LORD BHAIRAVA
The Lord of the March of TIME
Story of Kala Bhairav*
kala bhairava was a mendicant(beggar) with a begging bowl in hand. the begging bowl was not just any vessel. it was the skull of brahma's fifth head. lord shiva cut it off to humble brahma and vishnu.
So here goes the story:
So here goes the story:
Brahmâ and Vishnu were disputing with each other for the status of supreme God and appealed to the testimony of the four Vedas, which unanimously proclaimed Rudra-Shiva as the Ultimate Truth of the Universe. But the disputants were unable to accept that Rudra, endowed with so many revolting symbols of impurity and degradation, could be identical with the Absolute Reality of Brahman. Brahmâ laughed scornfully: "How could the Brahman, free of all attachment, lustily sport with his wife in the company of his troop of deformed churn-goblins (pramatha)?" However, Rudra's supremacy was finally reconfirmed by the esoteric sound-syllable, Omkâra, quintessence of the Veda and most condensed symbol of Brahman, who pointed out that Shiva's wife is not adventitious to her husband but on the contrary embodies his own blissful essence. Just then an immense pillar of flame manifested itself in their midst, within which was recognized the towering figure of the three-eyed Rudra bearing his trident, serpents and crescent moon. But the fifth head of Brahmâ taunted him: "I know who you are, Rudra, whom I created from my forehead. Take refuge with me and I will protect you, my son!"
Overflowing with anger, Shiva created a blazing Bhairava in human form, addressing this Kâlabhairava as "Lord of Time-Death" (kâla) for he shone like the god of Death: "You are called Bhairava because you are of terrifying features and are capable of supporting the universe. You are called Kâla-Bhairava, for even Time-Death is terrified of you." He ordered him to chastise Brahmâ, promising him in return eternal suzerainty over his city of Kâshî (Vârânasî), the cremation-ground of the Hindu universe, where final emancipation is assured. In a trice, Bhairava ripped off Brahmâ's guilty head with the nail of his left thumb. Seeing this, the terrified Vishnu eulogized Shiva and devotedly recited his sacred hymns, followed in this by the repentant Brahmâ. Thereby they gained his protection by realizing and acknowledging the supreme reality of Shiva. The severed head immediately stuck to Bhairava's hand, where it remained in the form of the skull, destined to serve as his insatiable begging-bowl.Enjoining him to honor Vishnu and Brahmâ, Shiva then directed Bhairava to roam the world in this beggarly condition to atone for the sin of Brahmanicide. "Show to the world the rite of expiation for removing the sin of Brahmanicide. Beg for alms by resorting to the penitential rite of the skull (kapâlavrata)." Creating a maiden renowned as 'Brahmanicide' (brahmahatyâ), Shiva instructed her to relentlessly follow Bhairava everywhere until he reached the holy city of Kâshî to which she would have no access.
Observing the Kâpâlika rite with skull in hand and pursued by the terrible Brahmahatyâ, Bhairava sported freely, laughing, singing and dancing with his goblin horde (pramathas). Stealing more than the hearts of all women, even the chaste wives of the Seven Vedic Sages (sapta-rshi) as he passed through the Daru forest, the erotic ascetic arrived at Vishnu's door to seek redemption only to find his entry barred by the guard, Vishvaksena. Spearing the latter and heaving the corpse of this Brahman on his shoulder, he pressed before Vishnu with outstretched begging-bowl. Vishnu split his own forehead-vein (see pic 2) but the out-flowing blood, the only suitable offering, could not fill the skull though it flowed for eons. When Vishnu then tried to dissuade Brahmahatyâ from tormenting Bhairava, the criminal observed that "beggars are not intoxicated by the alms they receive as (are others) by drinking the wine of worldly honor." Vishnu venerated him as the Supreme Being, untainted by sins like Brahmanicide, and acknowledged that his dependence and degradation were a mere fancy. Before leaving joyously to beg elsewhere, Bhairava reciprocated by recognizing Vishnu as his foremost disciple and acknowledged the latter's status as "grantor of boons to all the gods." On arriving at Kâshî, Brahmahatyâ sank into the nether-world, and the holy ground on which the skull fell, freeing Bhairava from his Brahmanicide, came to be known as Kapâlamocana. It was on the eighth day (ashtamî) in the dark (waning moon) half of the month of Mârgashîrsha that Lord Shiva manifested himself as Bhairava. Ever since, by performing ablution at Kapâlamocana one is rid of even the worst sin of brahmanicide (brahmahatyâ); and whosoever fasts on this day (Bhairavâshtamî) in front of Kâlabhairava (temple at Kâshî) and stays awake at night is freed from great sins.
The original Kâla Bhairava temple was located on the banks of the Kapâlamocana Tîrtha itself, in the Omkâreshvara area north of Maidâgin in Vâranasî, where Bhairava remained as the 'Sin-Eater' (Pâpa-Bhakshana) par excellence to devour the accumulated sins of devotees and pilgrims. If the pilgrims to Kâshî do not fear death there, this would be because their pilgrimage to the Mahâshmashâna is conceived on the ritual model of Bhairava's own arrival at Kâshî for absolution from his terrible sin and his subsequent establishment there. The paradox of Bhairava's scapegoat function even after his 'purification' can be explained as a 'lawful irregularity' resulting from the two opposing realizations, diachronically disjoined in the myth, of his transgressive essence; it matches the complementary paradox of the pure Kâshî-Vishvanâtha himself being identified esoterically with the impure criminal Bhairava.
**ASPECT OF SHIVA - CONSORT BHAIRAVI - MOUNT DOG
The first syllabus ‘Bhai ‘ means fear and also means refulgent light and both meanings refer the nature of Bhairav
Rava means resound .
That means Bhairava means that by using fear we can get delightment (aseem anand ).
He is often depicted with , angry eyes and sharp, tiger's teeth and flaming hair, stark naked except for garlands of skulls and a coiled snake about his neck. In his four hands he carries a trident, drum, and skull. He is often shown accompanied by a dog. Lord bhairav worship is very useful to win over your enemies, success and all materialistic comforts. It is very easy to please lord Bhairav by doing normal worship daily. Lord Bhairav guards Lord Shiva's temple, due to which He is called "Kotwal" also. Batuk Bhairav is the most worshipped form of Bhairav in tantra.Lord Bhairav protects, removes all obstacles, cleans the soul with his sheer intensity and makes things favourable for a sadhak. He is one of the most feared deities, but actually, he is one of the most rewarding.The vahana (vehicle) of Lord Bhairava is the dog. And he is sometimes shown as holding a severed human head( Head of Brahma), with a dog waiting at one side, in order to catch the blood from the head. Feeding and taking care of dogs is another way of showing our devotion to Lord Bhairava. The best way is to feed 11 dogs on every saturday evening or daily ( as per comfort of sadhak) . The dogs should be feeded halwa puri ( Indian bread with sweat dish ), all problems gets solved automatically by doing this. Lord Bhairava is also known as Kshetrapalaka, the guardian of the temple. In honor of this, keys to the temple are ceremonially submitted to Lord Bhairava at temple closing time and are received from him at opening time. Lord Bhairava is also the guardian of travellers.
108 NAMES OF BHAIRAVA
1. Om Bhairavaaya namaha
2. Om Bhuutanaathaaya namaha
3. Om Bhritaatmane namaha
4. Om Bhuutabhaavanaaya namaha
5. Om Kshetragyaaya namaha
6. Om Kshetrapaalaaya namaha
7. Om Kshetradaaya namaha
8. Om Kshatriyaaya namaha
9. Om Viraaje namaha
10. Om Shmashaanavaasine namaha
11. Om Maamsaashine namaha
12. Om Kharvaroshine namaha
13. Om Smarantakaaya namaha
14. Om Raktapaaya namaha
15. Om Paanayaaya namaha
16. Om Siddhaaya namaha
17. Om Siddhidaaya namaha
18. Om Siddhisevitaaya namaha
19. Om Kankaalaaya namaha
20. Om Kalaashamanaaya namaha
21. Om Kalaakaashtaaya namaha
22. Om Tanaye namaha
23. Om Kavaye namaha
24. Om Trinetraaya namaha
25. Om Bahunetraaya namaha
26. Om Pigala-lochanaaya namaha
27. Om Shuulapaanaye namaha
28. Om Khadgapaanaye namaha
29. Om Kapaaline namaha
30. Om Dhuumralochanaaya namaha
31. Om Abhirave namaha
32. Om Bhauraviinaathaaya namaha
33. Om Bhuutapaaya namaha
34. Om Yoginiipataye namaha
35. Om Dhanadaaya namaha
36. Om Dhanahaarine namaha
37. Om Dhanavate namaha
38. Om Priitivardhanaaya namaha
39. Om Naagahaaraaya namaha
40. Om Naagapaashaaya namaha
41. Om Vyomakeshaaya namaha
42. Om Kapaalabhrite namaha
43. Om Kaalaaya namaha
44. Om Kapaalamaaline namaha
45. Om Kamaniiyaaya namaha
46. Om Kalaanidhaye namaha
47. Om Trilochanaaya namaha
48. Om Jvalannetraaya namaha
49. Om Trishikhine namaha
50. Om Trilokashaaya namaha
51. Om Trinetrataapaaya namaha
52. Om Dibhaaya namaha
53. Om Shaantaaya namaha
54. Om Shaantajanapriyaaya namaha
55. Om Batukaaya namaha
56. Om Batuveshaaya namaha
57. Om Khatvaangadhaarakaaya namaha
58. Om Yanaadhyakshaaya namaha
59. Om Pashupataye namaha
60. Om Bhikshukaaya namaha
61. Om Parichaarakaaya namaha
62. Om Dhuurtaaya namaha
63. Om Digambaraaya namaha
64. Om SHuuraaya namaha
65. Om Harine namaha
66. Om Paandulochanaaya namaha
67. Om Prashaantaaya namaha
68. Om Shaantidaaya namaha
69. Om Siddhaaya namaha
70. Om Shankarapriyabaandhavaaya namaha
71. Om Ashtamuurtaye namaha
72. Om Nidhiishaaya namaha
73. Om Gyaanachakshushe namaha
74. Om Tapomadaaya namaha
75. Om Ashtaadhaaraaya namaha
76. Om Shadaadhaaraaya namaha
77. Om Sarpayuktaaya namaha
78. Om Shikhisakhaaya namaha
79. Om Bhuudharaaya namaha
80. Om Bhuudharaadhiishaaya namaha
81. Om Bhuupataye namaha
82. Om Bhuudharaatmagyaaya namaha
83. Om Kankaaladhaarine namaha
84. Om Mundine namaha
85. Om Naagayagyopavitavate namaha
86. Om Jribhbhanaaya namaha
87. Om Mohanaaya namaha
88. Om Stambhine namaha
89. Om Maranaaya namaha
90. Om Kshobhanaaya namaha
91. Om Shuddhaniilaamjanaprakhyaaya namaha
92. Om Dvityaghne namaha
93. Om Mundabhuushitaaya namaha
94. Om Balibhuuje namaha
95. Om Balibhunanaathaaya namaha
96. Om Baalaaya namaha
97. Om Baalaparaakramaaya namaha
98. Om Sarvaapattaaranaaya namaha
99. Om Durgaaya namaha
100. Om Dushta Bhuutanishevitaaya namaha
101. Om Kaamine namaha
102. Om Kalaanidhaye namaha
103. Om Kaantaaya namaha
104. Om Kaaminiivashakridvashine namaha
105. Om Sarvasiddhipadaaya namaha
106. Om Vaidyaaya namaha
107. Om Prabhave namaha
108. Om Vishnave namaha
Kala Bhairava has a place in all the main temples of Lord Shiva. According to texts about the origin of Kala Bhairava, it is related to the tale of Sati, wife of Lord Shiva, the daughter of the king of Gods, Daksha had chosen to marry Lord Shiva. Her father turned down their alliance due he perceived Lord Shiva as ascetic, associated with Ox, animals and ghosts and did not have a royal lifestyle. Daksha held a yagna and invited all the gods, but not Sati and Shiva. Sati came to the yagna alone where Daksha publicly spoke in a belittling manner about Lord Shiva. Sati could not bear to hear her husband insulted and jumped herself into the sacrificial pyre. When Lord Shiva came to know about this, he destroyed the yagna and killed Daksha by beheading him. Lord Shiva carried Sati's corpse on his shoulders and ran uncontrollably all around the world for days. Since, this would eventually destroy all creation, Lord Vishnu used His Sudarshan Chakra to cut Sati's body into pieces which then fell all around. These spots where Sati's body parts fell are now known as Shakti Peethas. In the form of the frightful Bhairava, Lord Shiva is said to be guarding each of these Shakti peethas. That is why, each Shaktipeeta temple is accompanied by a temple dedicated to Kala Bhairava.
There are 2 important aspects of Bhairav Sadhana. One should be regular in Sadhana and one should not be afraid.
At the end , let me please clarify ,that I am not a Tantric nor an astrologer . I am just a simple devotee of the Almighty Lord. So please forgive me ,if anything on this site is found to be wrong. This site is for vedic worship of Bhagavan Bhairav. We do not want the devotees to indulge in eating of non vegetarian food, nor in drinking of alcoholic drinks. Killing innocent animals and birds in the name of Bali is totally wrong and unforgivable.
Legends
Kala Bhairava, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bhairava with his consort, Bhairavi
The origin of Bhairava can be traced to a conversation between Brahma and Vishnu which is recounted in the Shiv Mahapuran. In it, Vishnu inquired of Brahma, "Who is the supreme creator of the Universe?" Arrogantly, Brahma told Vishnu to worship him as Supreme Creator. One day, Brahma thought "I have five heads. Shiva also has five heads. I can do everything that Shiva does and therefore I am Shiva." Brahma became a little egotistical as a result of this. Additionally, he began to forge the work of Shiva and also started interfering in what Shiva was supposed to be doing. Consequently, Mahadeva (Shiva) threw a small nail from his finger which assumed the form of Kala Bhairava and casually went to cut off one of Brahma's heads. The skull of Brahma is held in the hands of Kala Bhairava; Brahma Kapala in the hands of Kala Bhairava and Brahma’s ego was destroyed and he became enlightened. From then on, he became useful to himself, to the world and deeply grateful to Shiva. In the form of the Kala Bhairava, Shiva is said to be guarding each of these Shaktipeeths. Each Shaktipeeth temple is accompanied by a temple dedicated to Bhairava.
Bhairava himself has eight manifestations i.e. Ashta Bhairava:
Asithaanga Bhairava
Ruru Bhairava
Chanda Bhairava
Krodha Bhairava
Unmattha Bhairava
Kapaala Bhairava
Bheeshana Bhairava
Samhaara Bhairava
Dogs and Kala Bhairava
The vahana (vehicle) of Lord Kaala Bhairava is the dog. Feeding and taking care of dogs is another way of showing our devotion to Lord Kaala Bhairava.
Kala Bhairava day
Kala Bhairava Ashtami, which generally occurs in December/January is an important day for worshipping the Lord.
Kala Bhairava
= Kala Shakti Bhairava
= Kala Chakra Bhairava
In the modern era, it was the Bhairava Siddha Sathguru Venkataraman who first revealed Sri Kala Bhairava Lordship of time to the world at large through numerous articles in the Ashram monthly magazine.
Till then, the word Kala in Kala Bhairava was taken to mean black and Kala Bhairava was referred to as the Black Bhairava or the Terrible One.
But Sathguru Venkataraman pointed out that Kaala Bhairava actually was a shortened form of Kala Shakti Bhairava - the Lord who controls the Shakti of Kala - the Power of Time.
Thus He is the Lord of the March of Time or Kalachakra Bhairava, said the Sathguru, since the shakti of Time that is most obvious to us is its inexorable march.
List of Bhairava temples
Types of Bhairava
[Guard of Earth Bhairava]
Raktha jwalaa Jada dharam, sasi dharan, Rakthanga thejo mayam,
Dakka Shoola kapala pasa gadha dharam Bhairavam,
Nirvanam Gathavahanam Trinayanamcha Ananda kolahalam,
Vande bhootha pisacha natha vadukam Kshethrasya palam Shubham. 1
I salute the leader of ghosts and Ghouls, Lord Bhairava,
Who wears the red flame as his matted hair,
Who wears the moon, who shines in red colour,
Who holds a drum, spear, skull, rope and mace in his hands,
Who is nude, who rides on a dog, who has three eyes,
Who is always happy and exuberant and is the guard of the temple.
Asithanga Bhairava
[Dark Bodied Bhairava]
Trinethram, varadam shantham, munda mala bhooshitham,
Swetha varnam, krupa murthim, Bhairavam Kundalojjwalam,
Gada kapala samyuktham, kumarsya digambaram,
Banam pathrancha sankham cha Aksha maalaam kundalam,
Naga Yagnopaveetham cha dharinam suvibhooshitham,
Brahmani shakthi sahitham, hamsaroodam suroopinam,
SArvabheeshta dharam nithyam asithangam Bhajamyaham. 2
I pray the dark Bhairava who fulfills all desires,
Who is forever, who has three eyes, who blesses and is peaceful,
Who wears a skull garland, who is white, who is the Lord of mercy,
Who shines in his ear globes, who holds mace and the skull,
Who is young and nude, who holds arrow, vessel, conch, bead chain and ear globes,
Who wears snake as sacred thread, who is well ornamented,
Who is with Goddess Brahmani, rides on a swan and is good to look at.
Krodha Bhairava
[Angry Bhairava]
Trinethram, varadam, santham, kumarancha digambaram,
Gadam shankam cha Chakrancha pada pathrancha dharinam,
Lakshmyacha sahitham vame garudasana susthitham,
Neela varnam maha devam Vande Sri Kroda Bhairavam. 3
I salute the angry Bhairava, who is blue and a great God,
Who has three eyes, blesses, peaceful, young and nude,
Who is armed with mace, conch, wheel, rope and a vessel,
Who is near Goddess Lakshmi riding on Garuda the eagle.
Unmatha Bhairava
[Frantic Bhairava]
Trinethram, varadam, santham, kumarancha digambaram,
Hema Varnam, maha devam, hastha vahana susthitham,
Gadgam, kapalam, musalam, dathantham, kedagam thadha,
Varahi shakthi sahitham Vande Unmatha Bhairavam. 4
I salute that Frantic Bhairava who is power called Varahi,
Who has three eyes, blesses, peaceful, young and nude,
Who is of golden colour, great God and rides on a swan,
And who holds sword, skull, Pestle and also the shield.
[Teacher Bhairava]
Trinethram, varadam, santham, kumarancha digambaram,
Dangam krisna mrugam pathram bibranam chakru panakam,
Maheswaryayudham devam vrusharoodam smitha vahanam,
Shudha sphatikam sankaram, namami Ruru Bhairavam. 5
I salute the Bhairava with the deer, who is like pure crystal and a destroyer,
Who has three eyes, blesses, peaceful, young and nude,
Who holds a hatchet, deer, drinking goblet and a sword in his hands,
Who has the armed Maheswari by his side and who is smiling and rides on a bull.
Kapala Bhairava
[Skull Bhairava]
Trinethram, varadam, santham, kumarancha digambaram,
Pasam, Vajram, thadha Gadgam pana pathranch dharinam,
Indrani shakthi sahitham Gaja vahana susthitham,
Kapala Bhairavam Vande padma ragha prabham Shubham. 6
I salute the Bhairava of the skull, who has a shining body,
Who has three eyes, blesses, peaceful, young and nude,
Who holds rope, Vajrayudha, Sword and Drinking Goblet,
Who has with him Indrani Shakthi, is being well praised and rides on an elephant.
Chanda Bhairava
[Fierce Bhairava]
Trinethram, varadam, santham, kumarancha digambaram,
Dhanur banancha bhibranam, Gadgam Pathram Thadaiva cha,
Koumari shakthi sahitham, Shikihi vahana sthitham,
Gowri varnayudham Devam Vande Sri Chanda Bhairavam. 7
I salute the Chanda Bhairava who is pure white in colour,
Who has three eyes, blesses, peaceful, young and nude,
Who holds rope, Vajrayudha, Sword and Drinking Goblet,
Who has with him Kaumari Shakthi and rides on a peacock.
Bheeshana Bhairava
[Terriffic Bhairava]
Trinethram, varadam, santham, kumarancha digambaram,
Gadgam soolam Kapalancha darinam musalam thadha,
Chamunda shakthi sahitham pretha vahana susthitham,
Raktha varnam maha devam Vabde Bheeshana Bhairavam. 8
I salute the Terriffic Bhairava who is a great God of blood red colour,
Who has three eyes, blesses, peaceful, young and nude,
Who holds sword, trident, skull and pestle in his hand,
Who has with him Chamunda Shakthi and rides on a corpse.
Samhara Bhairavam
[Annihilator Bhairava]
Dasa bhahum trinethram cha sarpa yagnopaveethinm,
Damishtra karala vadanam ashtaiswarya pradhayakam,
Digambaram kumarancha simha vahana samsthitham,
Soolam damarugam shankam, gadam chakrancha darinam,
Gadgam pathram cha Gadwangam pasa mangusa meva cha,
Ugra roopam madonmathamam bada vaalai,
Chandika shakthi sahitham dyayeth samhara Bhairavam. 9
I meditate on Bhairava the destroyer, who is with Chandika Shakthi,
Who has ten hands, three eyes and snake as sacred thread,
Who has protruding teeth, fearful look and grants eight type of wealth,
Who is nude, a youth and rides on a lion,
Who holds trident, drum, conch, mace and wheel in his hands,
Who holds sword, vessel, Gadwangam, rope and goad.
And who has fearful looks, wears skull garland and greatly exuberant.
Jai Guru
Jai Bhairav Nath!
Swarnaksharan mantra
Why Bhairava Sadhana?
Out of all the 33 crore gods what is so unique about Lord Bhairava ? And why should one do his sadhana? Let me first begin by saying that Lord Bhairava is the All mighty Sat-chit-ananda , who has taken the form of time. He is nothing different from The Almighty. And that almighty is Ocean of Sat , ocean of Chit and ocean of happiness! So Lord Bhairava cannot be anything different from that ocean of happiness! Lord Bhairava is not a tantrik mumbo jumbo or a cruel deity , but a manifestation of the almighty in the form of time.
His nature is Tamas , i.e he takes you from tamas to moksh. He removes all your sufferings , difficult problems, anxieties and greed. He is said to live on the crematory grounds because , he does not want to be associated with maya( the illusionary world). He is fast . His sadhana yields results very fast.and he is said to be pleased with little practise also. Particularly those who are poor and are in much need of help should worship him. That does not mean that the rich should forget him , no, the rich can gain a lot by his worship, as they can get moksh very fast.
It is always advisable to first ask your Guru for permission before beginning any sadhana. And this is no different. If you do not have a guru, please pay your respects to Datta Guru or any saint . Then , after worshiping Lord Ganesha, your Family deities ( Kul devta and Kul Rakshak) begin Lord Bhairav Sadhana and success will be yours!.
Worship
Shri Swarna Kala Bhairava consecrated at Kaga Ashram, Tiruvannamalai, India
Temples or shrines to Bhairava are present within or near most Jyotirlinga temples. There are also the sacred twelve shrines dedicated to Shiva which can be found all across India including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi and the Kal Bhairav temple, Ujjain. The Patal Bhairav and Vikrant Bhairav shrines are located in Ujjain as well.
Kala Bhairava temples can also be found around Shakti Peethas. It is said that Shiva allocated the job of guarding each of the 52 Shakti Peethas to one Bhairava. There are said to be 52 forms of Bhairava, which are considered a manifestation of Shiva himself.
Traditionally, Kal Bhairav is the Grama devata in the rural villages of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, where he is referred to as "Bhairava/Annadani" Vairavar. In Karnataka, Lord Bhairava is the supreme God for the community and commonly referred to as "Gowdas." In the Gangadhara Gowda caste especially, he is considered the caretaker and punisher.
Another set of people in Kashmir that have their origin from Gorat, or the minister of Mata Sharika, worship Bhairava during Shivratri
The Hindu reformer, Adi Sankara, has written a hymn on Kalabhairava of Kashi which is called Kala Bhairav Ashtakam.
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