BhavAnI nAma Sahasra Stutih : An Introduction

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BhavAninAmasahasrastutih is a revealed text of Shakti Sadhana in

Sanskrit, containing one thousand names of Bhavani, The Supreme

Goddess. It is an index to the subject matter of the Sakti Doctrine,

which is closely related to the Trika System of Kashmir Saivism. The

two Tantra based doctrines are supplementary to each other. The

Saktas school holds Advaita as the Ultimate Reality, in the same

strain as do the monistic Saiva of Kashmir and the Advaita Vedanta

propounded by Adi Sankara. In the Sakta Doctrine, however Divine

Motherhood predominates.

 

BhavAninAmasahasra is an important Sakta-stava which has as much

prominence for the Kashmiri Pandits as Lalitasahasranama has for the

Peninsula India. This eulogy for Bhavani comprises a thousand names

which depict the very nature, characteristic and causation of the

Primordial Mover. Its source is the ancient RudrayAmala-Tantra.

 

Theme of the Book : In the prefatory statement of the

BhavAninAmasahasra itself the scene is laid on the Mount KailAsa,

The abode of Shiva. In that romantic scenery, one day, Shiva during

his unwavered meditation, was approached by His Attendant-in-chief,

Nandikesvara or simply called Nandi. Offering a hymn of

glorification, he implore Shiva to take him into confidence and

reveal to him the object of His deep contemplation. Shiva got

pleased and revealed the glory of his Consort Parvati, describing

HER form, foot to the crown, depicting Her Universal Glory in the

manifestation of HER Vidya and Avidya aspects. Thus the holy formula

of the thousand gracious names was given as a favour to

Nandikesvara. Therefore this sAstra is also called Nandi Vidya. The

Names sung and recited with earnest devotion to the Divine Mother,

bring prosperity and proficiency towards emancipation.

 

English Translation and Commentary by Jankinath Kaul "Kamal"