Lakshman Joo

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Swami

Lakshman Joo
लक्ष्मण जू
Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
SchoolKashmiri Shaivam

better source needed] was a mystic and scholar of Kashmir Shaivism
.

Biography

Lakshman Joo was born in a

Kashmiri Hindu Brahmin family in the city of Srinagar in Kashmir
. He was the fifth child in a household of four boys and five girls.

His mother's name was Arnyamali Raina.

At the age of five he was introduced to the path of spirituality by his elder brother Maheshvaranath. Up to the age of eight his spiritual progress in the lineage of

Shaiva philosophy
under the guidance of a scholar named Maheshwar Razdan.

From 1934 to 1935, Lakshman Joo moved to an isolated place above the village of Gupta Ganga near

Nishat Gardens. Around the age of 30 Lakshman Joo traveled in India, spending time on a Mumbai beach and a short time with Mahatma Gandhi at Sevagram and then with Sri Aurobindo at Pondicherry. From there he found his way to Tiruvannamalai to meet Ramana Maharshi
. There he spent some weeks and later commented; "I felt those golden days were indeed divine".

Little was known about the Swami for almost three decades (1930-1960), as it was his habit to spend the winter months in silence and seclusion. Still, in the summer he had occasional visits from both scholars and saints. The Indian Spiritual Master

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, and later published the 112 practices of transcending in the fourth chapter of his book Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. This teaching also influenced Osho
, and formed the basis of The Book of Secrets.

It was a few years later, in 1965, after attending a Sanskrit conference in

Mark Dyczkowski
.

In 1991 the Swami traveled to the United States and established the Universal Shaiva Fellowship where he designated John Hughes and his wife Denise to continue publishing his teachings of Kashmir Shaivism. In India the teachings of Lakshman Joo are carried on by Ishwar Ashram Trust, an organisation founded shortly after his death.[2][3]

Selected publications

  • 1933 – Gitartha Samgraha (Abhinavagupta's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita)
  • 1943 – Hindi translation of Sambpanchashika
  • 1958 – Sri Kramanayadipika (Hindi) on the 12 Kali-s
  • 1964 – Hindi translation of Utpaladeva's Shivastotravali
  • 1982 – Lectures on practice and discipline in Kashmir Shaivism
  • 1985 – Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme, edited by John Hughes (the essence of the first fifteen chapters of Abhinavagupta's Tantraloka)
  • 1986 – Hindi commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo on Abhinavagupta's Bhagavad Gitartha Samgraha
  • 1987 – Hindi translation of Panchastavi

Posthumously:

  • 1992 – Self Realization in Kashmir Shaivism, Oral Teachings of Swami Lakshmanjoo, edited by John Hughes
  • 2002 – English translation of Shiva Sutras, edited by John Hughes
  • 2002 – Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta along with original audio recordings
  • 2005 – Revelations on Grace and Spiritual Practice, original audio and DVD recordings
  • 2006 – Trika Rahasya Prakriya, Sanskrit verses with Hindi commentary
  • 2007 –
    Vijnana Bhairava
    , original audio and transcript, introduction by John Hughes
  • 2009 – Bhagavad Gitartha Samgraha of Abhinavagupta (Revisited), Chapters 1–6, translated by Swami Lakshmanjoo, DVD
  • 2013 – Bhagavad Gītā in the Light of Kashmir Shaivism, Chapters 1-18, translated by Swami Lakshmanjoo, DVD
  • 2015 – Paramarthasara with Abhinavagupta's commentary, translated by Swami Lakshmanjoo, original DVD and transcript.
  • 2016 – Abhinavagupta's Tantraloka, chapter One, translated by Swami Lakshmanjoo, original audio and transcript.
  • 2016 – Spanda Karika of Vasugupta, and Spanda Sandoha of Kshemaraja, translated by Swami Lakshmanjoo, original audio and transcript.
  • 2016 – Stava Cintamani of Bhatta Narayana, translated by Swami Lakshmanjoo, original audio and transcript.
  • 2016 – Shaivismo de Cachemira. El Supremo secreto, translation into Spanish of Kashmir Shaivism. The Secret Supreme.
  • 2017 – Shiva Sutras. El Despertar Supremo, translation into Spanish of Shiva Sutras. The Supreme Awakening.
  • 2019 – Abhinavagupta's Tantraloka, chapters Two and Three, translated by Swami Lakshmanjoo, original audio and transcript.

Kashmir Shaivism – Library

Over a period of nineteen years John Hughes recorded Lakshman Joo's translations of the following texts. Transcripts of these lectures are maintained in the Universal Shaiva Fellowship library.

  • Bhagavad Gitartha Samgraha of Abhinavagupta, translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 28 Nov. 1978 to 3 June 80).
  • Bodhapancadashika of Abhinavagupta, translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 18 to 22 Oct 1980).
  • Dehastadevatacakra of Abhinavagupta, translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 25 Oct to 12 Nov 1980).
  • Interviews with Swami Lakshman Joo: Questions by John Hughes, Alexis Sanderson, Alice Christenson, original audio recordings (July 1974).
  • Janma Marana Vicara: translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, May 1975).
  • Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme (Lectures in English), Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 1972).
  • Kashmiri Lectures on Practice and Discipline, Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 1980).
  • Paramarthasara (Abhinavagupta's commentary): Swami Lakshman Joo's comments on John Hughes' reading, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 26 April to 6 Sept 1972).
  • Parapraveshika of Kshemaraja: translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 12 to 15 Nov 1980).
  • Pratyabhijna Hridayam
    of Kshemaraja: Swami Lakshman Joo's answers John Hughes questions: original audio recordings (Kashmir, 26 April 1972).
  • Paratrishika Laghuvritti of Abhinavagupta: translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 25 May 1974 to 6 July 1974)
  • Paratrishika Vivarana of Abhinavagupta, translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 26 May 1982 to 24 Aug 1985).
  • Revelations on Grace and Practice: A collection of Swami Lakshman Joo's original audio recordings plus transcript, ed. John Hughes (USA, 9 May 2005).
  • Shivastotravali of Utpaladeva: translation by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, June 1976 to Sept 1978).
  • Shiva Sutra Vimarshini of Vasugupta: translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 7 June 1975).
  • Spanda Karika of Vasugupta: translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 5 to 26 Aug 1981).
  • Spanda Sandoha of Kshemaraja: translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 29 Aug to 9 Oct 1981).
  • Special Verses on Practice Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Nepal, 1988).
  • Stavacintamani of Bhatta Narayana: translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 26 Nov 1980 to 17 July 1981).
  • Tantraloka
    of Abhinavagupta (Chapters 1–18): translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 1976 to 1981).
  • Vatulanath Sutras of Kshemaraja: Swami Lakshman joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 1975).
  • Vijnana Bhairava
    : translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, 1975).
  • Vijnana Bhairava
    Questions: Swami Lakshman Joo, original audio recordings (Kashmir, July 1985).

Audio recordings in Kashmiri language

  • Kalika Stotra of Shivanandanatha, Recitation by Swami Lakshman Joo and devotees (Kashmir, 1977).
  • Maharthamanjari of Maheshvarananda, translated by Swami Lakshman Joo (Kashmir, 1977).
  • Paratrishika Vivarana, translated by Swami Lakshman Joo (Kashmir, 1982–83).
  • Shiva Sutra Vimarshini of Vasugupta, translated by Swami Lakshman Joo (Kashmir, 1978).
  • Shiva Stotravali of Utpaladeva with Kshemaraja's commentary, translated by Swami Lakshman Joo (Kashmir, 1975–85).
  • Stuti Kushmanjali, translated by Swami Lakshman Joo (Kashmir, 1977).
  • Tantraloka of Abhinavagupta (selected chapters), translated by Swami Lakshman Joo (Kashmir, 1975–85).

DVD recordings in English

  • Bhagavadgitarthasamgraha of Abhinavagupta, translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original video recordings (Nepal, 1990)
  • Paramarthasara of Abhinavagupta, translation and commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo, original video recording (Nepal, 1990)
  • Revelations on Grace and Spiritual Practice, Selections from translations and commentaries on Bhagavadgitarthasamgrah (video), Paramarthasara (video), and Tantraloka (audio). (Los Angeles, 2006)
  • Special Verses on Practice by Swami Lakshman Joo, original video recordings (Nepal, 1988).

References

  1. ^ "Swami Lakshmanjoo". Retrieved 28 February 2008.
  2. .
  3. ^ "Swami Lakshmanjoo's birth centenary". One India. 27 October 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2017.

External links