काल भैरव जयंती कथा और पूजा विधि

It is told that once the gods and the sages fell to discussing who is the greatest in all creation. Some named Brahma, some Vishnu, some Shiva. When no one answer came out of the talk, they went to the wise to ask, and every reply came to the same point: Shiva is the highest reality. Vishnu accepted this with humility, but Brahma did not like it.

Brahma, proud of his power of creation and of his fifth head, began to think of himself as above all. From that head came words full of pride, and he spoke of Shiva as lesser than himself. The story says that when knowledge turns into pride it becomes the deepest darkness, and that is what happened to Brahma at that moment. The gods tried to reason with him, but he held to his word.

Then a blazing force rose from within Shiva and took the shape of a terrible figure. There was the fire of dissolution in his eyes, a staff in his hand, and such a form that the directions trembled. This is Kaal Bhairav. Shiva told him, you are as unmoving as time, pride cannot stand before you, and your work will be to guard order in the world.

Bhairav cut away with the edge of his nail the very head from which the proud words had come. Brahma's arrogance broke in that instant and he begged Shiva's forgiveness. Shiva was pleased and forgave him. But the severed head stayed stuck to Bhairav's hand. A burden like the sin of killing a brahmin had fallen on him, even though he had acted for dharma.

Shiva commanded Bhairav to carry this burden through the three worlds, to live by begging, and to keep walking until the head fell from his hand by itself. Bhairav wandered for years. It is said that he went even to the door of Vishnu and was received with honour there, yet the burden did not lift. In the end he reached Kashi.

The moment Bhairav stepped into Kashi, the severed head slipped from his hand and fell, and that place came to be called Kapal-mochan, the place of release. Bhairav found peace. Shiva then bade him stay there and said, be the kotwal of Kashi. Whoever comes to Kashi, the account of his sin and fear will be in your hand, and no one will be able to stay in Kashi without your leave.

That is why, after a pilgrimage to Kashi, devotees still go first for the darshan of Kashi Vishwanath and then for the darshan of Kaal Bhairav, the kotwal, before they turn back. It is believed that a visit to Kashi is incomplete without Bhairav's darshan. There are many Bhairav temples elsewhere in the country, and in many homes he is held as a guardian deity.

The heart of this story is that Bhairav is the form of Shiva that comes not to give fear but to take it away. He breaks pride, guards order and protects the one who takes refuge. So on the day of his appearance he is worshipped in the spirit of protection, fearlessness and the quieting of ego.

Things needed: an image or picture of Bhairav or Shiva (a Shivling if you have no picture), a lamp of mustard oil, black urad, black sesame, flowers (dark or blue if you can find them, otherwise whatever flowers you have), incense, sindoor or roli, a coconut, an offering of imarti, jalebi or urad vada, a betel leaf, and for the black dog a roti, milk or a sweet roti.

During the day keep ordinary cleanliness. Those who fast take only fruit, or one simple sattvic meal, through the day and eat grain only after the night puja. The fast is not forced on anyone; keep as much as your health allows. On this day, avoiding anger, harsh words and troubling others is held to be the truest worship of Bhairav.

For the puja, bathe at the pradosh hours in the evening and put on clean clothes. The main puja is done at night, in the window given in the panchang box. Spread a seat in a clean place and set the picture or image of Bhairav before you. If you have no picture of Bhairav, meditate on Shiva, since Bhairav is Shiva's own form.

First take the sankalp: with water in your palm, say in your mind that you are worshipping Kaal Bhairav for the quieting of fear, obstacles and ego. Remember Ganesha first, then Shiva and Parvati, and then invite Bhairav.

Bathe the image with water if it is a murti, then mark it with sindoor or roli. Offer flowers and black urad or black sesame. Show incense. Light the mustard-oil lamp and place it in front, and do not let it go out during the puja. Mustard oil and black things belong to Bhairav's worship by tradition because they are the substances of Saturn and Rahu, and Bhairav is held to be the deity who calms both.

For the bhog keep imarti, jalebi, urad vada, coconut or a sweet roti. In many places betel leaf and coconut are offered to Bhairav as well. In some Bhairav temples liquor is also offered; that is the custom of certain places only. It is not needed in a home puja, and a sattvic bhog is enough.

Now comes japa and recitation. Remember the names of Bhairav, such as Kaal Bhairav, Batuk Bhairav, the kotwal of Kashi, or chant with faith the mantra you have received from your guru. We do not give a mantra on this page; what belongs to your family or your guru's lineage is right for you. Read or hear the story above, and if you wish recite the Bhairav Chalisa, which is in this library.

After the recitation do the aarti, first of Shiva and then of Bhairav. With folded hands ask forgiveness for any slip and place whatever fear or obstacle is in your mind, calmly, at Bhairav's feet. Then distribute the prasad to everyone.

Serving the black dog: Bhairav's vahana is held to be the dog, so on this day and on every Kalashtami there is the custom of feeding a dog. In the tradition the black dog is considered special. Give it a roti with a little mustard oil or jaggery on it, or milk with roti, with affection. If there is no black dog, feed any dog you meet, because the feeling of service is what matters, not the colour. Do not frighten or strike it, and treat the plain kindness to the animal beside you as the puja itself.

If you want to do something more after the night puja, a black blanket, urad or mustard oil is given to someone in need. In the tradition this is said as a remedy connected with Saturn and Rahu, but do it only according to your means and judgment. And keep a calm mind and restraint on the following day too.

The Ashtami of the dark fortnight in every month is called Kalashtami, and Bhairav is worshipped on that tithi too. The Kalashtami of Margashirsha, which is Kaal Bhairav Jayanti, is held to be the greatest of them. Those who worship Bhairav regularly repeat the same method in a short form on the night of every Kalashtami: the mustard-oil lamp, the remembrance of Bhairav, and food for a dog.

A simple order for a new practitioner is to do the full puja on Jayanti and keep only the lamp, the recitation and the feeding of the dog on later Kalashtamis. When the tithi begins depends on your city, so check the panchang each month. No hard rule is needed; faith and regularity are what count.

By tradition, worship of Kaal Bhairav is done for the quieting of fear, causeless worry, hindrance from enemies, bad dreams and unknown obstacles. Devotees hold that Bhairav is the guardian of journeys, cities and homes, and that one who remembers him with discipline gains steadiness of mind.

The deepest side of this worship is the one in the story itself: the quieting of ego. Remembering Bhairav reminds us that time stands above all, and that no achievement, post or learning is a thing to be proud of. Do not take this as a promise of results; it is a practice of faith and self-discipline.