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| Kala Bhairavar fully decorated |
Today is Kalashtami or Maha
Kalabhairavashtami. The eigth day after the Full Moon or the Eighth day of the
Waning Moon in the month of Margsirsha. As it comes exactly in the middle of
the fifteen days from the first day after the full moon to New Moon day, this
Ashtami is also called Madhyashtami or the Centered Eighth Day. This day is
sacred to a Hindu deity called Kaala Bhairavar. This deity is a personification
of Shiva.
There are many stories about
Bhairavar. Some say he came from the head of Brahma. But the more plausible
tale is related thus in the Shiva Mahapuranam. Those were the ages when Brahma
sported a fifth head atop his four. Steeped in arrogance Brahma remarked to
Vishnu that he was the supreme being
superior even to Shiva. Angered by this Shiva manifested Kala Bhairava from
between his eyebrows. Kaala Bhairava immediately proceeded to behead Brahma and
removed the very head that had blasphemed Shiva. But in this process he became
a sinner guilty of beheading a Brahmin. Brahma’s skull stuck to his hand. He
had to wander everywhere before he got his reprieve.
Kala Bhairava is a resident of
Kasipuri. He is also Kshetrapalaka and the keys of every Shiva temple are
deposited in the Bhairava shrine at the close of the Rituals.
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