Ashta Bhairava Explained

The Ashta Bhairava are the eight manifestations of the Hindu god Bhairava,^[1] a ferocious aspect of Shiva. They are regarded to guard and control the eight cardinal directions. Each of the Ashta Bhairava is regarded to preside over eight subordinate Bhairavas, totalling 64 Bhairavas.^[2] The Ashta Bhairva are described to be subordinate to Kālabhairava, who is considered the supreme ruler of time in the universe and the chief form of Bhairava.

Description

!Form!Attributes!Consort!Direction!Planet!Mount!Shrine!Asterism!Deity

Asitāṅga^[3]	White-complexioned; four arms; japamala, kamandalu, sword, and skull cup	Brahmani^[4]	East	Jupiter	Swan	Sattanathar Temple, Sirkazhi^[5] and Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar Temple, Thirukandiyur^[6]	Pushya	Vishnu^[7]
Ruru	Light blue-complexioned; four arms; deer, axe, sword, and bowl	Maheshvari	Southeast	Venus	Ox	Rathnagiriswarar Temple, Thirumarugal	Kṛttikā/Uttarada/Uttara	Brahma
Caṇḍa	Fair-complexioned; four arms; bow, arrow, sword, and bowl	Kaumari	South	Mars	Peacock	Vaitheeswaran Koil	Mrigashīrsha/ Chitrā/Dhanishta	Surya
Krodha	Dark blue-complexioned; four arms; conch, discus, mace, and bowl	Vaishnavi	Southwest	Saturn	Eagle	Thiruvisanallur, Thirunaraiyur^[8]	Rohini/Hasta/Shravana	Rudra
Unmatta	Golden-complexioned; four arms; sword, skull cup, pestle, and shield	Varahi	West	Mercury	Horse	Thiruveezhimizhalai		Indra
Kāpāla	Shining yellow-complexioned; four arms; thunderbolt, noose, sword and bowl	Indrani	Northwest	Moon	Elephant	Thiruvirkudi, Thirupanthuruthi	Bharani/Pūrva Ashādhā/ Pūrva Phalgunī	Chandra
Bhīṣaṇa	Blood red-complexioned; four arms; sword, skull cup, trident, and pestle	Chamunda	North	Ketu	Lion	Rameswaram, Piranmalai	Ardra, Svati, Shatabhisha, Ashvini, Magha, Mula	Yama
Saṃhāra	Lightning-yellow-orange-complexioned; ten arms; trident, drum, conch, mace, discus, sword, bowl, skull-topped staff, noose, and goad	Chandi	Northeast	Rahu	Dog	Thiruvenkadu, Kolli Malai, Vairavanpatti,^[9] Hosur	Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati	Para Brahman

Temples

All eight of the Ashta Bhairava are featured at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sattainathar Temple, Sirkazhi, Aragalur Sri Kamanada Eswar Temple, the Shri Mahabairavar Rudra Aalayam, and Chengalpattu.

See also

• Ashta Lakshmi
• Ashtamangala
• Ashtavinayaka
• Ashtabharya

External links

• Ashta Bhairavas List

Notes and References

1. Book: Payne . Richard K. . Homa Variations: The Study of Ritual Change across the Longue Durée . Witzel . Michael . 2015-10-22 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-935159-6 . 330 . en.
2. Book: Saravanan, V. Hari . Gods, Heroes and their Story Tellers: Intangible cultural heritage of South India . 2014-01-01 . Notion Press . 978-93-84391-49-2 . en.
3. Book: vdocuments.mx_the-kubjika-upanishad-egbert-forsten-56885839dd6b9 . 7.
4. Book: Singh, Rana . Cosmic Order and Cultural Astronomy: Sacred Cities of India . 2009-10-02 . Cambridge Scholars Publishing . 978-1-4438-1607-6 . 143 . en.
5. Web site: Kanniks Kannikeswaran . Sirkali Bhramapureeswarar -Thoniappar Temple - Shivastalam . 2012-09-01 . Templenet.com.
6. Web site: 30 April 2010 . Thiru Kandiyur . 2012-09-01 . Temples of Tamilnadu.
7. Book: Gopinatha Rao, T. A. . Elements of Hindu iconography . 1914 . Madras : Law Printing House . Cornell University Library . 28.
8. Web site: Navagraha Temples|Tamilnadu Temples Information website| . 2012-09-01 . Kumbakonam-temples.blogspot.sg.
9. Web site: Krishnan . Shamala . 2009-02-10 . Ancient Temples of India: kundrakudi and Vairavan temple, Thirupathore, Madurai . 2012-09-01 . Ancientindiantemple.blogspot.sg.