Bhairavi

2021-06-24T04:22:05Z

2401:4900:44D6:192:1080:4B4A:8B65:5AB2: Added a modern work on Bhairavi by Sadhguru

{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| name = Tripura Bhairavi
| type = Hindu
| image = Goddess Bhairavi.jpg
| caption = An image of Goddess Bhairavi, Lithograph Print, circa 1880s of Bengal
| affiliation = [[Parvati]], [[Mahavidya]] , [[Adishakti]], [[Parvati|Shivasakthi]] and [[Mahakali]]
| abode = [[Kailash]]
| consort = [[Bhairava]]
| mantra = Om Hasaim Hasakarim Hasaim Bhairavyay Namo Namah
| mount = [[Indian lotus|Lotus]]
| god_of = Goddess of [[Kundalini]]<ref>David Frawley, [https://books.google.com/books?id=T6Vp_rTWkAAC&pg=PA163&lpg=PA163&dq=Kundalini+%2B+Bhairavi&source=bl&ots=j3HjlyPsxS&sig=l2lZzhk8J1DOxdwlr7lzlStllXw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiE0-eKy5HdAhVzCDQIHQzhBvwQ6AEwCnoECAMQAQ#v=onepage&q=Kundalini%20%2B%20Bhairavi&f=false Inner Tantric Yoga], Lotus Press, 2008, page 163-164</ref>
| member_of = The Ten [[Mahavidyas]]
}}

'''Tripur Bhairavi''' is a [[Hindu]] goddess associated with the [[Mahavidya|Mahāvidya]]s. She is the consort of [[Shiva|Tripurantak Mahadev]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Johnson|first=W. J|title=A Dictionary of Hinduism|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Reference]]|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001}} {{ODNBsub}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Visuvalingam|first=Queen Elizabeth|title=Bhairava|encyclopedia=[[Oxford Reference]]|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|year=2003|doi=10.1093/OBO/9780195399318-0019}} {{ODNBsub}}</ref>

==Symbolism==
[[File:Nepalese - Bhairava with Goddess - Walters 543024 (2).jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Bhairava]] with his consort, Bhairavi.]]

The name ''Bhairavi'' means "Terror" or "awe-inspiring". She is the Fifth of ten [[Mahavidyas|Mah]][[Mahavidya|ā]]<nowiki/>vidyas. She is also called Tripurabhairavi. "Tri" means three, "Pura" means fortress, castle, city, town, etc. Tripura convey three different stages of consciousness i.e. active, dream and deep sleep. She is in the form of all triads and once these triads are transcended, the [[Brahman]] is attained. In other words, once we have her grace, we can realize [[Shiva]] consciousness. Hence She is called Tripurabhairavi.<ref>Erndl, Kathleen M. “Rapist or Bodyguard, Demon or Devotee: Images of Bhairo in the Mythology and Cult of Vaiṣṇo Devī.” In Criminal Gods and Demon Devotees: Essays on the Guardians of Popular Hinduism. Edited by Alf Hiltebeitel, 239–250. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1989</ref><ref>Sukul, Kubernath. Vārānasī Vaibhava. Patna, India: Bihar Rastrabhasa Parisad, 1977</ref>

Her dhyana [[shloka]] in the [[Devi Mahatmya]] describes her form. She is seated on a lotus with four hands, one with a book, one with rosary beads, one with abhaya mudra and another with varada mundra. She wears red garments and wears a garland of severed heads around her neck. She has three eyes and her head is adorned with a crescent moon. In another form she is carrying a sword and a cup containing blood and other two hands showing abhaya and varada mudras. She is also depicted as sitting on Shiva, which is more predominant in tantric worship. She is also depicted as a queen, closely resembling [[Tripura Sundari|Rajarajeswari]].<ref name="Bhairva origin">{{cite book | title= A Dictionary of Hinduism | publisher=Oxford University Press | author= Johnson W. J. | author-link=A Dictionary of Hinduism | year=2009 | location=Oxford | isbn=9780198610250}}</ref>
[[File:Tripura-bhairavi yantra color.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Bhairavi yantra]]
Tripurabhairavī is set to be residing in [[muladhara chakra]]. Her mantra consists of three letters and they all form an inverted triangle in the centre of muladhara chakra. She is the creator in muladhara chakra in the form of kamarupa, which consists of three dots forming an inverted triangle, from which all triads are born, which ultimately leads to the creation of this universe.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} The innermost triangle of muladhara chakra is known as kamarupa. The three points of triangle have three bijaksara's (sacred letters) and the three bijaksara's connected to each other by the sides of the triangle and each of these sides represent [[Iccha-shakti|iccha sakthi]], [[jnana|jnana sakthi]] and [[kriya|kriya sakti]] or the Divine will, Divine knowledge and Divine action. [[Tripura Sundari]] and Tripura Bhairavi are closely associated but different. Tripura Bhairavi is posited as the latent energy whereas Tripura Sundarī who causes this latent energy to actualize and moves this energy upwards towards higher [[chakra]]'s till [[Sahasrara|Sahasrara Chakra]].<ref name="Bhairavi">{{cite web | url=http://www.manblunderplus.com/2014/11/dasamaha-vidya-tripurabhairavi-part-5.html | title=Tripura Bhairavi | work=Mahavidyas | access-date=June 4, 2016 | author=Ravi V}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[File:The Goddess Bhairavi Devi with Shiva MET DP257990.jpg|thumb|Bhairavi and Shiva in a charnel ground, from a 17th-century manuscript]]

Bhairavi controls the changes taking place in the universe. The Mahavidyas represent the role of Adiparasakthi in the world, [[Tripura Sundari]] represents creation, [[Bhuvaneshwari]] symbolizes the sustainability of the created universe and [[Kamalatmika|Kamala]] represents prosperity and evolution. The other Mahāvidyas display the various processes that take place during the period of the universe. In this continuous cycle of creation and destruction, Bhairavi represents knowledge and civilization, she symbolizes the modifications of universe by mankind, the progress of humans and detailed studies.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

==Legends==
Bhairavi is also a title for a female adept in [[Kundalini]], [[Tantra]]. A [[yogini]] is a student of Tantra or an aspirant. A ''Bhairavi'' is one who has succeeded.

Bhairavi is the consort of [[Bhairava]] according to the [[Puranas]] and [[Tantras]].

She is also called as Shubhankari, which means that she is the doer of auspicious deeds to her devotees who are her children, which means she is a good mother. She also favors violence, punishment and bloodshed to those who are irreligious and cruel, which also means that she is the Mother of all violence to them. She is said to be seen as violent and terrible but is a benign Mother to her children.<ref>https://www.sivasakti.com/tantra/dasa-maha-vidya/tripura-bhairavi/</ref><ref>https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/indian-religions/hinduism/spiritual-side-fierce-goddess-bhairavi-goddess-wisdom/</ref>

==See also==
*[[Devi]]
*[[Mahakali]]
*[[Mahavidya]]
*[[Linga Bhairavi]] by [[Jaggi Vasudev|Sadhguru]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Kinsley, David (1988). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hgTOZEyrVtIC Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions].'' University of California Press. {{ISBN|0-520-06339-2}}.
* {{citation |last=Maity |first=P. K|title=Historical Studies in the Cult of the Goddess Manasa |date=1962 |place= Calcutta }}
* R. D. Trivedi: Iconography of Parvati (Delhi, 1981)

{{Mahavidya}}
{{HinduMythology}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Forms of Parvati]]
[[Category:Mahavidyas]]

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Bhairavi