Batuka Bhairava Explained

Batuka Bhairava or Vatuka Bhairava is a fierce form of Shiva in Hindu iconography, associated with his manifestation of Bhairava. This form of Shiva is depicted as a fierce, nude youth,^[1] usually accompanied with a dog in the Tantric tradition.^{[2] [3]}

Iconography

In the Rupamandana, Batuka Bhairava is prescribed to be depicted with eight arms, in which six hold the khatvanga (club), the pasha (whip), the shula (spear), the damaru (drum), the kapala (skullcup), and a snake, with the other two carrying a piece of flesh and expressing the abhaya mudra. A dog is stated to be depicted nearby, the same shade as the deity.^[4]

The Sharadatilaka Tantra text prescribes various depictions of the deity according to their sattva, rajas, and tamas gunas.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Book: Balfour, Edward . The Cyclopaedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia, Commercial, Industrial and Scientific ... . 1885 . B. Quaritch . 299 . en.
2. Book: Stutley, Margaret . The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography . 2019-04-09 . Routledge . 978-0-429-62425-4 . 78 . en.
3. Book: Kusuman, K. K. . A Panorama of Indian Culture: Professor A. Sreedhara Menon Felicitation Volume . 1990 . Mittal Publications . 978-81-7099-214-1 . 115 . en.
4. Book: Rao, T. A. Gopinatha . Elements of Hindu Iconography . 1985 . Motilal Banarsidass Publishers . 978-81-208-0878-2 . 177 . en.
5. Book: Stutley, Margaret . The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography . 2019-04-09 . Routledge . 978-0-429-62425-4 . 78 . en.