Virabhadra
Form of Hindu god Shiva / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Virabhadra (Sanskrit: वीरभद्र, romanized: Vīrabhadra, lit. 'auspicious hero'),[1] also rendered Veerabhadra, Veerabathira, and Veerabathiran, is a fierce form of the Hindu god Shiva.[2] He is created by the wrath of Shiva, when the deity hurls a lock of his matted hair upon the ground, upon hearing of the self-immolation of his consort, Sati, at the Daksha yajna.[3][4]
Virabhadra | |
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Other names |
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Affiliation | Shiva |
Abode | Mount Kailash |
Planet | Angaraka (Mars) |
Mantra |
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Weapon | Trident, sword, arrow, discus, conch, spear, staff, thunderbolt, two varieties of shields, bow, noose, goad, axe, and club. |
Day | Tuesday |
Mount | |
Texts | Shiva Purana |
Festivals | |
Consort | Bhadrakali |
He appears in the Puranas as a vengeful being, attacking the deities who had attended the Daksha yajna with Bhadrakali. In the ensuing melee, Bhaga's eyes are plucked out,[5] Agni, Mitra, and Chandra are also accosted.[6] The fate of Daksha himself varies from text to text: Virabhadra either decapitates him,[7] urges him to beg forgiveness from Shiva,[8] or is saved by Vishnu, who defeats Virabhadra.[9][10]