Bhairava and Bhairavi

[gaxct]

MM All,

I had a dream that I believe was a sign from the Gods Bhairava and Bhairavi. I dreamt that I was at a shop, admiring an image of Shiva. I had asked the shopkeeper if it was Shiva, and he responded it was 'more then just him'. The shopkeeper began to describe how he was the 'ultimate donor' and how this God and himself were extremely similar.

I had woken up and immediately began to search for information, which lead me to these two deities. I have a feeling they were attempting to call to me, but in all honesty I'm a bit intimidated. Their names afterall mean 'the Wrathful'. I know Bhairavi is similar to Kali, but the energies seem subtly different. Would anyone happen to have any suggestions in getting past my fear to work with them?

thank you!

[KaliHobbit]

Bhairavi is one of the Dasmahavidyas or 10 great wisdoms. She is linked to Kali, as Maa is always considered the first of the 10 usually with Maa Tara following. All Gods and Goddesses have male and female counterparts that go beyond consorts, it's interesting they appeared together, maybe your ready to merge Siva and Shakti within yourself.
Bhairavi is the Goddess of decay, so my suggestion would be to look at your life and see if there anything decaying you're afraid to let go of.
Here are some good links I found:
http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/tt_wrathful.html (http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/tt_wrathful.html)
http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/tt_bvimed.html (http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/tt_bvimed.html)
http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/tt_bvipuja.html (http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/tt_bvipuja.html)

Hope some of this helps!

[Toby Stimpson]

In some Shakta circlses, Bhairavi is also an epithet of Kali, as she is the consort of the "Ferocious Shiva". But you are right as Kalika has suggested here. Where Kali is a form of recreation and a mother of death only to be recreated...Bhairavi is more of a final destruction. If memory serves, and ofcourse if you have not much looked in Bhairava, just at the beginning of the universe, shortly after creation there was a Goddess named Sati, daughter of the Patriarch Daksa. The story basicly goes that Daksa hated Lord Shiva (who had married and fell in love with Sati), and barred him from entering a Fire ceremony. To protect her husband's honour, Sati leaped onto the fire and burned alive. When Shiva found out what happened his third eye opened and he bcame furious. His skin turned black, he adorned a garland os skulls around his wiast and he ran into the sacrifice, decapiting one of the five heads of Brahma, shattering a bone of Yama and destroying the sacrifice as if it were nothing. It is in this form that he is called Bhairava. He then races out to meditate in the forest, where he became Shankar. Mush later Sati returned in a knew form, reborn as the Goddess Parvati.

I have not much looked into Bhairava myself, instead I honour the Lingam, Nataraja, Ardhanarishvara and Shankar respectibly. The chaos and fury of Bhairava sacres me to soem extent. Perhaps thats why I worship Sri Kali Ma? lol. If memory serves also he is conncted to Durga as well...in what way im not too sure...I have poster art soemwhere that shows Bhairava and Hanuman worshipping Durga's feet.

Namaste

Tobias