Kala Bhairav
Kala Bhairav
Kala Bhairav
🕉 In astrology Lord Bhairava is the Lord of Rahu , so to attain the maximum benefits of Rahu, people
worships Lord Bhairava. Bhairava is a fierce form of Shiva. Worship of Lord Bhairon is very useful to
win over your enemies, success and all materialistic comforts. It is very easy to please lord Bhairava
by doing normal worship daily. Coconut, Flowers, Sindoor, Mustard oil, black til etc are offered to the
God to get God’s Blessings.
🕉 There are many interpretations of Lord Bhairavas birth. The origin of Bhairava or Bhairon can be
drawn from the conversation between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu described in “Shiva Maha-
Purana” where Lord Vishnu asks Lord Brahma who is the supreme creator of the Universe. Lord
Brahma proclaimed himself to be that superior person. After the debate they decided to seek the
answer from the four Vedas.
Rig Veda designated Lord Rudra as supreme as He is the omnipotent deity. Yajur Veda replied that
He, whom we worship through various Yajnas (Yagna) and other such rigorous rituals, is none other
than Shiva. Sam Veda stated that the respected figure who is worshipped by various Yogis and that
Person who controls the entire world is none other than Triambakam. Finally, Atharva Veda said, all
human beings can see the Lord through Bhakti Marg and such a deity who can remove all the worries
of human beings is indeed Shankar (Shiva).
But both Lord Brahma started laughing in disbelief. Then Lord Shiva appeared as a powerful divine
light. Lord Brahma stared at Him furiously with his fifth head. Lord Shiva immediately created one
living being and stated that he will be King of Kaal and will be known as Kaal (Death) Bhairava.
Meanwhile, Lord Brahma’s fifth head was still burning with fury and Kaal Bhairava chopped off that
head of Brahma.
Lord Shiva directed Bhairava to go around various holy places (teerths) to get rid of Brahma Hatya.
Kaal Bhairava, with Brahma’s head in his hand, took bath in various holy places (Teerths), worshipped
various Lords, nevertheless saw that Brahma Hatya Dosh was following him all along. He could not
get rid of that affliction. Finally, Kaal Bhairava reached the Moksha Puri, Kashi. The moment Kaal
Bhairav entered Kashi, Brahma Hatya Dosha disappeared into the netherworld. The head of Brahma,
(Kapal) fell at a place which was called Kapal Mochan and there was a Teerth which was later called
Kapal Mochan Teerth. Then onwards Kaal Bhairava stationed himself permanently in Kashi, giving
shelter to all his devotees.
🕉 “A person who circumambulates Lord Kaal Bhairav eight times will be absolved of all the sins
committed by him. A devotee who worships Kaal Bhairav for six months will attain all types of
Siddhi." (Kashi Khand, Chapter 31).
🕉 During Dakshas yajna, Sati could not bear to hear her husbands insult and jumped in the holy fire
of Yagna and sacrificed her.
On hearing this, Lord Shiva destroyed the yagna and killed Daksha by beheading him. Then Shiva
carried Satis corpse on his shoulders and ran uncontrollably all around the world for days. Since this
would eventually destroy all creation, Shri Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to cut Shakti’s body into
pieces, which then fell all around. These spots where Satis body parts fell are now known as Shakti
Peethas. In the form of the frightful Bhairava, Shiva is said to be guarding each of these Shakti
Peeths. Each Shaktipeeth temple is accompanied by a temple dedicated to Bhairava.
🕉 Lord KaalaBhairav is the Lord of Time ; Kal means ‘time’ and ‘Bhairava’ the manifestation of Shiva.
Ashtami after Purnima, the eighth day after full moon, is considered the ideal day to propitiate Kala
Bhairava. 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 Kala Bhairava at temple closing time and
are received from him at opening time.
There’s a shrine for Lord Kala Bhairava in most Shiva temples. The vahana (vehicle) of Lord Kala
Bhairava is the dog. Feeding and taking care of dogs is another way of showing our devotion to Lord
Kala Bhairava. ✨👁✨
Lord Shiva in Indian culture is worshipped in various forms. Just like Kaali is the fiercest form of
Parvati, Kala Bhairava is the most fearful manifestation of Shiva. In certain subsects of Hinduism, he is
equaled to the entire Universe and the most important deity in the Tantric sect. Kala Bhairava is
considered to be the ultimate judge for souls and even Yama cannot interfere in his decisions. Kala
Bhairava has a pitch-black complexion with protruding teeth. He is seen with a black dog who is
considered to be his mount. He is also known as Khestrapala or the protector or guardian of the
cosmos. Some scriptures mention him to be the son of Shiva. There are different legends regarding
his origin. Let us hear a few of them.
At the time of the creation once there was a heated argument between Brahma and Vishnu over
supremacy. Very arrogantly Brahma declared himself to be the most powerful God. He also
mentioned that he was at par with Shiva and could easily perform all his duties. Very soon he started
inferencing in Shiva's work as well. This made Shiva angry and threw a nail from his finger at Brahma.
This nail manifested into Kala Bhairava, the most fearful form of Shiva. Kala Bhairava chopped
Brahma's 5th head to teach him a lesson. Brahma's ego head was completely shattered and he soon
realized his mistake. However, the head got stuck in Kala Bhairava's hand. No matter how hard he
tried he could not get rid of it. He had sinned of killing a brahmin and hence had to carry his karma.
For a long time, Kala Bhairava kept moving across the Universe with Brahma's head in his hand. He
used it to beg alms. He had to undergo this punishment to clear out the karma of killing. Finally, after
some thousand years, Vishnu suggested him to visit Kashi. As soon as Kala Bhairava reached Kashi,
the head finally drooped off and he was set free from the sin. He was so elated that he decided to
stay there forever. This is why he is also called the Kotwal of Kashi. It is mentioned in our scripts that
the land of Kashi or Benares is completely governed by Kala Bhairava. Anyone dying there will have
to deal with Kala Bhairava directly and no matter how bad the person was, he is sure to achieve
Moksha. Post-death the soul goes through the toughest penance which clears his Karma account and
he achieves Nirvana. Not even Yama, the lord of Death can interfere here.
In another version, there was a demon named Dahrusuran. He had a boon that he could only be
killed by a female. Hence Parvati took the form of Kaali to kill him. After killing him. Kaali's anger
manifested into a small child. This is when Shiva decided to merge with Kaali and the little child. This
is when Kala Bhairava was born. This is why Kala Bhairava is also known as the son of Shiva.
In another version once there was a fight between Devas and Asuras. This is when Shiva created Kala
Bhairava. Kala Bhairava then produced 8 Bhairavas known as Ashtanga Bhairavas. These 8 bhairavas
are known to the protectors of the Universe. They are also associated with the 8 key elements i.e air,
water, earth, fire, space, sun, moon, and soul. The Ashtanga Bhairavas went onto marry Ashta
Matrika and produced 64 Bhairavas and 64 Yoginis. These Bhairavas are scattered all across the
Universe and are known as Guardians. They also protect the different Shaktipeeths which were
formed when Vishnu had cut Sati's dead body to get Shiva out of his grief. This is when Shiva had
appointed Bhairavas to protect the different parts which fell on Earth.
Kala Bhairava is married to Bhairavi. The best time to worship Kala Bhairava is midnight, especially on
a Friday night. it is believed that Kala Bhairava protects his devotees from external as well as internal
enemies like greed, lust.anger, etc. He is also worshipped by travellers before starting their journey.
There are numerous temples dedicated to Kala Bhairava especially in Tamil Nadu. He is also
worshipped in nearby countries like Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka.
Kala Bhairava Ashtami
Lord Of Time – ‘Kaal’ means time and ‘Bhairav’ means an aspect of Shiva. So, Kaal Bhairav is the God
of Time. Lord Kala Bhairava bestows good or favourable time.
It falls on the eighth lunar day (ashtami) in the fortnight of the waning moon (Krishna paksha)
The origin of Bhairava can be traced to the conversation between Brahma and Vishnu recounted in
the Shiv Mahapuran where Vishnu asked Brahma who is the supreme creator of the Universe.
Arrogantly, Brahma told Vishnu to worship him, he being the supreme creator.
One day Brahma thought, "I also have five heads, Shiva also has five heads. I can do everything
whatever Shiva does and therefore I am Shiva" Brahma had become a little egoistic. Not only that he
became egoistic, he started to forge the work of Shiva.
Brahma started interfering in what Shiva was supposed to do. Then Mahadeva (Shiva) threw a small
nail from His finger, which assumed the form of Kala Bhairava, and casually went to cut the head of
Brahma. 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.
Then onwards he became useful to himself and to the world and deeply grateful to Shiva. In the form
of the Kaala Bhairava, Shiva is said to be guarding each of these Shaktipeeths. Each Shaktipeeth
temple is accompanied by a temple dedicated to Bhairava.
He is depicted ornamented with a range of twisted serpents, which serve as earrings, bracelets,
anklets, and sacred thread. He wears a tiger skin and a ritual apron composed of human bones.
Bhairava has a dog as his divine vahana (vehicle).
Kala Bhairava is the Guru of the planetary deity Shani (Saturn). So those who are in sade sate (7:1/2
shani(ஏழரை சனி) Worship BHairavar on thei pirai Ashtami Tithi.
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.
Kala Bhairava is a unique manifestation of Shiva, which is in the form of time. We cannot manage
time because it is running at its own pace. Energy we can manage, we can play with it. Time is
running at its own pace, but there is a certain dimension of consciousness, which can go beyond
time. That dimension of consciousness is referred to as Kala Bhairava.
The day is considered holier if Bhairava Ashtami falls on a Sunday or a Tuesday, sacred weekdays
dedicated to Bhairava.
Bhairava is specifically worshipped for success, wealth, health and obstacle removal. A devotee is
said to be freed of sin and the fear of death by observing Bhairava Ashtami.
“Om Hraam Hreem Hroom Hrime Hroum Ksham Kshetrapaalaaya Kaala Bhairavaaya Namaha”