Kala Bhairava – Applied Indology

Kala Bhairava is the shortened form of Kaala Shakti Bhairava, the Lord who controls the Shakti of Kala – the Power of Time. A Fearsome Destroyer emanation of Lord Shiva, Whose name translates to the Terrifying Blackness of Time-Death The Sanskrit word ‘Kala’ simultaneously meaning ‘Black’, ‘Death’, and ‘Time’.

The name Bhairava is replete with deep meaning. The first syllable ‘Bhai’ means fear and also lustrous light. It is said to endow one with material wealth. ‘Rava ’ means echo. While ‘Ra’ casts off negativity and restricted consciousness, ‘Va’ keeps creating opportunities. In totality Bhairava denotes that by using fear we can attain ‘Aseem Anand’ or extreme delight.

Kalabhairava means one who has mastered time or has killed time. Time is a consequence of your physical nature, and your physical nature is a consequence of time. It goes both ways because everything that is physical in the universe is naturally cyclical. Whether it is the atomic or cosmic, everything is in cycles. Without cyclical movement, there is no possibility of physicality. Being unclad, and having no possessions, Bhairava is known as “Pashupathi” or the Lord of those bound by the noose.

Bhairava is a wandering form of Shiva. There are 64 Bhairavas in all. These Bhairavas come under 8 categories. Each of these categories is headed by one major Bhairava in that particular group. The leader Bhairavas are referred to as Ashtanga Bhairavas. These 8 Bhairavas, who guard and control the 8 directions of the universe, are as follows:

Kala Bhairava is Shiva in his entirety, yet displays dark characteristics unbecoming of an all-powerful god. Bhairava is known to have eight names and representations: Kala Bhairava (that which time is afraid of), Kalaraja (lord of time and death) Kapaline (skull carrier), Asithanga (one with black limbs), Samhaara (destruction), Ruru (storm), Bheeshana ( Terrifying), Unmatta (raging) the Supreme Beggar, and Krodha (Anger).

• Asithaanga Bhairava
• Ruru Bhairava
• Chanda Bhairava
• Krodha Bhairava
• Unmattha Bhairava
• Kapaala Bhairava
• Bheeshana Bhairava
• Samhaara Bhairava

All these Bhairavas are controlled by Maha Swarna Kala Bhairava, also known as Kala Bhairava. He is the Supreme Godhead and the ruler of the rest of the Bhairavas. Kala Bhairava’s consort is Bhairavi, the terrible aspect of Parvati, or Kali. This frightful aspect of the Lord is predominantly worshipped by the Aghora sect. Residents of Kashmir, who have their origin from Gorat, worship Bhairava during the festival of Shivaratri.

Once while travelling around the universe, Brahma reached the top of Sumeru Parvatha, where great rishis were meditating. They asked Lord Brahma a question and desired to know who was indestructible & supreme. Lord Brahma proclaimed himself to be that superior person. On hearing this Lord Vishnu reprimanded Lord Brahma for his hasty & audacious utterances.

Very soon, verbal dual erupted between them to determine who is superior. It became so severe that a battle was fought between them, which continued for very long time. All the deities became very worried when they saw no sign of battle coming to an end.

Both of them went to four Vedas to asked the same question. Rig Veda replied that the omnipotent deity who controls all living beings, named Rudra is supreme. Yajur Veda replied that He, whom we worship through various Yagnas (Yagam) and other such rigorous rituals, is none other than Shiva, who is supreme.

Sama Veda stated that the respected figure who is worshipped by various Yogis and that person who controls the entire world is none other than Trayambakam. 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 being is indeed Shankara. In a nut shell, all the four Vedas proclaimed that Lord Shiva the ultimate being.

They decided to go to Lord Shiva, to seek his help. When Lord Shiva reached there, he manifested himself in the form of ‘Analstamba’ (Pillar of fire) between them. Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were very surprised to see the pillar of fire, which reached the sky and penetrated down the Earth.

Lord Vishnu transformed himself into a boar and went to the ‘Patala’ (Underworld) to find the base of that ‘Pillar of fire’. But he was unsuccessful in his attempt and came back. Similarly Lord Brahma transformed himself into a swan and flew up in the sky to find its limit. While going through the aerial route he met a withered ‘Ketaki’ flower, who told Lord Brahma that he had been present there since the beginning of the creation, but was unable to know about the origin of that ‘Pillar of fire’.

Lord Brahma then sought his help to give a false witness before Lord Vishnu, that he (Lord Brahma) had been successful in seeing the limit of that pillar of fire. Then, Lord Brahma told Lord Vishnu that he had seen the limit of that Pillar of fire, Ketaki flower gave a witness. Lord Vishnu accepted the superiority of Lord Brahma.

Lord Shiva became very angry with Lord Brahma. Overflowing with anger, Lord Shiva opened his third eye and from it manifested ‘Bhairava’. Addressing him as Kala Bhairava (Lord of Time-Death) as he shone like the God of Death, Lord Shiva said- “You are called Bhairava because you are of terrifying features and are capable of supporting the universe. You are called Kala Bhairava, for even Time-Death is terrified of you.”

Lord Shiva ordered him to punish Lord Brahma, promising him in return eternal lordship of the city of Kashi (Varanasi). In a short period of time, Bhairava ripped off Lord Brahma’s guilty head with the nail of his left thumb. Seeing this, the terrified Lord Vishnu devotedly recited sacred hymns to Lord Shiva, followed in this by the repentant Lord Brahma to calm Shiva down.

But the story does not end with the mere decapitation of Brahma’s head. The creator was, after all, a Brahmana, and a powerful one at that. This one act of Bhairava made him into the first being in the universe to commit Brahmahatya, a grave karmic sin.

The severed head immediately stuck to Bhairava’s hand, where it remained in the form of the skull, destined to serve as his begging-bowl. Lord Shiva then directed Bhairava to roam the world in this beggarly condition to atone for the sin of Brahmahatya. Lord Shiva said “Show to the world the rite of expiation for removing the sin of Brahmahatya. Beg for alms by resorting to the Prayaschitha of the skull (kapalavrata).” Creating a young girl renowned as Brahmahatya, Lord Shiva instructed her to relentlessly follow Bhairava everywhere until he reached the holy city of Kashi to which she would have no access.

He has an encounter with a group of Rishis in Deodar forest, who could not recognize Bhairava and only saw a untidy haired, skull carrying madman, moving around, howling in joy. Anxious Rishis was that in spite of his unattractive external appearance, this ghost like figure attracted all the women in that area. Angered, they uttered a curse and his linga / Lingam fell on the ground and changed into a pillar of light. This beggar form of Shiva is known as the Bhiksatana murthi – nude, four-armed, surrounded by spirits and jackals, followed by women.

Observing the Kapalika rite with skull in hand and pursued by the terrible Brahmahatya, Bhairava sported freely, laughing, singing and dancing with his goblin horde (pramathas). As he passed through the Daru forest, the erotic ascetic arrived at Lord Vishnu’s door to seek redemption only to find his entry barred by the guard, Vishwaksena. Bhairava killed him and carrying the corpse of this Brahman on his shoulder, he pressed before Lord Vishnu with begging bowl .

Lord Vishnu split his own forehead-vein but the out flowing blood as a suitable offering, could not fill the skull though. When Lord Vishnu then tried to convince the young girl Brahmahatya from tormenting Bhairava. Before leaving joyously to beg elsewhere, Bhairava reciprocated by recognizing Lord Vishnu as his foremost disciple and acknowledged Lord Vishnu’s status as Grantor of Varahs / boons to all the Gods. On arriving at Kashi, the skull fell on the ground, freeing Bhairava from his sin and Brahmahatya sank into the Suthala ( Nether land).

Many Aspects and Emanations of Mahadeva that are rather strongly associated with the notion of ‘Terror’. Sri Rudra, for instance, is described in the Vedas as ‘Dreaded’ and as the horrifying Howling of the Storm Wind [with the adjective ‘Aghora’ of Lord Shiva, made up of the components ‘A-‘ as a negation, and ‘Ghora’ meaning ‘frightening’, being straight-up used to specifically invoke Mahadeva’s non-terrifying side.

Kala Bhairava, the God of Time management Since ‘Time’ is a relative term, it has different significance for different people. Some may have lots of time on their hands and don’t know how to spend it, while some are so busy that they are hard pressed for time, but there can be no disputing the fact that once the time is over, it is gone forever, never to recur again, ‘Time and Tide wait for no one’.
The vahana (vehicle) of Lord Kaala Bhairava is the dog. Feeding and taking care of dogs is another way of showing our devotion to Lord Kala Bhairava. All krishna paksha ashtamis are dedicated to Bhairava, but out of the 12 krishna ashtamis in a year, the one which falls in the month of Margashirsha is very auspicious. It is believed that on this day, Lord Kala Bhairava appeared on Earth.

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About Author:
Subhasini BA, is a Screenplay writer, Director, creative director, costume designer and producer, whose work has featured in some of the most prestigious film festivals in the country and internationally. She has collaborated on several film projects juggling different roles. 

In beginning of her career, she worked as Associate director and Costume Designer with the acclaimed director Girish Kasaravalli. She’s written and directed a documentary film on the famed Krishna Temple in Udupi, and also written plays, screenplays for films and short form content for some of the leading technology companies in India, including Microsoft, Akamai Technologies, LAM Research, and SAP. 

With Knowledge in Sanskrit, Subhasini is a seeker of the Eternal Truth / Santana Dharma, writes on dharma. She is passionate about History, Mythology, Philosophy and Spirituality. She believes Dharma is the manifestation of the natural strength of every living soul.
She lives in Cincinnati.

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