Bhairava
Bhairava | |
---|---|
Affiliation | Shiva |
Mantra | ॐ भैरवाय नमः ॥ oṁ bhairavāya namaḥ |
Weapon | Trishula, Khaṭvāṅga, Sword, Kapala, Sickle, Vajra, Noose, Pinaka bow, Pashupatastra arrow, Pestle and Damaru |
Day | Tuesday and Sunday |
Number | 33 |
Mount | Dog |
Festivals | Bhairava Ashtami |
Consort | Bhairavi |
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Bhairava (
Bhairava is worshipped throughout India, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Japan, as well as in Tibetan Buddhism.[9][10]
Etymology
Bhairava originates from the word bhīru, which means "fearsome". Bhairava means "terribly fearsome form". It is also known as one who destroys fear or one who is beyond fear. One interpretation is that he protects his devotees from dreadful enemies, greed, lust, and anger. These enemies are dangerous as they never allow humans to seek God within. There is also another interpretation: Bha means creation, ra means sustenance and va means destruction. Therefore, Bhairava is the one who creates, sustains and dissolves the three stages of life. Therefore, he becomes the ultimate or the supreme.[11][full citation needed]
Hinduism
Legend
The legend of the origin of Bhairava is traced back to a conversation between Brahma and Vishnu described in the Shiva Purana.[12]
Shiva manifested as a pillar of light to settle the dispute of superiority between Brahma and Vishnu. Brahma dishonestly proclaimed his victory, stating that he had discovered the higher end of the pillar of light. To punish him for his dishonesty and arrogance, Shiva produced Bhairava from the region between his brows. When Bhairava sought instruction from Shiva, the deity directed him to, "worship Brahma with his sharp-pointed quick-moving sword". Bhairava decapitated the fifth head of Brahma for uttering the falsehood. Vishnu interceded on Brahma's behalf and sought mercy, and the two deities then worshipped Shiva.[13]
Having committed the sin of brahmahatya (the murder of a Brahmin) by decapitating Brahma, Bhairava was pursued by the terrible female personification of the sin. The skull of Brahma was still attached to his hand. To expiate himself of the sin, Bhairava roamed the three worlds. He visited Vaikuntha, where he was honoured by Vishnu and Lakshmi. When Bhairava visited Kashi, the city of the liberated, Brahmahatya left him, and the skull of Brahma was released from his hand.[14]
In another legend, Brahma is regarded to have stated to Vishnu to worship him as the supreme creator of the universe. Noting that both Shiva and he had
There is another school of thought that states that Shiva himself created Bhairava. It states that there was once an asura named Dahurāsura, who got a boon that he could be killed only by a woman. Parvati took the form of Kali to kill him. The wrath of Kali killed the asura. After killing the asura, her wrath metamorphosed as a child. Kali fed the child with her milk. Shiva made both Kali and the child to merge with him. From this merged form of Shiva, Bhairava appeared in his eight forms (Aṣṭāṅga Bhairavas). Since Bhairava was thus created by Shiva, he is sometimes said to be one of the sons of Shiva.[17]
The Puranas also give a version of Bhairava. In this version, there was a war between devas and asuras. To eradicate the asuras, Shiva created Kala Bhairava, from whom the Aṣṭāṅga Bhairavas were created. These Ashta Bhairavas married the Ashta Matrikas. Both groups of these deities are described to possess dreadful forms. From these Ashta Bhairavas and Ashta Matrikas, 64 Bhairavas and 64 Yoginis were created.[18]
Depiction
Normally in Shiva temples, idols of Bhairava are situated in the north, facing Southern direction. He is also called Kṣhetrapāla. He appears in a standing position with four hands. His weapons are drum, pāśa (noose), trident and skull. In some forms of Bhairava, there are more than four hands. He appears with a dog. His weapons, the dog, protruding teeth, terrifying looks, and a garland with red flowers all give him a furious appearance.[19][20]
In all Shiva temples, regular puja (reverence) rituals begin with Surya and end with Bhairava. Devotees offer what is understood to be favored by Bhairava: a ghee bath (abhiṣeka), red flowers, ghee lamp, unbroken coconut, honey, boiled food, fibrous fruits etc. If a Bhairava idol is facing west, it is good; facing south is moderate; facing east is not good. The right time to pray to Bhairavi is midnight. At midnight it is said that Bhairava and his consort Bhairavi will give darśana (appearance) to their devotees. The most appropriate time is a Friday midnight. There are eight types of flowers and leaves used in archana (अर्चन) to Bhairava.[21][22]
In Kashmir Shaivism, Bhairava is the ultimate form of manifestation or pure "I" consciousness.
One of his forms is called Svarṇākarṣṇa Bhairava ; In this form, he has red or blue complexion and is clothed in golden dress. He has the moon over his head. He has four hands, one of which he holds a golden vessel. He gives wealth and prosperity. Performing pūja on Tuesdays gives quick results. In some of the ancient texts he is said to have thirty two hands, the shape of a bird, golden complexion, terrible teeth, and a human form above the hip. Worshipping him destroys enemies.[1][23]
Some forms of Bhairava are guardians of the eight cardinal points. There are 64 Bhairavas. These 64 Bhairavas are grouped under eight categories and each category is headed by one major Bhairava. The major eight Bhairavas are called
Bhairava is also called upon as protector, as he guards the eight directions of the universe. In Shiva temples, when the temple is closed, the keys are placed before Bhairava. Bhairava is also described as the protector of women. He is described as the protector of the timid and in general women who are timid in nature.[26][27]
It is generally believed that worshiping Bhairava gives prosperity, success and good progeny, prevents premature death and gives solution to debts and liabilities. Different forms of Bhairava evolve only from Śiva, who is called the Mahā Bhairava.[28][29][30]
Trika System
List of Bhairavas
The list of manifestation of Shiva:[31][unreliable source?]
This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: The names of these manifestations are rendered in regional languages rather than the standard Sanskrit. (December 2022) |
- Batuk Bhairava
- Abhiru
- Akshobhya Bhairava
- Amar
- Ambar
- Amritaksha
- Asitanga Bhairava
- Bagh Bhairava
- Baidyanath
- Bhadrasen
- Bhava
- Bhiruk
- Bhishan
- Bhoothnath Vetal / BetalBhairava
- Chakrapani
- Chanda
- Chandrashekhar
- Ghanteshwar
- Jogesh
- Kala Bhairava
- Kapalbhairav
- Kapali
- Kapilambar
- Kramadishwar
- Krodhish
- Ksheer Kantak
- Kshetrapaala Bhairava
- Lambkarna
- Maharudra
- Mahodar
- Marthanda
- Matang Bhairava
- Nakuleshwar
- Nandikeshwar
- Nimish
- Pachali Bhairava
- Patal Bhairava
- Rakshaseshwar (Nayanair)
- Rudra Mahadev
- Ruru
- Sambaranand
- Samhaar Bhairava
- Sanhar
- Sanwart
- Sarvanand
- Sarvanand
- Shai Bhairava
- Shri Khutkuni Bhairava
- Sthanu
- Swarnakarshan Bhairava
- Trayambak
- Tripuresh
- Trisandhyeshvara
- Tumbeswar
- Umananda or Bhayaanand
- Unmatta Bhairava
- Vakranath
- Vakratund
- Vamana
- Varaha (Baraha)
- Vatsnabh or Dandpani
- Vikrant Bhairava
- Vikritaksh
- Vimocanā
- Viśveśvara
Buddhism
Buddhism also adopted Bhairava (Tibetan: 'Jigs byed; Chinese: Buwei) as a deity and a
These texts play a particularly important role in the
Bhairava - Mahakala is also popular in Mongolia as a protector deity and was also popular among the Manchus.[35]
The deity is also central to Newar Buddhism. The tantric practices associated with Bhairava focus on the transformation of anger and hatred into understanding.[36]
Worship
Temples or
Gorat Kashmiris are known to worship Bhairava during
Observances
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Iconography
Bhairava is depicted as being ornamented with a range of twisted serpents, which serve as earrings, bracelets, anklets, and sacred thread (
Bhairava himself has eight manifestations called the
- Asitāṅga Bhairava
- Ruru Bhairava
- Caṇḍa Bhairava
- Krodha Bhairava
- Unmatta Bhairava
- Bhīṣaṇa Bhairava
- Saṃhāra Bhairava
Kala Bhairava is conceptualized as the guru-natha (teacher and lord) of the planetary deity Shani (Saturn).[46][47]
Bhairava is known as Bhairavar or Vairavar in
-
Rakta Bhairava
Temples
Bhairava is an important deity of the
In south Karnataka, Lord Sri Kalabhairaveshwara is present as Kshetra Palaka in Sri Adichunchanagiri Hills.[50]
Kala Bhairava temples can also be found around
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 0691019304
- ^ Gopal, Madan (1990). Gautam, K.S. (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 76.
- ^ "Bhairava: The Wrathful". Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-208-0820-1.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9897613-6-9.
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- ISBN 0231126190
- Wikidata Q55879169. (subscription or UK public library membershiprequired)
- Wikidata Q55919026 (subscription or UK public library membershiprequired)
- ^ Hiltebeitel
- ^ The Śiva Purana, Śatarudra Samhita, chapter 8, The Śiva Purana, part III (English translation), Motilal banarsidass Publishers Private Limited, Delhi, reprint edition (2002), pp. 1097–1103.
- ISBN 978-81-208-3868-0.
- ISBN 978-81-208-3870-3.
- Wikidata Q55879169.
- ^ Chalier-Visuvalingam, Elizabeth. "Bhairava's Royal Brahmanicide: The Problem of the Mahābrāhmaṇa", pp. 157–229 in Hiltebeitel
- ^ Lorenzen, David. "New Data on the Kāpālikas", pp. 231–238 in Hiltebeitel
- ^ Masilamani-Meyer, Eveline. "The Changing Face of Kāttavarāyan", pp. 69–103 in Hiltebeitel
- ^ Shulman, David Dean. "Outcaste, Guardian, and Trickster: Notes on the Myth of Kāttavarāyan", pp. 35–67 in Hiltebeitel
- ^ Sontheimer, Gunther Dietz. "Between Ghost and God: A Folk Deity of the Deccan", pp. 299–337 in Hiltebeitel
- ^ Visuvalingam, Sunthar. "The Transgressive Sacrality of the Dīkṣita: Sacrifice, Criminality, and Bhakti in the Hindu Tradition", pp. 427–462 in Hiltebeitel
- ^ Doniger O'Flaherty, Wendy. Siva: The Erotic Ascetic. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981
- ISBN 978-0-521-24875-4.
- ^ "Kala Bhairava Ashtakam – Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia". www.hindupedia.com. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- S2CID 143517233.
- ^ Erndl, Kathleen M. "Rapist or Bodyguard, Demon or Devotee: Images of Bhairo in the Mythology and Cult of Vaiṣṇo Devī", pp. 239–25 in Hiltebeitel
- ^ Sukul, Kubernath (1977). Vārānasī Vaibhava. Patna, India: Bihar Rastrabhasa Parisad
- ^ Lorenzen, David (1972). The Kāpālikas and Kālāmukhas: Two Lost Śaiva Sects. Delhi: Thomson
- ^ Eck, Diana L. (1983) Banaras: City of Light. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
- JSTOR 2802004.
- ^ "Shaktipeeth Bhairava". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- )
- ^ Siklós, Bulcsu (1996) The Vajrabhairava tantras: Tibetan and Mongolian versions, English translation and annotations, Institute of Buddhist Studies.
- ISBN 0861715810
- ^ a b Skorupski, Tadeusz. The Buddhist Forum. Vol. 4. pp. 186–187.
- ISBN 1932476016
- ISBN 978-81-223-0997-3.
- ISBN 0-7102-0236-9.
- ISBN 81-206-0488-1.
- ^ "Hindu Bhakti". hindubhakti.blogspot.com. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ISBN 81-288-1239-4.
- ^ Bhairava statuette Archived 30 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine in copper from 15th–16th century Nepal, in collection of Smithsonian Institution. Accessed August 11, 2007.
- ISBN 1577662733
- S2CID 143596725.
- ^ vdocuments.mx_the-kubjika-upanishad-egbert-forsten-56885839dd6b9. p. 7.
- ^ பைரவரைப் போற்றும் தேவாரப் பதிகம்
- ^ பைரவர்
- ^ Harper, Katherine Anne, and Brown, Robert L. (Eds) (2002). The Roots of Tantra. Albany: State University of New York Press.
- ISBN 978-1-135-18979-2.
- ^ "Bhairav Temple – Lord Bhairo Baba". shaligramrudraksha.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ^ Chalier-Visuvalingam, Elizabeth & Sunthar Visuvalingam (2006). Bhairava in Banaras: Negotiating Sacred Space and Religious Identity. Wiesbaden, Germany: Harrassowitz.
Cited sources
- Hiltebeitel, Alf, ed. (1989). Criminal Gods and Demon Devotees: Essays on the Guardians of Popular Hinduism. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-88706-982-7.
External links
- Shri Kala Bhairava Mandir, New Delhi Archived 29 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine