Two Bhairavs of Pashupati Temple

- C.B. Shrestha

Strangely enough we have two Bhairavs within the sacred compound of the temple of Pashupatinath. The one is Kīrtimukha Bhairav and the other Unmatta Bhairav. The two have the history of their own quite distinct from the other except their common denominator, Bhairav. Now let us make our reverential acquaintance with each.

Kīrtimukha Bhairav is the once lying flat on the stone pavement, contiguous to Sitalā Mai, the well known small-pox deity. Once, the goddess had universal sway. She would often exact a heavy toll to lives especially of children. Her victims were covered over with rash of pustules from head to heel of the whining, growing children presenting a very woeful picture. Thanks to Dr. Jenner, small pox is now thing of the past. HMG’s Department of Health exulting their victory in the war against the fell and formidable disease daily announces proudly through Nepal Radio a reward to anyone for tracking down a single case of Small pox anywhere in the realm and for reporting to the nearest health center. Near the idol of Sitalā is the the idol of Kīrtimukha Bhairav. Unlike other idols, it consists of only the face of brass looking skyward Legend has it that this Bhairav was very fond of meat, whenever he was what he asked wanted by Mahādeva, who, wished to grant him a boon, he would always ask for meat. Once Mahādeva was so much incensed by his insatiable craving and mania for meat, when Kīrtimukha asked for meat to eat as usual, Mahādeva said to him indignantly “THOU SHALL EAT THINE OWN MEAT OUT OF THY BODY”. Now Kīrtimukha started eating his own meat, till he had devoured all of himself and nothing was left except his visage. Mahādeva took pity on him and promised him a Pañcabali (the five sacrificial victims, viz a he-buffalo, a ram, a billy goat, a drake and a cock) on every full moon day year in and year out. This sacrifice of five creatures has been given by the image on the southern side of the holy shrine of Pashupati. This image is said to be no other than the image of Aghoramūrti. This sacrifice has remained a puzzle to me since childhood. This is apparently an inroad of the tantric ritual into orthodox Vedic form of worship to the Lord K. B.K.C.’c the Judicial Customs of Nepal does not throw any light to this mystery. Obviously it means much more than what meets our eyes.

Now let us turn to the other Bhairav. He is called Unmatta Bhairav situated in the shed on the southern side of the Pahsupatinath temple. When Shivasingh Malla was ruling over Kantipur, Unmatta Bhairav made his first appearance in Nepal. Ganga Rani was the queen of Shiva Malla. She was a very pious queen. She would often visit the temple of Pashupati. Once she saw there a holy Brahmin named Nityānanda Brahmacārī. He came from Mahāraṣṭra in the Deccan. The queen thought fit in every respect to conduct the daily service of the Lord. So he was appointed the chief priest of Pashupatinath temple. Nityānanda was versed in all śastra and the rituals. With the beneficent desire of service to the King, he found out the reason why the Kings of Lalitpur died prematurely. It was because the evil eyes of Aghoramūrti of Pashupatinath had fallen directly on them. In order to avert the curse of evil eye, the learned servant caused to be installed in the front part the idol of Unmatta Bhairav in the most stark nudity exposing the pro-creative organ in its most prominent form.

From the date of the installation of the idol, it has avoided all evils suffered in the form of illness or distemper to local children from the wrath of Hārati of Swayambhū. The trouble of children living outside were also cured by the worship and prayer of Unmatta Bhairav. His proto-types bearing the same name are to be found at Gyaneswar and elsewhere. The idol of Unmatta Bhairav being the protecting deity of children, he is worshiped by the people, whenever their children are take severely ill and when other sophisticated medicines prove unavailing and ineffective.

[Reprint from: The Rising Nepal (English daily, Supplement, Friday), August 29, 1975, p. I]