Who is kala bhairava

This infuriated Lord Shiva, who took the form of Kala Bhairava to punish him. Thus Brahma now has only four heads while Bhairava the fifth is carried by Shiva. For this reason, Bhairava had to carry the head around with him for 12 years. He roamed about like a vagabond, until he was freed of the sin. The idol of Bhairava is often seen in this frightening form. It can give one material wealth. Benefits of Worshipping Kala Bhairava. Bhairava is revered by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.

He helps them to achieve success, conquer enemies and attain material comforts. He also helps them to use their time constructively in attaining their goals. This is why he is known as the Lord of Time. Those who waste time in trivial pursuits can become more efficient and productive if they worship Kala Bhairava regularly. He makes our souls pure through his power and brings luck to believers. As if by miracle, one finds oneself at the right place at the right time to avail the best opportunities.

Hence, the keys to the temples of Shiva and Shakti are ceremonially given to Bhairava at closing time and taken back from him in the morning. Usually, there is a shrine dedicated to him in such temples. He is also the guardian deity of travellers and blesses pilgrims. According to the Siddhas, before going on a journey, especially during night travel, one should light lamps and put a garland of cashew nut wreaths on Lord Bhairava.

This ensures their safety and protection. For those who live abroad too, the worship is equally significant. Though he is one of the most feared gods, he is also one of the most rewarding and protective deities. In Tantrism, he is revered as Batuk Bharav. As he is a Rudra, the Lord is an expert in tantra-mantra. Hence, one way to honor him is by taking care of and feeding dogs. Kala Bhairava is known to bestow great blessings and the boon of auspicious time to those who worship him.

Worship of Kala Bhairava. Kala Bhairava has been worshipped from time immemorial. But sacred texts claim that the 60 years from April to April , constitute the most important period. The 8th day Ashtami after the Full Moon Poornima is the best day for pooja. The 12 Jyotirlinga Shiva shrines in Ujjain, Kasi, Tiruvannamalai and others perform many special ceremonies on this day.

As he guards the 52 Shaktipeethas, it is believed that there are 52 forms of Bhairava across the holy sites. It is necessary to protect Shakti for everlasting peace in the midst of increasing wrath, hatred and violence. Holding the moon in his head, he has four hands. He is the giver of wealth and prosperity. Followers believe that praying to this form on Tuesdays, grants them immediate and effective results.

Some texts describe him as having thirty-two hands, golden complexion, terrible teeth and the shape of a bird. He is shown having a human form above the hip. It is said that worshipping him helps his devotees destroy their enemies.

This event falls on the eight lunar day in the Krishna Paksha fortnight of the waning moon of the Hindu month of Kartik November-December. During this period, the Lord, in the form of Dandapani, rides on his dog. He is called Dandapani, as he wields a Danda or rod, to punish sinners. Devotees keep an all-night vigil on the night of Bhairava Ashtami, praying and singing the praises of their Lord.

An elaborate midnight arati is performed with devotees blowing conches, playing drums and cymbals. After a bath the next morning, devotees offer obeisance to their deceased kin. Then Bhairava is worshipped along with Bhairavi and his Dog. Followers offer flowers, milk, curds and sweets to the idols. This day is considered even more sacred if it falls on a Sunday or a Tuesday.

This day is celebrated with great fervor at the Bhairav Prasad temple in the Vaishno Devi hills in Kashmir. An idol of the Lord is made in silver or gold and is immersed in a brass metal pot, filled with water. Then priests offer pujas and prayers, before distributing prasad to all gathered there. In Varanasi, devotees undertake an eight-day pilgrimage to the eight temple of Ashta Bhairava. This journey is undertaken on the first eight days of the fortnight, ending with the Bhairava Ashtami.

The deity is generally covered with a cloth with only the face showing the whole year round. But on this day, the cloth is removed to reveal the entire idol.

His image is decorated with a garland of silver skulls. Devotees throng the temple in order to catch a glimpse of the powerful God. The Gowdas of this region adore him as the Supreme Godhead.

Those belonging to the Gangadikara Gowda caste consider him as the caretaker and punisher. Bhairava is one of the most important deities of the Newars in Nepal. Most settlements there have at least one temple of the Lord. Also, the Bhairava temples in that country are mostly maintained by Newar priests.

Temples of Kaala Bhairava can be predominantly found around the Shakti Peethas. It is believed that Shiva allocated each Bhairava to guard one of the 52 Shakti Peethas.

The Shakti Peethas are holy places of worship, dedicated to Goddess Shakti, the main female deity of Hinduism and the principal deity of the Shaktya sect.

Goddess Shakti is often associated with harmony, peace, prosperity, longevity, strength, marital felicity and destruction of evil. The 52 Shakti Peethas can be found scattered all over the Indian subcontinent. His most favorite daughter, Sati, had fallen in love with Shiva and had married him against his wishes. He was a staunch Vaishnavite follower of Vishnu and detested Shiva.

He had tried everything to stop Sati from marrying Shiva, but had failed miserably. Daksha invited all the deities to the yagna, but decided to ignore Sati and Shiva. Though Sati was upset at not being invited for the event, she wanted to attend it, as it was her family function.

When she expressed her desire to Shiva, he tried his best to dissuade her from going there. However, she was insistent that she wanted to attend the yagna.

Shiva eventually relented and acceded to her request. Sati left for her parental home, escorted by Shiva's ganas. When Sati reached the site of the yagna, Daksha refused to even acknowledge her and insulted her and Shiva. Unable to bear her father's insulting words against her husband, she committed suicide by jumping into the sacrificial fire.

When Shiva came to know about this, he was furious. He, along with his ganas, went to the site of the yagna and completely destroyed it.

He then cut off the head of the arrogant Daksha. Still in a state of uncontrollable grief and fury, Shiva carried the corpse of Sati on his shoulder and performed his terrible Tandava dance. Unable to stand the extent of his fury, the three worlds went into a state of turmoil. The Gods went to Vishnu, beseeching him to somehow control Shiva's anger. Vishnu appeared before Shiva, took Sati's lifeless body and severed it into many pieces, with the help of his Sudarshana Chakra Discus.

The pieces of her body fell at various places throughout India. They then came to be known as the sacred Shakti Peethas. In each of the Shakti Peethas, both the presiding Goddess and the Bhairava guarding her temple are given a particular name. Bhairava encompasses the entire universe within himself; all the Shaktis seamlessly merging into him; becoming one with him. In Tantra, Bhairava is both an aspect of Shiva and a supremely divine mantra, capable of transporting the seeker into the highest realms of consciousness.

The Vijnana-Bhairava is one of the most important tantric treatises. Similarly, the Bhairavamudra is one of the most crucial mudras gestures in tantra. This mudra, which is complicated and is a difficult state to achieve, is revealed only to a few sadhaks.

When Shiva completely withdraws into himself and immerses himself in his own consciousness, he rises in the awareness of being one with Kali. Thus emerges the form of Bhairava, the masculine aspect of Kali herself, who manifests as Bhairavi.

This union of the potent male and female energies in the universe lacks any intrinsic qualities - it is pure, effulgent light. The thing to note here is that the dark, evil-looking intensity depicted in the forms of Bhairava and Bhairavi do not actually imply evil intent.

The very nature of Bhairava is to look inward and not outward. Shiva, in his state of intense meditation, goes on an inward journey; eventually experiencing his existence within the womb of Kali, who manifests as Bhairavi. From this dark abyss arises the terrible form of Bhairava. Similarly, the Bhairava-Bhairavi union aims to educate the seeker to defy the dark forces of evil, ignorance and violence; journey into himself; understand that he comes from within the womb of the Universal Mother, Kali; then finally transform himself to emerge as powerful pure energy, which can help serve humanity in ways he could otherwise not even imagine possible.

Seen from this perspective, Bhairava or Mahakala is a tantric deity, which symbolizes an internalizing, holistic, healing force, which helps a sadhak towards self-fulfillment and actualization of desires.

The energy of Bhairava emerges as a driving force, which overcomes every obstacle to achieve all that it seeks. It is therefore seen as "destructive" - that which destroys everything which comes in the way of its own fulfillment.

Kaalabhairava Ashtakam is a beautiful Sanskrit hymn, composed by Adi Shankara. It comprises eight stanzas; which are typical of any Ashtakam. This Bhairava is described as being black; without clothing; terrible-looking with protruding fangs; ornamented with entwined snakes and a garland of skulls; holding weapons in each of his four hands; and bells attached to his waist-band.

The Ashtakam further goes on to describe how his frightful laughter shakes the entire creation; how he controls all the ghosts, ghouls and goblins; and how his fierce Tandava dance annihilates the evil; while also bestowing liberation upon devout souls. The first stanza of the Kaalabhairava Ashtakam offers salutations to the Supreme Lord. Indra sits at his Lotus feet and serves him. He adorns himself with snakes and the beautiful moon sits on his head.

He appears in the form of a Digambara and is extremely kind and compassionate. The second stanza offers salutations to the Supreme Ruler of Kashi, who is as brilliant as a million Suns.

He, who is blue-throated and three-eyed, rescues his devotees from the bhavasagara the ocean of worldly misery and showers peace and prosperity upon them. He, the Imperishable One, supports the three worlds, which rotate around him. The third stanza describes Bhairava as the Punisher of Evil. He holds a noose, club and spear in his hands.

He is the Primordial Lord, whose body is dark and fearful. He is beyond disease and death. The fourth stanza relates that he is the giver of all prosperity and lovingly liberates his devotees from worldly miseries and sins. The fifth stanza offers salutations to Bhairava, who is ornamented with golden snakes and guards Dharma righteousness , also leading his devotees toward the right path. He thus frees them from the unending cycle of Karma and eternal rebirth.

The sixth stanza relates how his Lotus feet are decked with sandals, studded with precious gems. He is the Eternal One and liberates his devotees from the fear of death. The seventh stanza describes how Bhairava's terrible laughter makes the whole world tremble in fear. He is All-Powerful and bestows the eight Siddhis powers to sincere seekers.

He wears a garland of skulls and, along with his consort, Maha Kalika, destroys the darkness of evil and sin. The eighth and final stanza talks about Bhairava, the Lord of the Universe, as the ruler of ghosts and spirits. He showers happiness, peace, prosperity and glory on his devotees; also liberating the residents of Kasi from their sins; ever guiding them along the path of Dharma.

A recipient of several awards for both music and dance, Priya is also a freelance writer online. She currently writes for About. Please wait Sign up Sign in. Shopping Cart 0. Favorites 0. Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. Bhariava Upasana Book in Hindi. Bhariava as Dandapani.

Shiva with Sati's Corpse on His Shoulders.