1
0
In the vast silence of Kailasha, when the universe itself trembled, Lord Shiva – the serene Mahadev – opened His third eye in righteous rage. From that blazing eye emerged a form so fierce that even the Devas stepped back in awe. Black as the darkest night, with matted hair flying like storm clouds, garlanded with skulls and surrounded by howling dogs and howling winds, Bhairava roared into existence.
(Primary References: Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita, Section V, Chapters 9–12; Linga Purana 1.70–72; Vayu Purana 55.30–42; Bhagavata Purana 4.5–6)
He is not another god.
He is Shiva Himself – unleashed, unbound, unstoppable.
The Brihad-Dharma Purana (3.17) declares: “Bhairavaḥ śiva eva – Bhairava is verily Shiva.”
The moment Brahma’s fifth head grew arrogant and lied about seeing the tip of Shiva’s infinite Lingam, Mahadev plucked that head with His left thumb’s fingernail (Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita 2.5.33–45; Linga Purana 1.71; Kurma Purana 1.14.60–70). The kapāla (skull) stuck to Shiva’s palm as Brahma-hatya pāpa. Wandering as Kapali to expiate the sin, Shiva finally reached Kashi, where the skull fell at Kapalamochana Tirtha (Matsya Purana 180–185; Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda 68). From that very fury and the falling kapāla, Shiva manifested Kala Bhairava – the annihilator of time, ego, and falsehood (Skanda Purana, Kashi Khanda 26.58–70; Shiva Purana, Vidyesvara Samhita 1.9; Varaha Purana 97).
Then came the divine command that still echoes across every sacred land of Bharat:
“Bhairava! From this day, you are the eternal Kshetra-Pala. Guard My Shaktipeeths. Guard every temple, every tirtha, every cave and mountain where My Shakti resides. Let no impure thought, no asura, no ego-driven soul cross your boundary. Be the fire at the gate. Be the howl in the night. Be My wrath made flesh.”
(Direct scriptural references:
- Brahma Purana 77.108–115
- Vamana Purana 45.62–68
- Kalika Purana 91.30–45
- Rudrayamala Tantra, Uttara Khanda, Bhairava-Prakasha
- Mahanirvana Tantra 13.102–108)
And Bhairava bowed – not in submission, but in ferocious acceptance.
From that moment, the Puranas and Tantras unanimously declare Bhairava as Kshetrapala, the supreme field-protector of Sanatan Dharma.
- Devi Bhagavatam (7.30.20–35) states: “Without Bhairava at the door, no Shaktipeeth is ever complete.”
- Shakti-sangama Tantra (Kali Khanda) lists 64 Bhairavas guarding the 64 yogini chakras and the 51/52 Shaktipeeths.
- The Tantraraja Tantra and Mantra-Maharnava affirm that every Devi temple must first install Asitanga, Ruru, Chanda, Krodha, Unmatta, Kapala, Bhishana, and Samhara – the Ashta Bhairavas – before the Devi herself is invoked.
Specific Shaktipeeth-Bhairava pairings mentioned in the Peethanirnaya texts and Kalika Purana:
- Kamakhya (Assam) – Umananda Bhairava
- Kalighat (Kolkata) – Nakuleshwar Bhairava
- Tarapith (Bengal) – Akshobhya Bhairav
- Jwala Ji (Himachal) – Unmatta Bhairava
- Vaishno Devi (J&K) – Bhairava Ghati (the cave itself is guarded by Bhairavnath)
- Ujjain Mahakaleshwar (Avanti Shaktipeeth) – Kapilambara/Lambkarna Bhairava
- Kashi Vishwanath/Vishalakshi – Kala Bhairava & Dandapani Bhairava
The Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva 13.160 & Shanti Parva 342) and Padma Purana (Srishti Khanda 17) describe Bhairava as “Gananam-adhipati” – commander-in-chief of Shiva’s terrifying Ganas, appointed to punish temple-desecrators and protect pilgrims.
The Kalabhairava Ashtakam by Adi Shankaracharya (verse 7):
“kshetrajñam cāpi mām viddhi sarvakshetreṣu bhārata”
(“Know me as the knower and lord of every sacred field in Bharatavarsha.”)
Worship prescriptions from authoritative texts:
- Bhairava-Yamala Tantra, Mantra-Mahodadhi (Taranga 19), and Netra Tantra prescribe black til, urad dal, mustard oil lamp, black flowers, and madira (in Vamachara sadhana).
- Kaula traditions (Mahanirvana Tantra 8.80–90) state that even a drop of sincere tears offered to Bhairava removes lifetimes of sin.
Every Krishna Ashtami after Poornima – Kalashtami – is His day.
Skanda Purana (Kashi Khanda 31 & 99) calls Kala Bhairava the “Kotwal of Kashi” who personally patrols the 108 shrines every Kalashtami night with his rod of punishment (danda). Whoever commits sin in Kashi is dragged by Bhairava’s noose to the court of justice.
The Matsya Purana (Chapters 180–193) and Brahmanda Purana warn that anyone who damages a temple guarded by Bhairava is reborn as a worm in dung for 60,000 years – this is why even ruthless invaders mysteriously halted or met sudden doom before destroying certain Shaktipeeths.
He is Shiva’s anger transformed into eternal vigilance.
He is Mahadev’s love expressed as unbreakable protection.
So the next time you step into a temple and feel a sudden shiver…
The next time a dog barks exactly when you’re about to take a wrong turn on a pilgrimage…
The next time you feel watched by eyes that burn like fire in the darkness…
Bow your head.
Bhairav Baba is watching.
And He has been watching for millions of yugas – because Mahadev commanded it so, and every Purana, Tantra, and Mahatmya bears eternal witness.
Jai Kala Bhairava! Jai Bhairav Baba! Jai Sri Kshetrapala!
The fiercest form of Shiva, the eternal guardian of Sanatan Dharma’s holiest flames.
Shiva #KaalBhairav #Kalabhairava #Bhairava #BhairavBaba #Shaktipeeth #KshetraPal #Kalashtami #SanatanDharma #Tantra #Purana #DivineGuardian #HinduScriptures
