Divine Consciousness - Mandhata Global

Vijiidnabhairava 119
rQva connotes ravayati which, in this context, means vimarsati
i.e. comprehends. So according to this etymoloty Bhairava
means "He whose light of consciousness-joined with his ·power
of activity ('bhii' + ai i.e. bhai) comprehends (ravayati) the
entire universe is His Self".
In Paritrirpsiki, Abhinvavagupta gives another interpretation
of Bhairava viz.,' 'Bhairavo bhara1"litmako mahimantraravitmakasca"
(p.63). i.e. 'Bhairava is one who supports and protects
the cosmos and (constantly) sounds the great mantra of 'I'
(aham)."
In Tantraloka, Abhinavagupta gives many interpretations of
'Bhairava' of which the main ones are the following three:
1. He supports the cosmos inasmuch as He makes it appear
on Himself as substratum and maintains it and also appears in
the form of the cosmos (bhriyate savimarsataya). This interpretation
is based on the root bh, which means both dhiirQl)a and
pOia1)a i.e. support and maintenance.
2. He constantly sounds the great mantra of 'I' (ravariipatasca).
3. He offers intrepedity to those who Itte terrified by the
cycle of transmigratory existence (sal1Jsarabhrruhitakrt).
Each letter of Bhairava is symbolic of His three main activities;
Bha is symbolic of bhara1)a or maintenance of the
universe; ra is symbolic of raVQl)a or withdrawal of the
universe; va is symbolic of vamana or projection of the
universe.
The two adjectives of 'Bhairava' viz., sarvadalJ. (bestower of
all) and vyapakalJ., (all-pervasive) are also connected by implication
with two letters of Bhairava, viz., ra and va; ra is
symbolic of the root ra which means to give, to grant. to
bestow. He is called sarvadalJ., because he bestows everything
(sarval1J rati) 'va' is symbolic of va which means 'to be diffused'
Bhairava is called vyapaka because of the diffusion of His
presence everywhere. .
It should be borne in mind that the word uccara in the verse
does not mean mechanical repetition of the word Bhairava.
Uccara in this context denotes the sounding of the interior
prafUlsakti which is the representation of sal1Jvid or consciousness.