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Gujarat Shree Kal Bhairav Mahadev
Many of the names that are given to Kal Bhairav are Kal Bhairab, Bhairon, Bheruji, Bhairava, Annadhaani Bhairava Bhairo, Bhairadya, Vairavar or Kaala Bhairavar. This is the vicious appearance of Lord Shiva. He is worshipped by the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists and he is considered as most sacred for the people of Rajasthan, Nepal and Tamil Nadu.
The temple of Bhairava is always present at the place wherever there are Jyotirlinga temples. The other twelve shrines that have been devoted to Lord Shiva in his various forms are the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and the Ujjains Mahakaleshwar Temple has the Kal Bhairav temple and here he is adored as Kapalika and Aghori sections of Shivaism. The other shrines that are available here are Patal Bhairav and the Vikrant Bhairav.
Kaal Bhiarava has total 52 different forms that are also in-exhibited forms of Lord Shiva. He also guards the 52 Shaktipeethas.
He is also named as the Garam Devata in few of the rustic areas of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. He is also called as the “Annadhani or Bhairava” Vairavar. The other community in Karnataka that worships the Bhairava is the Vokkaliga community who are also referred to as “Gowdas”. The community believes that Lord Bhairava is their guard and also punishes them for their sins.
He is also sacredly worshipped by the people of Kashmir since their origin goes back to those of Gorat. It is also believed that at the time of Shivratri Mata Sharika worshipped Lord Bhairava.
Kalabhairavashtakam written by the Hindu reformer called Adi Sankara wrote a striking psalm for Kala Bhairava of Kashi.
As per the Hindu calendar Margashirsha on the day when Kal Bhairava existed on the earth known as Bhairava Ashtami is celebrated as Krishna paksha Ashtami.
History
The history of Hindu mythology speaks about the source of Bhairava. It has been associated with the exchange of talks between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma that also been narrated in “Shiv Maha-Puran”. The conversation was regarding the supremacy between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma on the originator of Universe. This conversation agitated aggression in Lord Shiva and thus he incarnated as Bhairava to rebuke Lord Brahma. As the Hindu mythology says Bhairava in his aggression beheaded Brahmas head thus leaving him with only four heads out of his five heads. This can be seen in the idol of Bhairava that he carries beheaded head of Lord Brahma in his hands. Later Bhairava felt remorseful in him for butchering the head of a Brahaman so he decided to lead the next twelve years of his life as a Bhikshatana also can be said as a vagrant. He carried the decapitated head along with him for all these years; he did this until he felt that his sins have been pardoned.
Later this aggressive form of Bhairava was associated in safeguarding the Shaktipeeths mentioned in the Hindu mythology, so since then every Shaktipeeth has a temple of Bhairava along with it.
How To Reach
By Rail
The nearest rail line to reach here is the Surat railway station. This rail line is very well connected to most of the major cities and states of the country.
By Air
The domestic airport of Surat is the major connection from all the other domestic airports in the country and the closes international airport to Surat is in Ahmedabad that is at a distance of 268 km from Surat.
By Road
Surat is well-connected by good network of roads with rest of the country.
Weather and Time to Visit
The temperature in Surat is extremely warm during the summers but the monsoons are wet. The best weather to visit the temple is during the months of winter from October to February. The temperature of the summers goes as high as 40 degree Celsius while the temperature in the winters goes as low as 20 degree Celsius.
The most enjoyable time to visit Surat is at the time of Navratris that happens in the month of October. People of all the ages enjoy during the time of Navratris as the dandiya rass is practiced in the Navratris. This form of dance is named as Garba. This type of environment is same all over the Gujarat at the time of Navratris.
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