Bhairavi
By Swami Harshananda
Bhairavi literally means ‘the terrible goddess’.
Bhairavi is
- One of the several aspects of the Devī or the Śakti (the Mother Goddess, Pārvatī)
- Consort of Bhairava (a terrible aspect of Rudra-Śiva).
- Cāmuṇḍā
- Tripurā-bhairavī,
- Kāmeśvarī,
- Annapurṇā- bhairavī,
- etc.
Bhairavi is also the fifth in the series of vidyās known as ‘Daśamahāvidyās.’ She is described as resplendently red in complexion, wears a silk garment and a garland of skulls. Her crown is adorned with a crescent moon. She has four arms. She holds a book and a rosary in two hands, the other two exhibiting the abhaya and varada mudrās granting protection from fear and the boons asked for.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore