News

Lord Bhairava

Introduction to Lord Bhairava Lord Bhairava or Raudra Rupa is a fierce form of Lord Shiva. In Hinduism, eight distinct forms of Lord Bhairava are worshipped as the Ashta Bhairava. Maha Bhairava, Samhara Bhairava, Asitanga Bhairava, Rudra Bhairava, Kala Bhairava, Krodha Bhairava, Tamrachuda Bhairava and Chandrachuda Bhairava are the eight forms. These eight Bhairavas are believed to govern the eight directions of the universe. Kala Bhairava, the Supreme ruler of time, controls all the other Bhairavas.  Lord Bhairava protects women, who are often considered the weaker and more timid sex.  His idols are installed in all temples. People across India and Nepal devotedly worship Lord Bhairava. How is Lord Bhairava generally depicted? Lord Bhairava is generally depicted with a dark complexion that symbolises time. His protruding teeth and fierce expression indicate his readiness to destroy evil power and shield righteousness. His appearance frightens, especially evil forces. Lord Bhairava’s divine vehicle is a dog. A dog symbolises loyalty to its owner, the ability to navigate through darkness, and the ability to guard faithfully. Lord Bhairava wears a garland of skulls, which denote the cycle of life and death. He is scantily dressed, which indicates detachment from worldly possessions. His divine weapons, the Trident (Trishul) and the Drum (Damaru), represent the destruction of ego, desire, and ignorance, and the rhythm of time. What is the significance of Lord Bhairava? Lord Bhairava is the deity who protects his devotees from external enemies and internal enemies such as lust, greed, anger and other negative emotions. In the name ‘Bhairava’, ‘Bha’ denotes creation, ‘Ra’ represents preservation, and ‘Va’ stands for destruction. Hence, Lord Bhairava merges all the forces of the universe. In Shaivism and Tantric traditions, Bhairava's veneration is prominent. People in Varanasi revere the deity as the guardian of the city, ensuring spiritual order. In Buddhism, Lord Bhairava is recognised as a protective deity. There are 64 Bhairavas, grouped into eight sections, each led by Kala Bhairava, the supreme ruler of time. These eight principal Bhairavas, known as the Ashta Bhairavas, each represent a direction of the universe and express a specific power. Asitanga Bhairava: Improves creativity and prosperity Ruru Bhairava: Supports overcoming enemies Chanda Bhairava: Improves self-confidence Krodha Bhairava: Permits decisive action Unmattha Bhairava: Progresses speech and communication Kapala Bhairava: Abolishes unproductive habits Bheeshana Bhairava: Eliminates negativity and wards off evil Samhaara Bhairava: Dispels negative outcomes from past actions What are the important temples of Lord Bhairava? Lord Bhairava is worshipped across India, Nepal and China in various names as follows: Kashi Kala Bhairav Temple – Varanasi Bhairavnath Temple – Kedarnath Kal Bhairav Temple – Ujjain Bhairav Temple – Bhairavgarh (Ujjain Region) Kala Bhairava Temple – Adichunchanagiri (Karnataka) Sri Kalabhairaveshwar Temple – Bengaluru Kala Bhairava Temple – Kathmandu (Nepal) Swarnakarshana Bhairava Temple – Chennai Thirunirmalai Bhairavar Shrine (Tamil Nadu) What are the blessings of Lord Bhairava? Millions of devotees worship Lord Bhairava for real and transformative benefits. The deity removes fear despite his fearsome appearance. Bhairava destroys all obstacles, whether spiritual, material or mental, as he destroyed Brahma’s ego.  He burns away ignorance, accelerates spiritual growth and illuminates the path to enlightenment.  His Samhara form helps in destroying karmic effects. As a shield, Lord Bhairava protects his devotees from black magic, evil spirits, and negative energies. As the Lord of time, Bhairava bestows discipline in his devotees’ lives.   Lord Bhairava and his popular celebrations Kala Bhairava Ashtami (Bhairava Jayanti) is observed on Krishna Paksha Ashtami (8th day of the waning moon, between November and December). People celebrate this day as his birthday. Monthly Kala Ashtami is observed on Krishna Ashtami every month. Shvana Seva is feeding biscuits to dogs, his divine vehicle. It is believed that feeding dogs can negate all sins and sorrows. Wearing 8 Mukhi Rudraksha and performing Kala Bhairava Pooja and Kala Bhairava Homa help his devotees lead fearless, envy-free, peaceful, and prosperous lives.