Swami Lakshmanjoo Mahasamadhi Havan of his Master Swami Mahatabkak

This video was recorded in 1972 by John Hughes at the ancient Shiva Temple in Ishber Village (Gupta Ganga), Srinagar, Kashmir.
The three-minute clip is of Swami Lakshmanjoo, his priest (Shamlal Jatu), and other pandits, performing the Mahasamadhi Havan (fire ceremony) of Swamiji's Master, Swami Mahatab Kak.

All such functions performed in Kashmir begin and end with a recitation of the Bahurupa Garbha stotra, a sacred hymn dedicated to Svacchanda Bhairava, as the Lord of the three Aghora energies (shaktis).

The recording features the devotees reciting some of the introductory verses of the Bahurupa Garbha stotra (1), followed by Swamiji’s priest reciting the mantra that describes Svacchanda Natha and his weapons (2). Shamlal-ji ends with another sacred mantra to Svacchanda Natha, which is from the Svacchanda Tantra (3). For an explanation of that verse, see: "Verses of Wisdom in Kashmir Shaivism" (https://lakshmanjooacademy.myshopify.....

For more information, visit our website https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/
Join us for a fire ceremony in honor of our teacher, Swami Lakshmanjoo, every fall at a different date every year, according to the moon calendar; more information is available on our website under "Events".

_______
1)
[NOTE: Verses 1 to 5 not recited in this video.]

aṣhṭā-daśha-bhujaṁ devaṁ nīlakaṇṭhaṁ sutejasam || 6

Wearing a lion skin garment about his loins, an elephant’s hide for his upper garment,
having eighteen arms, he is called God of gods, being blue-throated and radiant because he is filled with consciousness.

ūrdhva-vaktraṁ maheśhāni sphaṭikābhaṁ vicintayet |
āpītaṁ pūrva-vaktraṁ tu nīlot-paladala-prabham || 7
dakṣhiṇaṁ tu vijānīyād - vāmaṁ caiva vicintayet |
dāḍimī-kusuma-prakhyaṁ kuṅkumodaka-saṁnibham || 8
candrārbuda-pratīkāśhaṁ paśhcimaṁ tu vicintayet |

Svacchandanātha’s upper face is the color of crystal, and, like the filaments of the lotus, His eastern face is yellow; his southern face is blue like the colour of a lotus flower. The northern face is like the pomegranate flower and the colour of Kumkum; His western face shines like the a billion eternal moons, and He wears the crescent moon on his forehead.

svacchanda-bhairavaṁ devaṁ sarva-kāma-phalapradam || 9
dhyāyedvai yastu yuktātmā kṣhipraṁ siddhyati mānavaḥ |

One should meditate on Svacchanda Bhairava as described above, as He is the bestower of all desired fruits, and hence, is capable of fulfilling all desires.

yā sā pūrvaṁ mayā khyātā aghorī śhaktir-uttamā || 10
bhairavaṁ pūjayitvā tu tasyot-saṅge-gatāṁ nyaset |
yādṛiśhaṁ bhairavaṁ rūpaṁ bhairavyāstād-ṛigeva hi || 11

The sincere aspirant who meditates on Svacchandanātha in this way will certainly attain their desired goals. And, after meditating on Bhairava, one should place the supreme Aghorī Śakti (Bhairavī) in Bhairava's lap. Her form is described the same way as Bhairava's, only Her face is slightly terrifying because she occasionally transforms into the form of Kālī Devi. Her voice is also deep, and her eyes are filled with wonder. In this way Bhairava and Bhairavī should be meditated upon with one-pointed devotion.

2) A description of Svacchanda Natha, taken from the Dīkṣāpaddhati
vāme kheṭaka-pāśha-śharṅga-vila sat- daṇḍaṁ cha vīṇāṇṭike
vibhrāṇam dhvaja-mudgarau svanibhade vyaṅkaṁ kuṭhāraṁ kare |
dakṣhe sya’ṅkuśha-kandaleṣhu-ḍamarūn- vājara-triśhūlā-bhayān-
rūdrasthaṁ śhara-vaktram-indu-dhavalaṁ svacchanda-nāthaṁ stumaḥ ||

3) A variation of this verse appears in Kṣemarāja's commentary to verse 10,
chapter 7 of the Svacchanda Tantra.

madhyaprāṇaniviṣṭahaṁsa paramaḥ yo romakūpāśrayaḥ |
prāṇaḥ sūkṣmavimarśaśālivapuṣaḥ sārdhatrikoṭayātmakaḥ ||
tānmantrātmatayā vilomayati yaḥ svacchandanāthaḥ paro |
devo’sau vidadhātu bhairavavapuḥ tejaḥ paraṁ śāśvatam ||

4) aghorebhyo’tha ghorebhyo ghoraghoratarībhyaśca
sarvataḥ śarvaḥ! sarvebhyo namaste rudra rūpebhyaḥ

O Lord Shiva! You alone transform yourself into all forms, into the powers of Rudra as Aghorā, the uplifting and enlightening energy, Ghoratarī, the frightful darkening energy which pushes one down, and Ghorā, the energy which keeps one fixed neither rising or falling. These forms, embodied in Rudra Shiva, are helpful to aspirants while they are aware, and frightful for the ones who are ignorant, pushing them down and down.