Avatar of Lord Shiva:Bhairava Avatar

 Lord Bhairava ​​is the fierce form and Avatar of Lord Shiva.Bhairava means"terribly fearsome form". Lord Bhairava ​​is also called the protector of Kashi.Lord Bhairava ​​is also known as Lord Kaal Bhairava. One interpretation is that he protects his devotees from dreadful enemies, greed, lust and anger.Lord Bhairava Vehicle is Black Dog.

LORD BHAIRAVA

STORY OF BHAIRAVA AVATAR:

      According to Shiv Purana, once there was a dispute between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma as to who is the greatest among us. Both of them started arguing on this matter.Then both of them went to the four Vedas respectively to know the answer to their question.  Everyone told him that Lord Shiva is the best creator of the universe.Hearing the answers of the four Vedas, Brahma and Vishnu started laughing out loud.  During this, the ego of Brahma ji increased further.

 

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         Then at that time Lord Shiva appeared before both of them in the form of an infinite linga.  Lord Shiva, who was talking to them in the form of that linga, said to them that both of you do not argue on this matter.Lord Shiva said to them that both of you were born from me, Brahma ji you were created to create the universe and Vishnu ji you were created to maintain the universe,but Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were not ready to accept this. 

           So Lord Shiva in form of that infinite linga told them that one who will find the end of this linga between you both, he will be omnipotent.Agreeing on this,Lord Brahma went upside to find the end of the linga upside and Lord Vishnu went downside.But both of them did not get the end of that Huge infinite Mahalinga, so they thought of going higher.

     After sometime,Lord Vishnu realized that there was no end to this superpower and he gave up.But on his way,Lord Brahma found the flower of Ketki and thought that by showing this flower, I can give proof of successful done of my work.Lord Brahma said to that flower that Ketki , I will create the universe in the coming times and I will give you a good and important place in that universe.You just have to do one thing that you have to say in front of Mahalinga that I have found the end of this huge Mahalinga.The flower of Ketaki obeyed Lord Brahma accompanied him and reached in front of Mahalinga .

      Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma both came after some time at the place where they started and that MahaLinga asked them whether any of them got the end of it.Lord Vishnu said that,"O venerable I cannot find the end of this mahalinga because it is infinite,so you are the Supreme Lord."Lord Shiva was happy with the answer of Lord Vishnu

      Brahmaji was asked that if you could find the end of this Mahalinga, he said in egoism that," I have found the end of this Mahalinga and this Ketki flower is the proof of that".Then Lord Shiva appeared from that Mahalinga. Lord Shiva got very angry on lie of Lord Brahma and he cursed Lord Brahma that,"even after you are the creator of the universe, you will not be worshiped".

       Then Lord Brahma again said to Lord Shiva due to arrogance and egoism that," who you are the one to ban my worship, I am the creator of the universe, so I am the Supreme Lord".Then part of Lord Shiva had taken the form of avatar as Lord Bhairava.And he ​​uprooted the fifth head of Lord Brahma.

   Lord Shiva asked Bhairava ​​to visit all the pilgrimages to get rid of the killing of Lord Brahma.  Then Kaal Bhairav ​​took the severed head of Brahma ji in one hand and visited all the pilgrimage places in turn and took bath in all the rivers.  

      Still he did not get rid of the sin of killing Lord Brahma.  Finally he reached Kashi, as soon as he went there, he got freedom from the sin of killing Brahma.  From his hand the fifth head of Brahma ji fell on the ground.  That place is called Kapal Mochan Teerth.

     The person who remembers the Kapal Mochan Teerth situated in Kashi, his sins in this birth and all other births are destroyed. Coming here, after taking a ritual bath and offering obeisances to the ancestors and deities, a person becomes free from the sin of killing Brahman.

      Since then, Kaal Bhairava ​​settled in Kashi forever.  It is believed that since then Kaal Bhairava resides permanently in Kashi.He is called the waking god of Kali Yuga.Lord Bhairav ​​guards the Shaktipeeths at the behest of Lord Shiva.Therefore, along with the 51 Shaktipeeths of the Goddess, the temple of Kalbhairav ​​must also be there.

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ANOTHER STORY RELATED TO CUTTING OF FIFTH HEAD OF LORD BRAHMA:

There is one more story related to fifth Head of Lord Brahma that after cutting off the fifth head of Brahma, Bhairav ​​became guilty of the sin of killing Brahma. Then Brahmahatya arose there and started troubling Bhairav. Then Lord Shiva ordered Bhairav ​​to observe a fast to get rid of Brahmahatya and said – By the time this girl (Brahmahatya) reaches Varanasi, then taking a terrible form, you go ahead of it.

 It is in Varanasi that you will get freedom from the sin of killing Brahma. While roaming everywhere, when Lord Bhairav ​​entered the liberated city of Varanasi Puri, at the same time Brahmahatya went to Hades and Bhairav ​​got freedom from the sin of Brahmahatya.

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MENTIONED IN :

Bhairava Avatar of Lord Shiva is mentioned in these texts :

1.Shiva Purana

                             ॐ कालभैरवाय नमः

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4. Sunatnartaka Avatar of Lord Shiva

5. Avadhut Avatar of Lord Shiva