The first time I experienced vibrations in my chest I thought I had a heart attack. I am a MD. I found it also very odd. Not as it was described in the medical textbooks. But it was the experiencing of the spandana, the vibrations in and of the body which are always there. I was puzzled. I went out for a search, and I found an ancient text which explains all.

The Spanda Kārikās (Spanda Kārikāḥ, स्पन्दकारिका), meaning the “Verses on Spanda”, is one of the foundational texts of Kashmir Shaivism, a non-dual Tantric tradition that flourished in medieval India. This mystical treatise, attributed to the sage Vasugupta (9th century CE) or his disciple Kallaṭa, expands on the idea that the entire cosmos is nothing but a pulsation (spanda) of divine consciousness.

The word Spanda in Sanskrit translates to “vibration, movement, throb, or tremor”—but not in a gross physical sense. It refers to the subtle vibration of universal consciousness, the primordial energy that creates, sustains, and dissolves everything. The Spanda doctrine teaches that even within the greatest stillness, there is an underlying pulse of all happenings.

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Historical Roots of the Spanda Kārikās

1. Origins in Kashmir Shaivism

The Spanda Kārikās is an essential scripture within Kashmir Shaivism, a highly refined non-dual Tantric school that emerged in the region of Kashmir, India around the 8th–10th centuries CE. This tradition differs from classical Advaita Vedanta in that it does not emphasize absolute stillness or voidness (śūnyatā) but instead focuses on the dynamic nature of consciousness—its rising vibratory movement.

• The Spanda philosophy complements the Śiva Sūtras and Tantrāloka, expanding on the idea that awareness is never truly static—it always pulsates with energy.
• Unlike Vedantic notions of pure transcendence, Spanda teaches that the entire universe is a continuous dance of divine pulsation, and one can directly experience this through deep meditation and awakened perception.

2. The Legend of Vasugupta and Spanda Kārikās

According to tradition, Vasugupta received the Śiva Sūtras in a mystical vision from Lord Śiva himself, marking the beginning of Kashmir Shaivism. Later, his disciple Kallaṭa is said to have compiled the Spanda Kārikās, providing a practical explanation of the Śiva Sūtras through the lens of vibration and movement.

This text is short yet profound, consisting of only 52 verses, but it encapsulates the entire mystical philosophy of Tantric Shaivism—that consciousness is eternally dynamic.

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The Essence of the Spanda Doctrine

The core teaching of the Spanda Kārikās is that consciousness is not static but vibratory. This pulsation (spanda) is what animates awareness, perception, and existence itself.

1. Spanda as the Subtle Energy of Consciousness

• Unlike ordinary motion, Spanda is the cosmic vibration that manifests as creation, preservation, and dissolution.
• Even in deep stillness, there is a subtle tremor, like the silent hum of a mantra before it is spoken.
• This pulsation of awareness is what allows us to perceive, feel, and experience reality.

💡 Example: Imagine the moment before sound emerges—the space between silence and speech. That moment of potential vibration is Spanda.

2. Spanda is the Link Between Śiva and Śakti

• In Tantric cosmology, Śiva is pure consciousness (static awareness), and Śakti is dynamic energy (the force of creation).
• The Spanda principle states that Śiva is never truly still—his nature is inherently pulsating with awareness.
• This means that Śakti is already within Śiva, and the two are inseparable.

💡 Example: Just as the ocean appears still from a distance but is constantly moving, Śiva’s consciousness appears motionless but is actually vibrating with energy.

3. Spanda Exists at All Levels of Reality

The doctrine teaches that Spanda is not just cosmic—it exists within us:

• In thought – the spark of a new idea.
• In breath – the rhythmic inhalation and exhalation.
• In meditation – the shift between awareness and silence.
• In emotion – the pulsation of joy, love, or intensity.

By tuning into this pulsation, a yogi can awaken their latent energy and experience liberation (mokṣa) in this very life.

💡 Example: When chanting AUM, there is a pulsation between the “A” (beginning), “U” (sustaining), and “M” (dissolution)—this is Spanda in action.

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Key Teachings of the Spanda Kārikās

🔹 1. The Universe is a Pulsation of Consciousness

• Nothing is truly static—all existence arises from the divine vibration of awareness.
• This means that liberation is not escaping movement but recognizing its divine nature.

🔹 2. Spanda Can Be Directly Experienced

• One does not have to wait for lifetimes to reach realization—by meditating on the inner vibration, one can perceive Spanda directly.
• This is why mantra recitation, breath awareness, and spontaneous movement are all valid paths to enlightenment.

🔹 3. Stillness and Motion are One

• Even when the body is completely still, the mind vibrates with awareness.
• This is why deep meditation is not emptiness but an unfolding of Spanda.

💡 Example: When a yogi enters samādhi, their body may appear motionless, but internally, their consciousness is dynamically expanding.

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Spanda in Spiritual Practice: How to Experience It

The Spanda Kārikās does not just describe Spanda philosophically—it offers practical ways to experience it directly:

1. Tuning Into Spanda Through Breath (Prāṇa Awareness)

• Feel the pulse of your breath.
• Observe the micro-movements between inhalation and exhalation.
• Notice that even in stillness, the breath holds subtle pulsations.

2. Mantra Vibration & Sound Awareness

• Chant a mantra (e.g., AUM, Hamsa, or So’ham).
• Feel the resonance in your chest, throat, and head.
• Observe the sound dissolving into silence—this is the vibration of Spanda.

3. Meditating on the Space Between Thoughts

• Thoughts arise and disappear, but in between, there is a gap, a tremor, a Spanda moment.
• By focusing on this pulsation of awareness, you directly experience the subtle energy of consciousness.

4. Spontaneous Movements (Kriyā or Latihan)

• In deep meditation, spontaneous movements (mudrās, gestures, or tremors) may arise.
• Instead of controlling them, observe them—they are expressions of Spanda moving through you.

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Conclusion: The Eternal Dance of Spanda

The Spanda Kārikās is more than a philosophical text—it is a direct key to experiencing the divine pulse of existence. Unlike static spiritual traditions, Kashmir Shaivism teaches that consciousness is dynamic, self-aware, and continuously expanding.

By attuning to the subtle pulsation—whether through breath, mantra, movement, or deep inner awareness—one can awaken to the living vibratory field of Śiva.

In essence, Spanda is not something outside of us—it is who we are.

💡 Next time you meditate, chant, or simply observe the flow of existence, ask yourself: Can I feel the pulse beneath the silence? Can I experience the tremor of awareness itself?

That is Spanda. That is liberation. That is the eternal dance of consciousness.

Sanskrit Verses from the Spanda Kārikās & A Practical Meditation Guide

The Spanda Kārikās consists of 52 profound verses, and each one explores the vibratory essence of consciousness. Below are a few key original Sanskrit verses, their transliteration, meaning, and a meditation practice to experience Spanda directly.

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1. Spanda Exists Even in Stillness

Sanskrit Verse (Spanda Kārikās 1.2)

न स त्वच्युतं किञ्चिदस्ति स्पन्दात्‌ वियुक्तम् ।
शिवः स्वतन्त्रः सकलानि यानि कुर्वीत तानि स्पन्दे निष्ठितानि ॥

Transliteration:

Na sa tvacyutaṁ kiñcidasti spandāt viyuktam |
Śivaḥ svatantraḥ sakalāni yāni kurvīta tāni spande niṣṭhitāni ||

Translation:

“There is nothing that exists apart from Spanda (divine vibration).
Whatever Śiva, the completely free consciousness, manifests in this world,
it is entirely established in the pulsation of Spanda.”

Meaning:

This verse tells us that everything in existence—our thoughts, emotions, breath, and even stillness—is a form of Spanda. Even if we perceive silence, there is always a subtle tremor of awareness.

💡 Think about this: Even in deep sleep, your awareness does not vanish—it simply shifts into another vibration.

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2. Spanda is the Cause of All Movement

Sanskrit Verse (Spanda Kārikās 1.3)

यत् किंचित् गत्यमानं तु स्पन्दते यदि वा यदि ।
सर्वं तत् स्पन्दतीत्युक्तं यद् व्याप्य न तिष्ठति ॥

Transliteration:

Yat kiñcit gatyamānaṁ tu spandate yadi vā yadi |
Sarvaṁ tat spandatītyuktaṁ yad vyāpya na tiṣṭhati ||

Translation:

“Whatever moves, whether visibly or invisibly,
is nothing but Spanda in action.
Everything that does not remain still is said to be Spanda.”

Meaning:

Everything that moves, breathes, vibrates, or changes is Spanda. From the cosmic expansion of galaxies to the subtle flickering of thoughts, everything arises from this primordial pulse.

💡 Reflection: Even the heartbeat inside you is Spanda—it is the living vibration of Śiva.

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A Guided Spanda Meditation: Feeling the Pulsation of Awareness

If Spanda is the pulsation of divine consciousness, how do we experience it directly?
Here is a simple yet powerful meditation practice based on Spanda theory.

🌀 Step 1: Attuning to the Pulsation of Breath

1️⃣ Sit in a comfortable meditative posture, keeping your spine straight.
2️⃣ Close your eyes and relax your entire body.
3️⃣ Gently focus on your breath—but not just the inhalation and exhalation.
4️⃣ Notice the tiny pause between each breath—the stillness before the next inhale.
5️⃣ Observe the subtle tremor that initiates each breath cycle.
6️⃣ Ask yourself: What is that moment just before breathing in? What is that vibratory presence?

💡 This tiny pulse of awareness before the breath moves is Spanda.

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🌊 Step 2: Observing the Space Between Thoughts

1️⃣ Let your mind naturally observe thoughts without controlling them.
2️⃣ Notice that each thought arises from silence and returns to silence.
3️⃣ Now shift your attention to the space between two thoughts—what happens there?
4️⃣ Feel the subtle presence of awareness even when no thought is active.
5️⃣ Realize that Spanda exists before the thought arises and persists even after the thought dissolves.

💡 Spanda is like an ocean—waves (thoughts) rise and fall, but the depth (awareness) remains unchanged.

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🎶 Step 3: Chanting & Feeling Vibratory Awareness

1️⃣ Chant AUM slowly, extending each syllable:

• Aaa… (deep vibration in the belly)
• Uuu… (resonating in the chest/throat)
• Mmm… (vibrating in the skull/forehead)
  2️⃣ After chanting, remain silent and observe the subtle reverberation of the sound inside you.
  3️⃣ Notice that even in silence, a soft vibratory sensation remains.
  4️⃣ Stay with that vibration—it is the pulsation of Spanda itself.

💡 Reflection: Every mantra, breath, and movement is simply a manifestation of Spanda’s cosmic pulse.

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The Final Realization: Spanda is You

The Spanda Kārikās does not teach a philosophy to be studied—it is an experience to be lived.
The realization of Spanda is not about thinking—it is about feeling the pulse of your own existence.

🔥 YOU are Spanda.
🔥 Your breath, your thoughts, your emotions, your silence—everything is vibrating awareness.
🔥 Liberation is simply recognizing this pulsation as your true nature.

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Closing Thoughts: Merging with the Infinite Pulse

By practicing Spanda meditation, we shift from limited perception to expanded awareness.
We no longer feel separate from the universe—instead, we realize that we are the very rhythm of reality itself.

🌟 Spanda is not a theory. It is the pulse of you can experience via your own consciousness. 🌟

Shunyam Adhibhu