Who is Lord Kaal Bhairav?

 Who is Kaal Bhairav?

Why are people afraid of Kaal Bhairav?

Why is Kaal Bhairav worshipped?

Where are the temples of Kaal Bhairav located?

Let us understand—Who is Kaal Bhairav?

What is the story of Ketaki flower & the Story of Brhmhatya Girl?

Indian mythology stories written by Shrikant Vishwakarma 

At this moment, our readers have many questions related to Kaal Bhairav that they want answers to. That’s because most devotees don’t truly know who Kaal Bhairav is. People know only as much as is available on Google.

But today, we are going to tell you about the Kaal Bhairav whose story is found in our ancient Puranas. Mentions of Kaal Bhairav can be found in texts like the Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, and several other scriptures.

The word ‘Kaal’ means death, and ‘Bhairav’ means terrifying—

thus, Kaal Bhairav is the terrifying form that brings death itself.

Kaal Bhairav is considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

His origin is linked to a cosmic dispute between Brahma and Vishnu.

Story of Kal Bhairva

Once upon a time, in the vast ocean of milk (Kshira Sagar),

Lord Vishnu was resting on Sheshnaag, deeply immersed in yogic slumber.

Suddenly, a glow emerged from his navel. From that glow, a lotus stalk began to rise, and at its tip was a budding lotus.

The stalk rapidly extended toward the endless cosmos.

Vishnu remained in deep sleep.

A wave-like vibration emanated from his navel, passed through the lotus stalk, and reached the bud at the top.

At once, the petals of the lotus began to bloom… and within the lotus flower, we see Lord Brahma seated with closed eyes.

Slowly, Brahma’s eyes opened. He looked around in all directions and, feeling pleased, said:

"In this infinite universe, there is no one else besides me… that means I am the supreme being, the master of all this."

Just then, Brahma noticed that he was seated on a lotus flower.

Surprised, he asked himself, “But how did I get here? And where did this lotus stalk come from? I must find out.”

Brahma, now in his four-armed form holding the Vedas, kamandalu (water pot), and a rosary, rose and began descending the lotus stalk.

As he looked downward, he saw someone lying on the serpent bed.

Stunned, Brahma appeared there and tried to wake the being.

“O unknown one, who are you?”

Slowly, Vishnu opened his eyes and said,

“I am the one from whom you were born, Brahma.”

Brahma replied, “I never saw that happen. So your claim might be false.

If I were born from you, wouldn’t you have been conscious? But I was the one who just woke you up.”

Vishnu calmly answered, “During the time of cosmic dissolution, I had exhausted myself helping my devotees. I was resting with my eyes closed.

But the truth is — I am the source of your life and existence. Therefore, I am greater than you.”

Brahma laughed and said,

“How can the source be below while the one born is above it?

How can you be greater than me? If anything, I am greater, for I am above you.

You simply claimed superiority the moment I questioned you.”

Vishnu responded, “Do not be stubborn, Brahma. Cooperate in the creation of the universe.”

Brahma shot back, “You are the one being stubborn. Accept the truth and acknowledge me as superior. Follow my command.”

Vishnu looked at his Sudarshan Chakra (divine discus). It emerged from his finger and began spinning in front of Brahma.

Reacting, Brahma said, “If you force me, I too shall use the Brahmastra!”

A glowing Brahmastra appeared in his hand, floating mid-air, facing the Chakra.

Both were ready to clash—

When suddenly, a massive pillar of fire (Agni Linga) appeared between them.

Its beginning and end were nowhere in sight.

Within the glowing flames, the shadowy form of Lord Shiva, holding a trident, could be seen.

The sound of the damaru (drum) echoed in the air.

Seeing this, both Vishnu and Brahma reacted in awe.

Vishnu stood in reverence. A voice came from the fire:

“I am Rudra! Withdraw your weapons, both of you. I will resolve your conflict.”

But Brahma arrogantly said, “And who are you to intervene between us? What guarantee do we have that you will be just?”

The voice from the Agni Linga replied,

“Because I never speak untruth.”

Vishnu agreed, “I accept.”

He withdrew his Chakra.

Brahma, still proud, thought:

"There’s no one else here but the three of us… so I’ll play along."

He too withdrew his Brahmastra and said with pride,

“Very well, tell us what we must do.”

The Agni Linga said:

“I will decide who among you is superior only if either of you can find one end of this pillar — either the top or the bottom.”

Vishnu said, “I accept.”

Brahma, looking up, said,

“Since I was born above, it makes no sense to go downward. I shall fly upward on my vehicle.”

A swan (Hamsa) appeared before him.

Vishnu said, “That’s fair. Then I shall go downward.”

The voice from the Agni Linga responded,

“So be it. I shall wait for both of you here.”

Brahma, mounted on the swan, ascended swiftly while Vishnu descended downward.

We see Vishnu traveling at immense speed downward, thinking,

“Thousands of years have passed while I’ve traveled this far, yet I’ve not found the base.

Whoever created this Linga must possess unimaginable power, and is surely testing us.”

Meanwhile, Brahma too became frustrated after traveling upward for eons.

“What kind of fire pillar is this? Even after millennia, I haven’t found its top!

Vishnu must not have found the base either… But I will not accept defeat. I must win this challenge by any means.”

Just then, a Ketaki flower fell from above.

Brahma reacted, “Where is this flower falling from? Perhaps it knows something about the fire pillar.”

He held out his kamandalu, catching the flower.

He chanted a few mantras, and the flower transformed into a young woman.

“I am the Ketaki flower. Who are you?”

Brahma introduced himself.

The girl bowed and asked, “How may I serve you, Lord Brahma?”

Brahma asked, “Have you seen the top of this fire pillar?”

Ketaki replied, “Forgive me, I do not know where I came from or how long I’ve been falling.

But in all my journey, I’ve only seen the middle of this pillar. I’ve never seen its top.”

Brahma then cleverly said,

“I am going to become the creator of this universe. I will grant you many boons and declare you the most beautiful flower in existence…

But for that, you must do me a favor.”

Ketaki asked, “What favor?”

Meanwhile, we see Vishnu return and stand before the Agni Linga.

“O Rudra, I am sorry. I could not find the bottom of the fire pillar.

And I am sure Brahma must not have found the top either. This task is too difficult… perhaps impossible.”

Just then, a voice said,

“Impossible for you, perhaps… but not for me.”

Brahma appeared with the Ketaki girl beside him.

Vishnu reacted, stunned.

Brahma declared, “Yes, I found the top of the fire pillar.”

Vishnu replied, “Impossible!”

Brahma, laughing arrogantly, said,

“I knew you'd doubt my victory. That’s why I brought this girl. Ask her yourself if you wish.”

The voice from the Agni Linga asked,

“Flower, is what Brahma says true?”

Vishnu turned to the girl and asked,

“Tell us, is Brahma speaking the truth?”

Brahma looked at her sternly.

She hesitated… and then said, “Yes, Brahma is telling the truth.”

Brahma was pleased.

But suddenly, the Agni Linga thundered with rage:

“You lie, young one! And for this lie, I curse you!”

Everyone was shocked.

The girl trembled in fear.

The voice declared:

“I am Rudra, and I curse you — from this day forward, you shall never be offered in any worship or ritual.

You shall be banished from all temples and holy places. You will remain only as a decorative flower, never to be offered to the gods again.”

The Ketaki girl wept and disappeared.

Then Rudra, still as the Agni Linga, turned to Brahma and said,

“And you, Brahma — I curse you too. From this day forward, you shall not be worshipped anywhere.”

Enraged, Brahma shouted,

“And who are you to curse me? You even dared to curse me?! How dare you!”

"Who are you, hiding until now? Why don’t you come forward? Appear before me, and I shall give you the punishment you deserve!"

Suddenly, from the fiery pillar (Agni Linga), the blue-hued form of Sadashiva appears—a grand and majestic form with ten arms, each holding a weapon. All are left stunned by this divine vision. As the sound of the damaru (drum) plays, the sacred Shiva mantra echoes in the background:

"Karpoora Gauram Karunavataram..."

Lord Vishnu folds his hands in reverence. But Brahma, still filled with pride, turns to Vishnu and says mockingly, "Are you afraid just by seeing this form? But I am not. You cannot frighten the Lord of this universe by showing such illusions, impostor!"

Hearing this, Shiva turns red with rage and thunders,

"Brahmadev! Your actions are inexcusable!"

Everyone reacts with shock.

From Shiva's fury emerges the fierce, blue-complexioned form of Kapali Kaal Bhairav, wearing a garland of skulls and holding a parashu (battle axe) in one hand. His terrifying appearance stuns everyone.

The background resonates with the chant:

"Om Kaal Bhairavaya Namah..."

We see intense, dramatic shots of Kaal Bhairav’s hands, feet, face, and arms—building up his terrifying form. Vishnu folds his hands again in reverence.

Shiva declares,

"This is my fiercest form—Kaal Bhairav, the embodiment of Time itself!"

Then, looking furiously at Brahma, Shiva says,

"Brahmadev, in your arrogance, you have crossed all bounds and propriety. Hence, this creation no longer requires your egoistic fifth head.

Kaal Bhairav! Remove Brahmadev’s fifth head from his body!"

Kaal Bhairav looks at Shiva, then at Brahma. Brahma appears frightened. Kaal Bhairav, with his right hand, rips off Brahma’s fifth head from his body.

Brahma screams in pain: "Aahhh!"

Everyone is shocked.

Kaal Bhairav stands there, furious, still holding Brahma’s severed head in his hand. Shiva stands before him, calm and powerful. Then suddenly, as if released from an immense burden, Brahma becomes peaceful and apologizes to Shiva.

"Forgive me, Lord. All this was because of my arrogance."

Vishnu also pleads with Shiva to forgive Brahma. Kaal Bhairav still holds Brahma’s severed head. Brahma and Vishnu begin praising Kaal Bhairav, and a recorded hymn dedicated to him plays.

Shiva, now calm, forgives Brahma.

Brahma bows and says,

"I offer my countless salutations to you, Lord, for freeing me from my ego. Please, cast this arrogant head of mine somewhere so far that no one can ever reach it."

Kaal Bhairav throws the severed head away. But strangely, the skull flies back and sticks to his hand again. Everyone is stunned.

He throws it again with force—yet again, Brahma’s skull returns and sticks to his hand. Everyone is shocked and confused:

"What is happening? Why is Brahma's head not leaving Bhairav's hand?"

Suddenly, the skull catches fire. Vishnu and Brahma react in shock. The heat from the fire causes Bhairav immense pain, and he falls to his knees, screaming in agony.

"Aaahhh!"

The burning skull in his hand is tormenting him. All are stunned.

Only Shiva understands what’s happening. Brahma and Vishnu are bewildered—what is happening to Bhairav?

Then Shiva speaks:

"Even if the slayer of a Brahmin or a cow is God Himself, he is still burdened with the sin of Brahmahatya (the killing of a Brahmin). Kaal Bhairav is my own form, but now he must bear the burden of this sin."

Suddenly, a young girl is born from Shiva and appears before them.

She folds her hands before Shiva and says:

"I am Brahmahatya (personified sin of Brahma’s killing). I bow before you, Mahadev. Please command me—what would you have me do?"

Shiva replies,

"Until Kaal Bhairav is freed from this sin, you must stay with him."

The girl bows and says,

"As you command, Lord,"

then enters into Kaal Bhairav's body.