, Tripura Bhairavi was identified with Homa, the fire in Vedic rituals. We can manifest this fire with internal worship, offering our thoughts and emotions to feed our Muladhara Chakra and Kundalini awakening.
In this way, the yogi who is persevering and walks steadily on this path, will rejoice in receiving the grace of Tripura Bhairavi, which has finally brought us to the state of enlightenment, freeing us from death.