Bhairava Ashtami

Bhairava Ashtami is a Hindu sacred day that commemorates the birth of Bhairava, Shiva’s terrifying and furious incarnation. It occurs on the eighth lunar day (Ashtami) in the Hindu month of Kartik or Margashirsha, during the fortnight of the waning moon (Krishna paksha). Bhairava is revered for success, riches, health, and the elimination of obstacles.

On Bhairava Ashtami, a 24-hour devotion is held, with prayers, and stories about Bhairava, Shiva, and Parvati being told. An arati of Bhairava should be done at midnight with conches, bells, and drums. Observing Bhairava Ashtami is said to relieve a devotee from sin and the fear of death. Bhairava is called Dandapani, as he holds a rod or Danda to punish sinners. He rides a dog, so he is also known as Swaswa meaning “whose horse is a dog”. In Tamil Nadu medu vada maala and jaggery Pongal are offered to Bhairav. Flowers and sweets are offered to Bhairava, Shiva, Shiva’s consort Parvati, and Bhairava’s vahana, the dog. Milk, sweets, curds, and other foods are also given to dogs as gifts.

Origin Tale of Bhairava:-

According to the tradition told on the occasion, the Trimurti gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, were debating who was the superior of them all in a serious mood. When Shiva was enraged by Brahma’s words, Bhairava (Kala-Bhairava) came from Shiva’s angry forehead and severed Brahma’s head, leaving him with only four heads. Due to the sin of killing Brahma i.e. Brahmahatya, the head of Brahma clung to Bhairava’s left palm. To repent for his brahmahatya sin, Bhairava had to take the Kapali vow of traversing the earth as a naked beggar with the slain’s skull as his begging bowl. His sin is ultimately forgiven when Bhairava reaches the sacred city of Varanasi, where a temple devoted to him still exists.

Important Places of Worship:-

On this day, a gold or silver image of Kala-Bhairava is made and immersed in a brass metal pot filled with water in the Bhairav Prasad Temple in the Vaishno Devi hills of Kashmir, and worshipped with all scriptural prayers, as is done to Shiva.

On the auspicious day of Bhairava Ashtami, Kala Bhairava, the city’s guardian deity, is worshipped in his temple in Varanasi. A fabric covers the centre except for his face for the rest of the year, but on this day, the cloth is removed to expose the entire image. On this particular day, the image is covered with a garland of silver skulls. Several worshippers go to the temple to take advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the entire image.

• Featured Image : britishmuseum.org
• 2nd Image: Twitter