Bhairab - A form of Shiva

Bhairava, sometimes known as Bhairo or Bhairon, is the fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation. He is one of the most important deities of Nepal, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike. Bhairava is invoked in prayers to destroy enemies.

Kal Bhairab - The Legend

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 as his divine vehicle.

The origin of Bhairava can be traced to the conversation between Lord Bramha and Lord Vishnu recounted in "Shiv Maha-Purana" where Lord Vishnu asks Lord Bramha who is the supreme creator of the Universe. Arrogantly, Bramha tells Vishnu to worship him because he (Bramha) is the supreme creator.

This angered Shiva who in reality is the creator of all. Shiva then incarnated in the form of Bhairava to punish Bramha. Bhairava beheaded one of Bramha's five heads and since then Bramha has only four heads. When depicted as Kala Bhairava, Bhairava is shown carrying the amputated head of Brahma.

Cutting off Brahma's fifth head made him guilty of Brahmanicide, and as a result, he was forced to carry around the head for years until he had been absolved of the sin.
Another story of the origin of Bhairava is the tale of Sati, wife of Shiva. Sati, the daughter of the king of gods, Daksha, had chosen to marry Shiva.

Her father disapproved the alliance because he perceived Shiva as an ascetic associated with animals and ghosts and a frugal lifestyle. Eventually, Daksha held a yagna (a ritualistic sacrifice) and invited all the gods, but not Sati and Shiva. Sati came to the yagna alone, where Daksha publicly spoke belittlingly about Shiva. Sati could not bear to hear her husband insulted and offered herself to the sacrificial pyre.

When Shiva learned of this, he destroyed the yagna and killed Daksha by beheading him. Shiva carried Sati's corpse on his shoulders and ran uncontrollably all around the world for days. Since this would eventually destroy all creation, Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra (divine discus) to cut Sati's body into pieces, which then fell all around.

These spots where Sati's 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 Shaktipeeths. Each Shaktipeeth temple is accompanied by a temple dedicated to Bhairava.

Several Forms of Bhairab

-> Akaash Bhairab

It belongs to the Tantra Class.A three storey temple in the main market avenue, called Indra Chowk,Kathmandu the image of Akash Bhairav is displayed outside for a week during Indara Jatra, the festival of Indra - the God of Rain.

-> Seto Bhairab

One of the most dramatic sights in Kathmandu, heightened by the fact that it is revealed only once a year and then only for a few days is the great golden mask of Seto Bhairab, in the Durbar Square. Commissioned in 1769 by King Rana Bahadur Shah, a great builder who in anguish caused more temples to be destroyed than he had built, its purpose apparently is to protect the old palace by warding off evil influences.

Normally the mask can barely be glimpsed behind a carved wooden screen. But during the days of Indra Jatra and the coinciding festival of the Living Goddess, it is open to public view, its golden crown of serpents, skulls and rock-sized jewels half hidden by floral and paper decoration: the petrified smile on its golden face heightened by black, red and white paint: awesomely colossal: too magnificent to be terrifying, though its white teeth suggest sacrificial hunger and its angry eyes were designed to strike fear into evil hearts.


-> Kal Bhairab

The statue of Bhairab, in the Kathmandu Durbar Square, shows Shiva in his most fearsome form. The large stone deity of Kala Bhairab wears a garland of skulls, has six arms and stands on a dead body of a demon. The deity was said to have been found in a field north of the city. The lions on top and the sun and moon on the left were added later.
It is believed that to tell a lie in front of Kala Bhairab will instantly die, and disagreements in the past would be resolved here.