Bhairavi

For Hindustani raga (North Indian classical music), see Bhairavi (Hindustani). For Carnatic music ragam (South Indian classical music), see Bhairavi (Carnatic).

Not to be confused with Bhairava.

Bhairavi worshipped with other Mahavidyas in a Kali Puja pandal in Kolkata.

Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of the Devi virtually indistinguishable from Kali, except for her particular identification as the consort of the Bhairava.

Symbolism

Bhairava with his consort, Bhairavi.

She is also called Shubhamkari, good mother to good people and terrible to bad ones. She is seen holding book, rosary, and making fear-dispelling and boon-conferring gestures. She is also known as Baala or Tripurabhairavi. It is believed that when Bhairavi entered the battle field, her fierce appearance made the demons become weak and very feeble, and it is also believed that most of the demons started panicking as soon as they saw her. The consort of Goddess Bhairavi is Bhairava an aspect of Shiva.

Bhairavi is seen mainly as the Chandi in the Durga Saptashati version of slaying Shumbha and Nishumbha. However, she kills and drinks the blood of Chanda and Munda the Chieftains of asuras, so the Goddess Parvati gives her a boon that she would be called Chamundeshwari. In other forms, she is also identified with Parvati or Durga. When furious, she is found sitting on a faithful donkey, with her mouth full of demons' blood, her body covered with a tiger skin and skeleton. She also presents the abhaya mudra and vara mudhra, and she is shown holding weapons such as a trishula (trident), parashu (axe), and vajra (thunderbolt).

Bhairavi

Other definitions

Bhairavi is also a title for a female adept in Kundalini Tantra. A yogini is a student of Tantra, or an aspirant. A Bhairavi is one who has succeeded. The name Bhairavi means "Terror," or "awe-inspiring," so the one who has achieved the state of Bhairavi, is beyond the fear of death, and therefore awesome.

Temples

Many South Indian Temples are dedicated to Bhairavi as Baala Tripura Devi. One of the famous shrines of her is in Jagannath Temple, Puri as Vimala. The Vimala temple is also known as a Bhairavi temple. In Brahmayamala Tantra Vimala is regarded as the Shakti of Purusottama Kshetra.

Linga Bhairavi temple at Isha Yoga Center (Kovai, Tamil Nadu).

Bhairavi Shakti Peeth temple located at the bank of holy Bagmati river at Gokarna Kathmandu, Nepal where Sati's left ear fell.

See also

• Devi
• Mahavidya

References

• Kinsley, David (1988). Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-06339-2.