Nobody’s name shows up on the title page of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra—it comes down as an anonymous jewel from the Kashmir Shaiva tradition, probably stitched together sometime in the 8th or 9th century CE. Wander deep enough into tantric scholarship and it’s clear this text sprang out of a rich Himalayan milieu where oral teachings were later committed to palm leaf.

Rather than bearing a single author’s signature, it’s presented as a conversation between the cosmic Lord Bhairava and the goddess Bhairavi, weaving 112 techniques for transcendental awareness. Centuries later, Abhinavagupta—around the turn of the first millennium—penned the Vijnana Bhairava Vimarshini, a celebrated commentary that cemented the Tantra’s stature in Shiva-shastra.

Modern-day seekers, whether joining a Bali retreat or tuning into the latest mindfulness podcast (2025 saw a surprising spike in VBT workshops!), are still drawn by its timeless methods—from instant “flash” meditations on the breath to playful rhythmic chants. The text’s very anonymity invites diving straight into the experience, rather than getting lost chasing the author’s pedigree. In that sense, its origins remain as liberating as the practices themselves.