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Discover the origins of Lord Bhairav, a fierce incarnation of Lord Shiva venerated by tantriks and yogis for his divine powers. Unravel the ancient tales of divine rage, sacrifices, and protection that led to the manifestation of the formidable deity known as Bhairav.

Characters in the story:
Lord Brahma: Lord Brahma holds a significant position in Hinduism as the divine creator of the universe and all living beings. He is commonly portrayed with four heads, symbolizing his association with the four Vedas.
Lord Vishnu: Lord Vishnu is one of the three major deities in Hinduism, known as the preserver of the universe and the protector of dharma (righteousness). He is often depicted with four arms holding a conch shell, a discus, a mace, and a lotus flower.
Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva holds significant prominence in Hinduism as a prominent deity, revered for his role as the vanquisher of malevolence and the catalyst of universal change. Depicted in various forms, he is often portrayed as a tranquil ascetic engaged in deep meditation or as the divine dancer, adorned with a third eye, an entwined serpent around his neck, and a trident grasped firmly in his hand.
Lord Bhairav: Bhairav is a fearsome incarnation of Lord Shiva, revered by tantriks and yogis for his divine powers and protection. As the formidable deity, he embodies strength, purification, and the liberation of devoted souls from the cycles of life and death.

Lord Bhairav, also known as Bhairon, is an incarnation of Lord Shiva, deeply venerated by tantriks and yogis for gaining various siddhis. Bhairav’s form is fierce, and he is believed to be connected to the Mahavidya goddess named Bhairavi, who bestows purification upon the devotee, safeguarding and enhancing the follower’s body, character, personality, and associated qualities.
The origin of Bhairav can be traced back to a conversation between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. When asked about the supreme creator of the Universe, Lord Brahma proclaimed himself as the most superior. However, Lord Vishnu challenged Brahma’s hasty and overconfident claim, and together, they sought the answer from the four Vedas.
The Rig Veda declared Lord Rudra (Shiva) as the omnipotent deity who controls all living beings. The Yajur Veda revealed that the one worshipped through various rituals is none other than Shiva, who is supreme.
The Sam Veda stated that the revered figure worshipped by Yogis and the one who controls the entire world is Triambakam (Shiva). Finally, the Atharva Veda proclaimed that all human beings can perceive the Lord through Bhakti Marg, and the deity who can alleviate all human worries is indeed Shankar (Shiva).
Despite the unanimous agreement, Lord Brahma remained skeptical and became furious.
At that moment, Lord Shiva appeared as a potent divine light, and in response to Brahma’s fury, Shiva created a divine entity named Bhairav. Fueled by anger, Lord Brahma’s fifth head blazed intensely, prompting Bhairav to seize and remove it from him.
Lord Shiva then instructed Bhairav to travel to various holy places (teerths) to absolve himself of the sin of Brahma Hatya (killing of Brahma). Despite bathing in several teerths and worshipping various deities while carrying Brahma’s head, the sin continued to haunt him. Finally, when Bhairav entered Kashi, the sin vanished into the netherworld.
The place where Brahma’s head fell was named Kapal Mochan Teerth, and from that moment, Bhairav established himself permanently in Kashi, offering refuge to all his devotees. Those living in or visiting Kashi must worship Bhairav, as he grants protection to all who seek him.
Another story about Bhairav’s origin involves Shiva and Sati. Sati, the daughter of King Daksha, chose to marry Shiva, but her father disapproved of the match. In protest, Sati married Shiva anyway. When Daksha held a Yagna and deliberately excluded Shiva, Sati attended the event alone, and Daksha insulted Shiva publicly. Unable to bear the humiliation of her husband, Sati jumped into the holy fire of the Yagna and sacrificed herself.
Enraged by this, Lord Shiva destroyed the Yagna and beheaded Daksha. In his grief, Shiva carried Sati’s lifeless body on his shoulders and ran uncontrollably for days, which threatened the existence of all creation.
To prevent this catastrophe, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to cut Sati’s body into pieces, which fell at different spots around the world, becoming known as Shakti Peethas. As the terrifying Bhairav, Shiva is believed to guard each of these Shakti Peeths, and a temple dedicated to Bhairav accompanies each Shaktipeeth temple.
Among the various forms of Bhairav, one stands out as Swarna Akarshana Bhairav. Bhairav exists in eight forms known as Ashta Bhairav, and Maha Bhairav is considered Shiva himself. Swarna Akarshana Bhairav is the deity who uplifts devotees during times of crisis and protects them from dangers. Those who worship him gain wealth, prosperity, and protection from life’s perils. As one of the Bhairavs, he also liberates individuals from the cycles of birth and death, releasing them from karmic patterns.
Bhairav Mantras:
|| ॐ एआईएम ह्रीं क्लीं श्री बटुक भैरव ||
Om aim hraam kleem shri batuk Bhairavya
|| ॐ ह्रीं बम बटुकाय अपदुधरनय कुरु कुरु बटुकाय ॐ ह्रीं नमः शियाये ||
Om Hreem Bam Batukaya Apadudharanaya Kuru Kuru Batukaya Hreem Om Namah Shivaya
|| ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं हुं ह्रीं हौं क्षं क्षेत्रपालाय काल भैरवाय नमः ||
Om Hraam Hreem Hroom Hrime Hroum Ksham Kshetrapaalaaya Kaala Bhairavya Namah
