Kaal Bhairav Temple, Varanasi – Legends

Kaal Bhairav Temple, Varanasi – Legends

Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma are the three main Gods of Hinduism. Once, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu got into a fight regarding who is the supreme among all three. Both, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu went to the four Vedas for the answer of same question. All the Vedas pronounced Lord Shiva as the supreme power. Both Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma laughed at this conclusion.

Lord Shiva got angry and went into a rage that created a ferocious light. Lord Vishnu surrendered but Lord Brahma continued to stare at the light, which caused one of his heads to burn out. Lord Shiva has instantly created the new being Bhairava or Kaal Bhairav, who decapitated Brahma's fifth head. However, the head stuck to Kaal Bhairava’s hand.

Lord Shiva then ordered Kaal Bhairav to go to various places but Brahmana Hatya, the sin of beheading Brahma personified as a gory woman, followed him until he reached Varanasi where Brahma's head fell on the ground. The place is called Kapal Mochan Teerth. He was freed of the sin of Brahmana Hatya as he entered Varanasi.

Lord Shiva then pronounced that Kaal Bhairav will forever be in Varanasi in order to remove sins of his disciples. He also came to be called as Paap Bhakshak. The Kaal Bhairav is said to be the Inspector of Kashi. It is believed if he gets angry on someone, the person cannot leave Varanasi for his entire life.

Bhairav is considered a fearsome manifestation of Shiva. He wears a garland of skulls and carries a club of peacock feathers. Kaal Bhairav, whose name, Kaal means both Death and Fate, in addition to meaning Black. He is the black one who has also assumed the duties of the God of Death in Kashi. Even Death, it is said, is afraid of Kaal Bhairava.