Bhairava

By Jit Majumdar

causer of fear; maker of fearful noise
fearsome; frightening; awesome; terrible; formidable; destroyer of fear
the terrible and dark aspect of Śiva; the collective name for the personified aspects or manifestations of Śiva who are 8 in number, namely: Kāla Bhairava, Asitāńga Bhairava, Sańhāra Bhairava, Ruru Bhairava, Krodha Bhairava, Kapāla Bhairava, Rudra Bhirava and Unmatta Bhairava (T. Śāstra); a rāga of the early-morning and also a ţhāţ (parent scale) in Indian classical music, traditionally attributed to and associated with Śiva; a son of Śiva by the queen Tārāvatī of Karavirapura (M.Bh.); an epithet for an advanced adept/ guru of Tantra; a general epithet for Śiva, specially in Tantrik literature. (fem: bhairavī:)
the (terrible or fearsome) consort of Bhairava;
a name for Durgā and Kālī; the female attendants or companions of Durgā or Kālī; an evening rāginī and also a ţhāţ (parent scale) in Indian Classical music.

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