Bhairava Path Sangrah – Kaala Bhairava is the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva associated with annihilation. He is one of the most important deities of Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Nepal who originated in Hindu mythology and is sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike.
He is depicted 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. Bhairava has a dog (Shvan) as his divine vahana (vehicle). Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of the Devi who is virtually indistinguishable from Kali, with the exception of her particular identification as the consort of Bhairava.
Bhairava himself has Eight Manifestations:
Asitanga Bhairava
Ruru Bhairava
Sanda Bhairava
Krodhana Bhairava
Unmatta Bhairava
Kapala Bhairava
Bishana Bhairava
Samhara Bhairava
Kala Bhairava is conceptualized as the Guru of the planetary deity Shani (Saturn). Bhairava is known as Bhairavar or Vairavar in Tamil where he is often presented as a Grama devata or village guardian who safeguards the devotee on all eight directions (ettu tikku). Known in Sinhalese as Bahirawa, he protects treasures. Lord Bhairava is the main deity worshipped by the Aghora sect.
Kalabhairava, the fearsome aspect of Lord Shiva, is the God who is the protector of Benares. Once Brahma insulted Lord Shiva and his fifth head teasingly laughed at Lord Shiva. From Lord Shiva came out the Kalabhairava (Black Bhairava) who tore off the fifth head of Lord Brahma. On the entreaties of Lord Vishnu, Shiva pardoned Lord Brahma. But the sin of beheading Lord Brahma followed Kalabhairava everywhere. Also the head of Brahma stuck to him. To keep away the sin and punishment which were chasing him, Kalabhairava entered the city of Benares. The sin could not enter the city. Kalabhairava was made as the Kotwa of Benares. Kalabhairava rides on a dog. A pilgrimage to Kasi is not supposed to be complete without visiting the temple of Kalabhairava.
Another story identifies Kalabhairava with Veerabhadra who cut off the head of Daksha the father of Sathi Devi, when he insulted Lord Shiva. Sathi’s body was cut into pieces and strewn all over India giving rise to Shakthi Peetas. Outside every Shakthi Peeta is the temple for Bhairava.
In another story, Kalabhairava is the form of Shiva who controls the growth and management of time. Whoever wants to spend, manage or ration their time in a proper manner should pray him.
He is also considered as the guardian of temples of Lord Shiva. After locking the doors of the temple of Lord Shiva, the keys are ceremonially offered to Bhairava.
This Ashtakam is recited by the priests of the temple of Kalabhairava in Benares before blessing the devotee with a tap by the cane of Lord Kalabhairava.
Kalashtami, or Maha kalaBhairavashtami, is the most auspicious day dedicated to Lord Kala Bhairava. Lord kala Bhairava is a manifestation of Lord Shiva. Kala Bhairava is the God of Time – Kal means ‘time’ and ‘Bhairava’ the manifestation of Shiva. Ashtami after Poornima, the eighth day after full moon, is considered the ideal day to propitiate Kala Bhairava. In 2012, Kala Bhairavashtami is on Dec 06.
Lord Kala Bhairava is also known as Kshetrapalaka, the guardian of the temple. In honor of this, keys to the temple are ceremonially submitted to Lord Kaala Bhairava at temple closing time and are received from him at opening time.
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.
There are eight types of Bhairavas and they are called ashta Bhairavas. They are Asithanga Bhairavar, Ruru Bhairavar, Chanda Bhairavar, Krodha Bhairavar, Unmatta Bhairavar, Kapala Bhairavar, Bhishana Bhairavar and Samhara Bhairavar. Apart from these eight forms there is yet another form called Swarna akarshana Bahiravar. Maha Bhairavar is said to be Shiva himself.
The Swarna akarshana Bhairavar has red complexion and clothed in golden dress. He has moon in his head. He has four hands. In one of the hands he carries a golden vessel. He gives wealth and prosperity.
Bhairav Sadhana:
Out of all the Gods one thing is very unique about Lord Bhairava that’s his sadhana? Before we know Bhairav Sadhana we need to know what the meaning of sadhana. sadhana means a discipline undertaken in the pursuit of a goal by saying that Lord Bhairava is the All mighty Sat-chit-ananada , 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 Bhirava is not a Tantrik mumbo jumbo or a cruel deity, but a manifestation of the almighty in the form of time.
His nature is Tamasi, i.e he takes you from Tamas to Moksh. He removes all your sufferings(Suffering is serious pain which someone feels in their body or their mind.), 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 practice 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, not 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 you start any Sadhana. Then after worshiping Lord Ganesha, your Family deities ( Kul devta and Kul Rashak) then begin Lord Bhairav Sadhana and success will be yours for sure!. Jai Bhairav Baba Ki!
About Lord Bhairav Temples
Kamakhya Temple, which is situated at the top of the Nilachal Hill at about 800 feet above the sea level. The entire temple complex not only comprises of many other temples but also a whole set of people connected with them. Apart from the main devi temple, it also comprises of some other major temples of devi Kali, Tara, Bagala, Chinnamasta, Bhuvanesvari, Bhairavi and Dhumavati.
There are some other temples of various goddess can be seen in the complex. They are the Sitala Temple, the Lalita Kanta Temple, The jayaDurga Temple , the Vana Durga Temple, the Rajarajesvari Temple, the Smasanakali temple, the kail temple of Abhayananda dharmashala and the Sankhesvari temple. There are five temples of Lord Shiva in the Kamakhya complex. They belongs to different forms of Lord Shiva like Kamesvara (Umananda), Siddhesvara, Amratokesvara (Heruka), Aghpra, and kotilinga (Tatpurusa).
The complex also contains three temples of Lord Visnu. They are as the Kedara (Kamalesvara), situated near the northern side of the main temple, as the Gadadhara, situated in the north-western direction of the Kamakhya temple, and as Pandunath, which is situated in the eastern foothills of Nilachal also kinown as Pandu.
Kamakhya (Kamachha) Devi Temple of Varanasi is one of the most famous and known temples in Varanasi. The most famous and known among the Shakti Peethams in India is Kamakhya Devi whose temple is at the Kamaksha suburb of Guwahati city in Assam. She is represented in Kashi in the neighborhood named after her, Kamachha.
Here she resides in a temple, which is small but very popular among the local dwellers. Devotees believe that the goddess came to Kashi directly from Kamaksha at the request of one of her devotees from Kashi who by his arduous austerity and rituals persuaded the goddess to come and settle in Kashi. Her image is installed over an altar of Shri Yantra.
She is eulogised as one of the Shaktis (“great power”), and as one of the Yoginis. Among the devotees who are followers of Tantrism, Kamaksha Devi is the pre-eminent deity. During Navaratri, special decorations and celebrations are performed by the devotees…
The small temple of Krodha Bhairavar (the angry Bhairavar), representing one of the eight forms of Bhairava, the terrifying form of Shiva, who protects the inner city in all the eight directions, is situated near to Kamakhya temple. The popular Batuka Bhairavar Temple (Batuka means boy) situated very close at the east side . Batuka Bhairavar temple also has an idol of Ghrishaneshvar lingam representing one among the 12 Jyotira lingas of Shiva…
A little walk to the further west along the main lane is Vaidyanatha (“Lord of Physicians”), another among the 12 Jyotira lingas like the one mentioned above. Vaidyanatha, with many miracles to his credit, is very popular in the neighborhood, which is named after Parli Vaijnath in Maharastra State…
