Visit Kaal Bhairav Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (2024)
Uttar Pradesh and its connectivity to some of the most prominent religious places of worship is unquestionable and, above all, unmatchable. Even after keeping the religious places of worship aside, even some of the cities of Uttar Pradesh are known for their importance to spirituality and sacredness. The cities of Mathura, Vrindavan, Vindhyachal, Ayodhya, Barsana, Prayagraj, Varanasi, etc., are some of these which are blessed with the presence of the religious bodies of worship of different communities. Here let us take a look at the city of Varanasi and one of the major temples in the province, which is popularly known as the Kaal Bhairav Temple.
An Overview of Kaal Bhairav Temple
The Kaal Bhairav Temple of Varanasi is said to be one of the oldest established temples in the city. The deity of Kaal Bhairav is worship here, who is none other than an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
Kaal Bhairav is also known as one of the most aggressive and lethal incarnations of Lord Shiva, who brings out all the anger and brutality of the deity. Kaal Bhairav, the destroyer, is also portrayed with a garland made of human skulls and holding a club made of peacock feathers. As per the scriptures in Sanskrit, Kaal represents the death and fate of a person, who is fearless and everyone is afraid of him.
Unlike Lord Shiva, whose vehicle is Nandi, the bull, a dog is the vehicle of Kaal Bhairav. Like Shiva, a trident is the weapon of Kaal Bhairav.
The construction of Kaal Bhairav temple was completed in the middle of the seventeenth century.
The Mythology Behind Kaal Bhairav
According to the tales of Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were in the middle of a fight regarding who is supreme to whom. Lord Shiva appeared as divine light in front of them to mediate the fight, but an angry Lord Brahma stared at the light in disgust. This provoked Lord Shiva, who brought out Kaal Bhairav and beheaded the fifth head of Lord Brahma, who dared to stare at the light in disgust.
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After all, it happened in the heat of the moment but beheading a Brahmin is a sin. The fifth head of Lord Brahma stuck on the hands of Kaal Bhairav and followed him everywhere. Finally, Kaal Bhairav was able to wash off his sin at Varanasi, where the head dropped by itself from his hands. Lord Shiva ordered him to stay in the sacred land of Varanasi where he will clear the sins of the pilgrims who visit the Kaal Bhairav Temple of Varanasi.
Kaal Bhairav is a deity who is portrayed as an extremely powerful one, and even gods cannot withstand his power when he uses them to the fullest. He is also portrayed as the protector against evil forces on earth.
How to Reach Kaal Bhairav Temple of Varanasi?
By Road: It is very easy to reach the Kaal Bhairav Temple of Varanasi as the temple is located just a few kilometers away from the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Varanasi. Since it’s just nearly a 10 minutes trip away, the roads are very well connected by private modes and public modes of transportation. Also, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is very well connected to all major parts of Uttar Pradesh and North India via road.
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By Rail: Varanasi, due to its heavy influx in the number of visitors, tourists, and pilgrims, has a good number of railway lines running, connecting to different parts of North India and even some major stations of South India too. Railways are also one of the most affordable and convenient options to pick while traveling to Varanasi.
By Air: The Lal Bahadur Shastri airport of Varanasi has a good number of airlines connecting to different parts of India. If you are facing any difficulty with a direct flight to Varanasi, you can also opt for the Lucknow airport and then travel roadways to Varanasi.
Conclusion
The Kaal Bhairav Temple of Varanasi is a must-visit place, which you shouldn’t miss during your trip to Varanasi. Do visit Kaal Bhairav Temple and Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the major attractions of Varanasi, when it’s safe to travel again.
