| Bhairava | |
|---|---|
.jpg) South Indian depiction of Bhairava riding on hisvahana (dog), 12th century | |
| Affiliation | Shiva |
| Mantra | Oṁ Bhairavāya Namaḥ |
| Weapon | Trishula,Khaṭvāṅga,Sword,Kapala,Sickle,Vajra,Noose,Pinaka bow,Pashupatastraarrow,Pestle andDamaru |
| Day | Monday, Tuesday, or Sunday |
| Number | 33 |
| Mount | Dog |
| Festivals | Bhairava Ashtami |
| Consort | Bhairavi,Kali |
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Bhairava (Sanskrit:भैरव,lit. 'frightful'), orKāla Bhairava, is aShaivite andVajrayāna deity worshipped byHindus andBuddhists. InShaivism, he is a powerful manifestation, or avatar, ofShiva.[1][2][3] In the tradition ofKashmir Shaivism, Bhairava represents the Supreme Reality, synonymous toPara Brahman.[4][5] Generally in Hinduism, Bhairava is also calledDaṇḍapāni ("[he who holds the] danda in [his] hand"), as he holds a rod ordanda to punish sinners, andŚvāśva, meaning, "he whose vehicle is a dog".[6] InVajrayana Buddhism, he is considered afierce emanation ofboddhisatvaMañjuśrī, and also calledHeruka,Vajrabhairava, Mahākāla andYamantaka.[7][8]
Bhairava is worshipped throughoutIndia,Nepal,Indonesia,Sri Lanka, andJapan, as well as inTibetan Buddhism.[9][10]
Bhairava originates from the wordbhīru, which means "fearsome". Bhairava means "terribly fearsome form". It is also known as one who destroys fear or one who is beyond fear.[11][full citation needed]
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The legend of the origin of Bhairava is traced back to a conversation betweenBrahma andVishnu described in theShiva Purana.[12]
Shiva manifested as apillar of light to settle the dispute of superiority between Brahma and Vishnu. Brahma dishonestly proclaimed his victory, stating that he had discovered the higher end of the pillar of light. To punish him for his dishonesty and arrogance, Shiva produced Bhairava from the region between his brows. When Bhairava sought instruction from Shiva, the deity directed him to "worship Brahma with his sharp-pointed quick-moving sword". Bhairava decapitated the fifth head of Brahma for uttering the falsehood. Vishnu interceded on Brahma's behalf and sought mercy, and the two deities then worshipped Shiva.[13]
Having committed the sin ofbrahmahatya (the murder of aBrahmin) by decapitating Brahma, Bhairava was pursued by the terrible female personification of the sin. The skull of Brahma was still attached to his hand. To expiate himself of the sin, Bhairava roamed thethree worlds. He visitedVaikuntha, where he was honoured by Vishnu andLakshmi. When Bhairava visitedKashi, the city of the liberated, Brahmahatya left him, and the skull of Brahma was released from his hand.[14]
In another legend, Brahma is regarded to have stated to Vishnu to worship him as the supreme creator of the universe. Noting that both Shiva and he hadfive heads, Brahma came to believe that he was identical to Shiva and was equal to his powers. When his arrogance started to affect his role in the universe, Shiva threw a lock of his hair from his head. This assumed the form of Bhairava, who decapitated one of Brahma's heads. When the skull (kapala) of Brahma was held in the hand of Bhairava, the creator deity's ego was destroyed and he became enlightened. In the form of Bhairava, Shiva is said to guard each of theShakta pithas (A group of temples dedicated to the goddess Shakti). Each Shakta pitha is accompanied by a temple dedicated to Bhairava, exceptKamakhya Temple.[15][16]
InKashmir Shaivism, Bhairava is the ultimate form of manifestation.
Trika orKashmiri Shaivism names the Absolute Reality (Para Brahman) as Bhairava. TheVijñāna Bhairava Tantra is a key Tantra text of theTrika System. Cast as a discourse between the god Bhairava and his consortBhairavi it briefly presents 112 Tantric meditation methods or centering techniques (Dharana). The text is a chapter from the Rudrayamala Tantra, a Bhairava Agama. Bhairavi, the goddess, asks Bhairava to reveal the essence of the way to realization of the highest reality. In his answer Bhairava describes 112 ways to enter into the universal and transcendental state of consciousness. References to it appear throughout the literature of Trika, Kashmir Shaivism, indicating that it was considered to be an important text in the schools of Kashmir Shaiva philosophy and Trika.[4][5]
The list of manifestations of Lord Bhairava:
Buddhism also adopted Bhairava (Tibetan: 'Jigs byed; Chinese: Buwei) as a deity and adharmapala or dharma protector.[17] The various buddhist forms of Bhairava (variously calledHerukas, Vajrabhairava,Mahākāla andYamantaka) are consideredfierce deities andyidams (tantric meditational deity) inTibetan Buddhism. They also have their own set ofBuddhist tantras, theVajrabhairava tantras.[18] According to Tibetan tradition, these tantras were revealed to Lalitavajra inOddiyana in the tenth century.[19]
These texts play a particularly important role in theSarma (new translation) traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, especially among theGelug school where Vajrabhairava is one of the three central highest yoga tantra practices of the lineage.[20]
Bhairava - Mahakala is also popular inMongolia as a protector deity and was also popular among theManchus.[20]
The deity is also central toNewar Buddhism. The tantric practices associated with Bhairava focus on the transformation of anger and hatred into understanding.[21]
Temples orshrines to Bhairava are present within or near mostJyotirlinga temples. There are also the sacred twelve shrines dedicated toShiva which can be found all across India including theKashi Vishwanath Temple,Varanasi and theKal Bhairava temple, Ujjain. The Patal Bhairava and Vikrant Bhairava shrines are located inUjjain as well.[22][23]
Gorat Kashmiris are known to worship Bhairava duringShivratri.[24] The renowned Hindu reformer,Adi Sankara composed a hymn onKala Bhairava called"Sri Kalabhairava Ashtakam" in the city ofKashi.[25]
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Bhairava Ashtami, commemorating the dayKala Bhairava appeared on earth, is celebrated onKrishna pakshaAshtami of theMargashirsha month of theHindu calendar. It is a day filled with special prayers and rituals.[26]
Kalashtami, also known as Kaal Ashtami, is a significant Hindu observance dedicated to Lord Kaal Bhairav one of the forms of bhairava. This festival is celebrated every month on the Ashtami Tithi (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha, the waning phase of the moon. The day is marked by fasting, special prayers, and rituals aimed at seeking blessings from Lord Bhairav for protection and spiritual growth.[citation needed]
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The rituals for Kalashtami typically include:
Kalashtami serves as a vital occasion for devotees to reaffirm their faith in Lord Kaal Bhairav while engaging in practices that promote spiritual well-being and protection against negative energies.
Bhairava is depicted as being ornamented with a range of twisted serpents, which serve as earrings, bracelets, anklets, and sacred thread (yajnopavita). He wears a tiger skin and a ritual apron composed of human bones.[31] Bhairava has adog (shvana) as his divinevahana (vehicle).Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of theDevi who is virtually indistinguishable fromKali, with the exception of her particular identification as the consort of Bhairava.[32][33]
Bhairava himself has eight manifestations called theAshta Bhairava:[34]
Kala Bhairava is conceptualized as theguru-natha (teacher and lord) of the planetary deityShani (Saturn).[35][36]
Bhairava is known as Bhairavar or Vairavar inTamil, where he is often presented as agramadevata or village guardian who safeguards the devotee in eight directions (ettu tikku). Known inSinhalese as Bahirawa, he is said to protect treasures. He is the main deity worshipped by theAghora sect.[37]
Thennaga Kasi Bairavar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Bairavar, a fierce form of Lord Shiva. It is located in Erode, Tamil Nadu, India. This temple is renowned for its unique architectural style and spiritual significance.
Bhairava is an important deity of theNewars of Nepal. All the traditional settlements of Newars have at least one temple of Bhairava. Most of the temples of Bhairava inNepal are maintained by Tantric Newar priests. There are several Bhairava temples in theKathmandu valley and other old newar settlements out of valley like Panauti,Banepa, Dhulikhel,Palpa and Pokhara.There are Different Jatras and chariot processions held each year in different newar towns and cities Dedicated to lord Bhairava and these Bhairava jatras are celebrated and continued from several hundreds of years in Nepal.Kalbhairava,Aakash bhairava, Shwet bhairava, Batuk bhairava, Pachali bhairava, aananda bhairava,Unmatta bhairava,mashaan bhairava,Baag bhairava, haygribha bhairava and Kritimukha Bhairava are Bhairavas widely worshipped and believed as the guardians of the Newar settlements.[38]
In southKarnataka, LordSri Kalabhairaveshwara is present asKshetra Palaka inSri Adichunchanagiri Hills.[39]
Kala Bhairava temples can also be found aroundShakta pithas. It is said that Shiva allocated the job of guarding each of the 52Shakta pithas to one Bhairava. There are said to be 52 forms of Bhairava, which are considered a manifestation of Shiva himself. Traditionally,Kala Bhairava is theGrama devata in the rural villages ofMaharashtra, where he is referred to as "Bhairava/Bhairavnath" and "Bairavar". In Karnataka, Lord Bhairava is the supreme God for the Hindu community commonly referred to asVokkaligas (Gowdas). Especially in the Jogi Vokkaliga, he is considered the caretaker and punisher.[40]Shri Kala Bhairava Nath Swami Temple ofMadhya Pradesh is also popular.
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