Bhairava
Bhairava , ( Sanskrit : भैरव , m, lit. "the terrifying" or "the terrible"), also called Bhairav, is the destructive incarnation of the Hindu god Shiva .
Legends
There are different versions or traditions of the legends surrounding the creation of Bhairava. However, two main strands can be distinguished, both are closely linked to Hindu creation myths.
Ask about the highest God
According to the Kurma Purana , one day a dispute arose between Vishnu and Brahma over the question of which of the two was the supreme god in the universe. Brahma asked Vishnu to worship him. Thereupon the also present Shiva, who also claimed to be the highest, became so angry that he assumed the form of Bhairava and cut off Brahma's fifth head. After he had calmed down, he realized what a grave crime he had committed, namely a Brahmin murder . As a penance he carried the severed head of Brahma with him and wandered around aimlessly until he could at last atone for his guilt by bathing in the holy river Ganga (see also Kapalikas ).
Incest Punishment
In another legend, Brahma becomes aware of chaos as the creator of the world and creates Sarasvati , the goddess of creation and wisdom. This in turn is to be equated with Shatarupa, with whom Brahma fell so much in love that he emanated a fifth head in order to be able to observe her at all times. The incest of Brahma with his daughter arose Manu , the first human, but also animals. As a punishment for the incest , Bhairava / Shiva then cut off the fifth head of Brahma with his sword.
Representations
Despite the many possible variations in his iconography , Bhairava is always shown standing and usually with wide legs in an aggressive posture. In his usually four hands he holds on the one hand the most important attributes of Shiva - the trident ( trishula ) and the hourglass drum ( damaru ) , but on the other hand also a sword or a club ( gada ) and the severed head of Brahma or his skull bowl. His jewelry often consists of a snake collar and a skull chain. Accompanying figures are sometimes Dakinis - naked female celestial beings comparable to the skeletal emaciated Chamunda . His companion animal ( vahana ) is a dog.
There are also depictions in which Bhairava and Chamunda can be seen as an extremely emaciated ascetic. Especially in northern India and Nepal he is shown in sexual union with the goddess Kali . He is also represented as Rakta Bhairava or Bhairava Brahma .
Manifestations
In Shivasutra , Bhairava is seen as the dynamic aspect of Shiva. As one of the 8 forms of Shiva, he has 8 manifestations: Kala Bhairava (time), Asitanga Bhairava, Samhara Bhairava, Ruru Bhairava (teacher), Krodha Bhairava (anger), Kapala Bhairava, Rudra Bhirava and Unmatta Bhairava (furious) - the names can vary slightly. According to Swami Lakshmanjoo, Rudra is the evil manifestation aspect of Shiva.
distribution
Representations of Bhairavas are mainly common in the north of the Indian subcontinent, with his representations and his veneration of particular importance in Nepal. He is also considered the country's patron god. Bhairava representations have also found their way into the world of Tibetan Buddhism and Tantrism . In South India, on the other hand, Virabhadra dominates with other mythological background legends.
literature
- Anneliese and Peter Keilhauer: The Imagery of Hinduism. The Indian world of gods and their symbolism. DuMont, Cologne 1983, ISBN 3-7701-1347-0 .
- Veronica Ions: Indian Mythology. Hamlyn Publishing, London 1988, ISBN 0-600-34285-9 .
- Wolf-Dieter Storl: Shiva. The wild, kind God. Koha, Burgrein 2002, ISBN 3-929512-90-4 .
- Stella Kramrisch: The Presence of Siva. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1981, ISBN 0-691-01930-4 .
Web links
credentials
- ↑ http://www.bhakthi.in/stotras.php?id=120 8 manifestations
- ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from October 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme by John Hughes and Lakshman, TB 2007 Secret Supreme
