WHO IS BHAIRAVJEE ?
In my long innings as a small and insignificant devotee of Shree Bhairavjee, I have come across this question many times, from people of all ages, rank and social order. For the uninitiated, Shree Bhairavjee carries this aura of being a mystical, elusive and slightly hysterical ( flailing arms and protruding eyes !! ) God with devastating actions and a ferocious countenance ! Some consider Him to be a " Devta " of the Other Realm... of ghosts, goblins, elves and witches !
Unfortunately, a majority of our Learned Pundits, the KaramKandis, also shelve Him to the Realm of Ghosts and Spirits, and begin and end their interpretation with " preton ke Adhipati " or " Lord of Ghosts " ! In the minds of the faithful, this conjures up images of a Dark, Ugly and Ferocioius God, hanging upside down from a tree or a Lamp Post with his " Spirited" flock in similar inverted attendance, flogging each passer by with their iron "Dands" and twitching in nasal glee !
Ironically, the believers also find it very easy to visualise the spectre of Terror, because scientifically also, it has been proven that Imagery of Ugliness, Terror and Devastation has a deeper and longer lasting impact than images of Serenity, Happiness and Benevolence !
For lovers of Bacchus, Shree Bhairavjee is the Perfect God, for He is shown as deluged in alcohol and distributing it to his followers in drunken abundance . Do you really, really believe that Shree Bhairavjee, the Son of MahaKaal and MahaKali, is a drunken slob with alcohol infused eyes and tottering limbs ??
We tend to believe, what we want to believe......
Well, who is Shree Bhairavjee..?? I have been asking this question since I was probably 4 or 5 years old.... but, that is another story, for another day !!
In my effort to come close, love and understand Shree Bhairavjee, over 18 years of my quest for Him, this, in a nutshell, is what I have found....
The " Shastras " including the Shiv Purana and Rudayamal Tantra, introduce Him as The Fifth Rudra Incarnation of Lord Shiva , and the Son of MahaKaal and MahaKali..... dark complexioned, muscular, exuberant in action, unforgiving, capable of immense harm and absolute munificence, the Senapati who can wreak havoc on the Disbelievers and the Unholy, absolutely intolerant of Pride and Ego....
My own tryst with Shree Bhairavjee ( and it is ONLY in my mind's eyes ) makes me comprehend and love Him as Batuk (child ), dark complexioned, stocky, with an innocent, loving face, big and expressive eyes like His Parents, three stark horizontal caste marks on his forehead ( Tripund ), sitting on His Black Dog ( Sawari ), bejewelled, and His Right Hand raised in Benediction !
I have found Him to be child like, easy to communicate with, to share my joy and troubles with.... I have seen His eyes become concerned at my desperation, and seen Him smile at my good fortune ; I have seen Him pouting and annoyed when I forgot about Him in my joy and revelry, and then immediately forget and forgive me for my lapses !
I have seen Him stand as an Invincible Bulwark between me and my Misfortunes, bringing faith to his main mantra " Om Hreeng Bum Batukay aapdharnay kuru kuru Bum Batukay Hreeng Om" or the call to invoke Shree Bhairavjee to gather and receive all the 'aapda' or "misfortune' upon Himself !
I have seen Him rebuke me with His eyes when I did something wrong....
I have seen pity in His eyes, when my troubles were forcing me to waver in my faith....
I have seen steely determination in His eyes, when My story became too grim....
I have seen mirth in His eyes, and a smile on His lips, when I sang " Deewana karke chhodo gay, lagta hai yoon humko, sau baar kaha e janejahan, yoon pyaar se tum dekha na karo ..." !!!
For me He is :
The loving, caring, forgiving, easily pleased, dancing ( He loves to dance with ankle bells on His Feet !),
Fifth Incarnation of Lord Shiva Himself !!
I would welcome your views and comments !!
Niraj Srivastav
Allahabad
+91-9935290003
05th August, 2013
In my long innings as a small and insignificant devotee of Shree Bhairavjee, I have come across this question many times, from people of all ages, rank and social order. For the uninitiated, Shree Bhairavjee carries this aura of being a mystical, elusive and slightly hysterical ( flailing arms and protruding eyes !! ) God with devastating actions and a ferocious countenance ! Some consider Him to be a " Devta " of the Other Realm... of ghosts, goblins, elves and witches !
Unfortunately, a majority of our Learned Pundits, the KaramKandis, also shelve Him to the Realm of Ghosts and Spirits, and begin and end their interpretation with " preton ke Adhipati " or " Lord of Ghosts " ! In the minds of the faithful, this conjures up images of a Dark, Ugly and Ferocioius God, hanging upside down from a tree or a Lamp Post with his " Spirited" flock in similar inverted attendance, flogging each passer by with their iron "Dands" and twitching in nasal glee !
Ironically, the believers also find it very easy to visualise the spectre of Terror, because scientifically also, it has been proven that Imagery of Ugliness, Terror and Devastation has a deeper and longer lasting impact than images of Serenity, Happiness and Benevolence !
For lovers of Bacchus, Shree Bhairavjee is the Perfect God, for He is shown as deluged in alcohol and distributing it to his followers in drunken abundance . Do you really, really believe that Shree Bhairavjee, the Son of MahaKaal and MahaKali, is a drunken slob with alcohol infused eyes and tottering limbs ??
We tend to believe, what we want to believe......
Well, who is Shree Bhairavjee..?? I have been asking this question since I was probably 4 or 5 years old.... but, that is another story, for another day !!
In my effort to come close, love and understand Shree Bhairavjee, over 18 years of my quest for Him, this, in a nutshell, is what I have found....
The " Shastras " including the Shiv Purana and Rudayamal Tantra, introduce Him as The Fifth Rudra Incarnation of Lord Shiva , and the Son of MahaKaal and MahaKali..... dark complexioned, muscular, exuberant in action, unforgiving, capable of immense harm and absolute munificence, the Senapati who can wreak havoc on the Disbelievers and the Unholy, absolutely intolerant of Pride and Ego....
My own tryst with Shree Bhairavjee ( and it is ONLY in my mind's eyes ) makes me comprehend and love Him as Batuk (child ), dark complexioned, stocky, with an innocent, loving face, big and expressive eyes like His Parents, three stark horizontal caste marks on his forehead ( Tripund ), sitting on His Black Dog ( Sawari ), bejewelled, and His Right Hand raised in Benediction !
I have found Him to be child like, easy to communicate with, to share my joy and troubles with.... I have seen His eyes become concerned at my desperation, and seen Him smile at my good fortune ; I have seen Him pouting and annoyed when I forgot about Him in my joy and revelry, and then immediately forget and forgive me for my lapses !
I have seen Him stand as an Invincible Bulwark between me and my Misfortunes, bringing faith to his main mantra " Om Hreeng Bum Batukay aapdharnay kuru kuru Bum Batukay Hreeng Om" or the call to invoke Shree Bhairavjee to gather and receive all the 'aapda' or "misfortune' upon Himself !
I have seen Him rebuke me with His eyes when I did something wrong....
I have seen pity in His eyes, when my troubles were forcing me to waver in my faith....
I have seen steely determination in His eyes, when My story became too grim....
I have seen mirth in His eyes, and a smile on His lips, when I sang " Deewana karke chhodo gay, lagta hai yoon humko, sau baar kaha e janejahan, yoon pyaar se tum dekha na karo ..." !!!
For me He is :
The loving, caring, forgiving, easily pleased, dancing ( He loves to dance with ankle bells on His Feet !),
Fifth Incarnation of Lord Shiva Himself !!
I would welcome your views and comments !!
Niraj Srivastav
Allahabad
+91-9935290003
05th August, 2013
Om Bam Batukaya Hum
ReplyDeleteMany Pranams to Sri Bhairava!
Thank you Niraj ji for this beautiful blog!
Sri Bhairava is Shiva Himself. Sri Bhairava is the core of Kashmir Shaivism. Abhinavgupta's Tantraloka is one of the most celebrated texts and Sri Laxman Joo's teachings in the last century opens up a deep understanding and connect to Sri Bhairava.
More as the threads weave on, bringing us all together in a common but varrigated tapestry of the ONE alone.
With head bowed!
Pawan Mishra
Thank you, Pawanji, for your insights.... As always, they are welcome and illuminating ! Will definitely try and understand Abhinav Gupta's treatise on Shaivism.
DeletePlease keep coming back to this blog, so that we may learn more !
Ivalyou
Bam Bhairav!!
ReplyDeleteI too have been fortunate to receive the immense love that Bhairavji emanates!!
My association with Bhairavji is linked with my husband's( Niraj Srivastav's) tryst with HIM.
Earlier I too had this misconception of Bhairavji being a ferocious and mysterious God!But as I came closer to HIM( all thanks to my husband for this)I was able to understand HIM and my Love for HIM grew in leaps and bounds...Bhairavji IS like this. HE has a magnetic aura around HIM which pulls you so easily,the condition only being that you surrender to HIM completely.We have felt HIS Love and as a family(my husband,our son and our daughter and myself) we have been fortunate to receive HIS blessings...this has been very evident to us in mundane activities as well as important milestones of our life!!!
OM BATUKAYA NAMAH!
Smita Srivastav
Smita.... You have been an integral part of our journey with Shree Bhairavjee.... The trials and tribulations, victory and good fortune, tears and desperation, laughter, relief and abundance.... The times when He has made His presence felt, which is acknowledged not only by us, but also by people who have been associated with us.....
ReplyDeleteMy devotion and complete surrender to Bhairavjee would not have been possible without your unquestioning support and love......
In gratitude.....