Kalabhairava, Kālabhairava, Kala-bhairava: 9 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Kalabhairava means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Kālabhairava is the name of a deity depicted in the Jambukeswarar Temple in Tiruvānaikoyil (Thiruvanaikaval) which is one of the Pañcasabhā or “five halls where Śiva is said to have danced”.— Kāla Bhairava is found in standing posture with four arms. The upper right hand holds paraśu in kaṭaka-hasta,and the upper left hand holds ḍamaru with a snake on it (in kaṭaka-hasta). The lower right hand holds triśūla in kaṭaka,and the lower left hand is in vismaya-hasta, holding kapāla (skull). All these are the usual attributes of Bhairava. However there is no dog seen near the feet of Kāla Bhairava.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Kālabhairava (कालभैरव) is the name of a deity who had plucked off the fifth head of Brahmā, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.35. Accordingly, as Viṣṇu said to Dakṣa:—“[...] whether it is heaven or earth, Pātāla or any where else, it is not difficult for the weapons of Vīrabhadra to gain access there. Such is the power of everyone of the attendants of the trident-bearing Rudra. Formerly at Kāśī, Kālabhairava had plucked off the fifth head of Brahmā playfully with the tip of his nail”.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Kālabhairava (कालभैरव) (or Āmardaka) is another name for Kālarāja, one of the “seven Bhairavas”, and is associated with Vārāṇasī, according to the Vārāṇasīmāhātmya 1.53-54.—Cf. The “eight Bhairavas” (originating from the blood of Andhaka when Śiva strikes him correspond with a set of eight Bhairavas), according to the Vāmanapurāṇa 44.23-38ff.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kāḷabhairava (काळभैरव).—m A deity at Benares, an incarnation of Shiva. Called also kāśīcā kōtavāla q. v.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kālabhairava (कालभैरव).—an epithet of Śiva.

Derivable forms: kālabhairavaḥ (कालभैरवः).

Kālabhairava is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kāla and bhairava (भैरव).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Kalabhairava (कलभैरव):—[=kala-bhairava] [from kala] m. or n. (?), Name of a deep ravine in the mountain between the rivers Tāpī and Narmadā.

2) Kālabhairava (कालभैरव):—[=kāla-bhairava] [from kāla] m. a form of Bhairava.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kalabhairava in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Kālabhairava (ಕಾಲಭೈರವ):—

1) [noun] Śiva, in a formidable form, as the destroyer of the universe.

2) [noun] a man causing fear or dread.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 14 books and stories containing Kalabhairava, Kālabhairava, Kala-bhairava, Kāla-bhairava, Kāḷabhairava, Kāḷa-bhairava; (plurals include: Kalabhairavas, Kālabhairavas, bhairavas, Kāḷabhairavas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 6.44 < [Chapter 6 - Dhyana-yoga]

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Chapter 7 - On the checking of the rise of the Bindhya Range < [Book 10]

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Chapter 8 - Bhairava incarnation < [Section 3 - Śatarudra-saṃhitā]

Chapter 9 - The sports of Bhairava < [Section 3 - Śatarudra-saṃhitā]

Chapter 10 - Sūta’s instruction < [Section 6 - Kailāsa-saṃhitā]

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17. Kālabhairava incarnation < [Chapter 5 - Rudra-Śiva in the Purāṇic Literature]

Chapter 7 - Conclusion

2. Rudra-Śiva in the Upaniṣadic Literature < [Chapter 4 - Rudra-Śiva in the Post-Brāhmaṇic Literature]

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