Bhairava, the Almighty Lord and Protector (Part- II)

     

In many Shaivite temples one sees a shrine for Bhairava in Northeastern corner. Bhairava is regarded as the guardian or Kshetrapalaka of the main temple. Our trip to Kashi is incomplete if we do not visit Kala Bhairava’s temple. He is the sole guardian of Kashi and the sixty-four ghats are under the protection of Bhairava. The manifestation of Bhairava from the angry fierce third eye of Shiva happened when Lord Brahma became very much proud of his power and declared Himself as the Supreme Brahman without paying heed to Lord Vishnu’s warnings. Bhairava subdued Brahma’s ego and illusion by cutting off his fifth head. Brahma realized his mistake and worshipped Shiva with humility. This episode clearly reveals that Bhairava removes our false ego and illusion or maya. But the use of violence causes evil effect even on gods. So Lord Bhairava wandered through various worlds carrying Brahma’s skull which stuck to his left palm. He visited various Punya Khetras (holy places) and bathed in various rivers to get rid of Brahma Hatya Dosha. Ultimately when he entered the sacred city of Kashi, he was freed from his sin. Bhairava stayed there as the guardian of that holy city. Here he resides in his eight manifestations.

 In Vriddha Kaleshwara temple Ashitanga Bhairava is seen in the premises of Maha Mritunjay temple in front of the Amritha Kundam. In the Durgakund temple, Chanda Bhairava is seen. Krodha Bhairava is seen in Kamaccha. Kapala Bhairava is seen at Alaipur, Varanasi. Ruru Bhairava is seen near Hanuman Ghat. Unmattha Bhairava is located near Sadak Deora Village, Panchakoshi Road. Samhara Bhairava is located near Gai Ghat. Bhishana Bhairava or Bhootha Bhairava is located near Kashipura, Maidagin, Varanasi. Kaala Bhairava is located at Bharonath near Vishehwara Ganj,Varanasi.The place where brahma's skull fell down from His palm is called Kapalamochan Thirtha.

The presence of Bhairava is seen in all fifty one Shakti Peethas where the parts of Sati’s body fell when Lord Vishnu cut off her body to distract Shiva from his grief and anger. Shrines for Bhairava are also seen in twelve Jyothirlinga Kshetras. There are eight manifestations of Bhairava to give protection from evil forces and bless good people with success, wisdom, strength, victory and supernatural powers or Siddhis. Worship of Bhairava gives prosperity, prevents apamrityu (premature death), removes harmful effects of evil spirits,  prevents the bad effects of Lord Saturn, relieves debts, and gives good progeny.From each of the eight Bhairavas eight more subordinate Bhairavas emerged as protectors of creation making the total number of them as sixty-four. Kashi is the Bhairava kshetra where all sixty four Bhairavas stay protecting the ghats and holy shrines. Bhairava as the Lord of Time and Space controls evil spirits, devils and black magic.

Ruru Bhairava

Asitanga Bhairava

                      

Chanda Bhairava

Krodha Bhairava

                      

Kapala Bhairava

Unmathha Bhairava

                    

Bheeshana Bhairava

 Samhara Bhairava

       

 Asitanga Bhairava (gives creative ability) in eastern direction with blue complexion is seated on a swan. His consort is Brahmi.  Ruru Bhirava (gives divine knowledge) is seen in south east direction with white complexion riding on a bull and his consort is Maheshwari. Chanda Bhairava(gives energy and defeats rivals)  with golden complexion  in the south is seen riding on a pea-cock with Koumari. Krodhana Bhairava (gives power to do great things), black in complexion, is seen riding on an eagle with Vaishnavi in southwest direction. Unmattha Bhairava (controls negative ego), with golden complexion is seen riding on a horse with Varahi in western direction. Kapala Bhairava (ends all unrewarding work and actions) with pink complexion is seen with Indrani riding on an elephant in the northwestern direction. Bheeshana Bhairava (obliterates evil spirits and negativity) with red complexion is seen riding on a lion along with Chamundi in the north while Sarva Shatru Samhara Bhairava (complete dissolution of negative karmas) with white complexion is seen in northeast riding on a dog with Chandi as His consort. Generally there are no separate shrines for these eight consorts as they are considered as different forms of Bhadra Kali or Bhairavi.

                   

                                 Swarnakarshana Bhairava

    

In Tiruvisainallur one can see the shrine of Swarnaakarshana Bhairava built by the great master Sri Vembu Sidhar. Swarnakarshana Bhairava with golden complexion and golden hair is seen here with a crescent moon holding lotus flowers in his two upper hands and holding a Kalash (pot) with nectar in his lower right hand and embracing his consort seated on his left thigh and with his other hand showing Abhaya Mudra (sign of protection).Worshipping this Lord gives wealth and prosperity. He is also known as Dhanakarshana Bhairava.

  In the Southern India one can see many Bhairava shrines in many ancient temples. In Chidambaram Nataraja temple, Swarna Bhairava shrine is seen just a step below the main hall (Chitra Sabha) of Sri Nataraja temple. In olden times the priests used to keep a brass plate at the feet of the Lord Bhairava and chant Bhairava mantra sixty four thousand times. The next morning they found the brass plate turned into a plate of gold. They used to sell that plate and divide the amount among themselves. According to some legends, Bhairava plucked off the fifth head of Lord Brahma in Myladuturai (Kutulam) .After twelve years of wandering Bhairava visited Khetrapalakapuram where he was relieved of his Brahmahatya  dosham. Lord Ganesh with white complexion (Sveta Vinayagar) asked Him to leave His trident there. Lord Ganesh threw that trident into a pond called Shoola Theertham. So here the Lord is seen withojut holding a trident. Lord Kala Bhairava here was worshipped by Brahma, Indra, nine planetary deities and Pandavas.

In Nagapattinam of Karyayoganar temple,  Samhara Bhairava’s shrine is seen in north facing south. The pond here is called Pundarika Theertham which was formed by the flow of Ganges from Shiva’s matted locks and from waters of many temples. So it is called Sarva Theertham. In the months of November and December devotees take their holy bath here to get rid of their sins. In Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleshwara temple, inside the Rajagopuram Kala Bhairava with eight arms is seen. In Seergazhi Sattainathar temple located in Sirkali, Tamilnadu, Ashtabhuja Bhairava with eight hands is seen in the northern part of the  Hall. In Tanjavur Brihadeeswara temple Lord Bhairava with eight hands is seen facing east close to the big Nandi at the entrance to the Garbhagriha (Inner sanctum). In Yogasivanaadhar temple at Kumbhakonam there are four Bhairavas called “Chaturyuga Bhairavas”. In Patteswaram one can see one of the biggest Bhairava idols. In Cholapuram, at a distance of twelve kms from Kumbhakonam on Kumbhakonam to Tirupanadal route, there is Bhairaveswara Linga which was worshipped by sixty-four Bhairavas.  In Arullolinadhar temple in Vairavanpatti, Karaikudi, Lord Bhairava has a separate sanctum and is named as “Marthanda Bhairava.” In Sri Thygaraja temple at Thiruvarur and in Sri Bhuvanagirishwara temple at Thiruchirapalli, one can see shrines for Bhairava. In Sringeri (Karnataka) Bhairava with three legs is seen. In Adichunchangiri Mutt there is a shrine for Kala Bhairava. 

                        

              Kalabhairava temple, Ramareddy

                       

In Karnataka Lord Bhairava is the supreme deity for the community called Vokkaligas who consider Bhairava as caretaker and punisher. In Maharashtra Kala Bhairava is regarded as a guardian deity of the Village (Grama devata) and referred as Bhairavnath.  In Panagal Pachchala (Telengana), Bhairava is seen in Someshwara temple. In Isannapalli (also called Ramareddy, Kamareddy District, Telengana State) there is a famous Kalabhairava temple established in 18^th century during the rule of Rajanna Chowdari who ruled Domakonda and Ramareddy with Bikanoor as his capital town. The statue is smeared with sindoor  and decorated with a five-hooded serpent over His crown. The water in this temple pond never dries and has medicinal properties. There is a well (called Moola Bhavi) nearby and devotees after taking bath in the temple pond enter the shrine with wet clothes and perform abhishekam to the Lord with the water drawn from this well. The gigantic peepal trees around provide a shady shelter and fresh air to pilgrims. Previously the main deity was installed under the shade of the peepal tree without any roof. But later the temple was built with tower and mandapas. Many devotees having family troubles, incurable physical ailments and mental complaints come here to worship the Lord and obtain His grace.  People of this area regard this holy temple as holy as Kashi Kshetra. Previously there used to be eight shrines of Bhairava set up in nearby places. But except this shrine all others went out of existence.

  Thus Bhairava, the fierce manifestation of Tatpurusha form of Rudra, bestows protection from malefic effects of planets, nullifies the negative effects of black magic and removes Pitru Dosha and other other adverse conditions. As the Lord of Time and space he blesses his devotees and punishes the vicious people who try to harm them. He is Yoga Bhairava for ascetics, Gnana Bhairava for Yogis, Ugra Bhairava for warriors and Bhoota Bhairava (Lord of five elements) for protecting people from natural calamities. As Vatuka Bhairava He killed Mundakasura who tortured Brahma. As Maha Bhairava along with his consort Pratyangira he killed Andhakasura.  So one should understand Bhairava tatwa as the omnipotent divine timless consciousness that protects devotees and punishes the sinners and evil spirits.

               Namo Bhootha natham Namo Prethanadham

               Namo Kala Kalam Namo rundamalam

               Namo Kalika prema lolam Karalam

               Namo Bhairavam Kashika Kshetrapalam.       

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        28th September, 2019                            Somaseshu Gutala