Image title: Sculpture of Bhairava (7th century)

Bhairava
Find spot - Bankada
Date - circa 7th century A.D.

Bhairava is one of the terrific forms of Siva. He is the protector of the universe. He is also known as Kalabhairava. He swallows the sins of his devotees, therefore Bhairava cult was very popular in Orissa and India. Bhairava is usually represented in a flabby-belly and round yellow eyes, wearing a garland of skulls adorned with snake ornaments. He has several arms, decorated with all sorts of weapons and snake. This cult is very popular in Benaras and Ujjain. We find many Bhairava images in Orissa.

Transcription (not proofread):

ଭୈରବ
ପ୍ରାପ୍ତିସ୍ଥାନ – ବଙ୍କାଡ
ସମୟ – ଆନୁମାନିକ ୭ମ ଶତାବ୍ଦୀ

ଭୈରବ—ଶିବଙ୍କର ଏକ ଉଗ୍ର ରୂପ ହେଉଛନ୍ତି ଭୈରବ । ସମଗ୍ର ବ୍ରହ୍ମାଣ୍ଡର ସେ ହେଉଛନ୍ତି ରକ୍ଷାକର୍ତ୍ତା । କାଳଭୈରବ ଭାବରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରାଯାଏ । ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କର ପାପକୁ ସେ ଗର୍ଭସ୍ମ କରିଦେଉଥିବାରୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ତଥା ସମଗ୍ର ଭାରତବର୍ଷରେ ଭୈରବ ଉପାସନା ଅତି ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ । ଭୈରବ ସାଧାରଣତଃ ପୃଥଳ ଉଦର, ପୀତବର୍ଷ ଚକ୍ଷୁ, ନରମୁଣ୍ଡମାଳ ଓ ସର୍ପ ଅଳଙ୍କାରରେ ସୁଶୋଭିତ । ସେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ହସ୍ତରେ ନାନା ଅସ୍ତ୍ରଶସ୍ତ୍ର ଓ ସର୍ପ ଧାରଣ କରିଥାନ୍ତି । ଏହି ଉପାସନା ବାରଣାସୀ ଓ ଉଜ୍ଜୟିନୀ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ବହୁ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧି ଲାଭ କରିଛି । ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଭୈରବ ମୂର୍ତି ବହୁ ସଂଖ୍ୟାରେ ଉପଲବ୍ଧ, ଯାହା ଏହି ଉପାସନାର ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟତାକୁ ପ୍ରତିପାଦିତ କରେ ।

Transcription (not proofread):

bhairava
prāptisthāna – baṅkāḍa
samaya – ānumānika 7ma śatābdī

bhairaba—śibaṅkara [śivaṅkara] eka ugra rūpa heuchanti bhairaba | samagra brahmāṇḍara se heuchanti rakṣākarttā | kāḷabhairaba bhābare madhya tāṅku grahaṇa karāyāe | bhaktamānaṅkara pāpaku se garbhasma karideuthibāru oṛiśā tathā samagra bhāratabarṣare bhairaba upāsanā ati lokapriya | bhairaba sādhāraṇataḥ pṛthaḷa udara, pītabarṣa cakṣu, naramuṇḍamāḷa o sarpa aḷaṅkārare suśobhita | se bibhinna hastare nānā astraśastra o sarpa dhāraṇa karithānti | ehi upāsanā bāraṇāsī o ujjayinī añcaḷare bahu prasiddhi lābha karichi | oṛiśāre bhairaba mūrti bahu saṃkhyāre upalabdha, yāhā ehi upāsanāra lokapriyatāku pratipādita kare |

Transcription (not proofread):

bhairaba
praptisthana – bankad
samaya – anumanika 7ma shatabdi

bhairaba—shibankara eka ugra rupa heuchhanti bhairaba . samagra brahmanda ra se heuchhanti rakshakartta . kalabhairaba bhabare madhya tanku grahana karajae . bhaktamankara papaku se garbhasma karideuthibaaru odisha tatha samagra bharatabarshare bhairaba upasana ati lokapriya . bhairaba sadharanatah pruthala udara, pitabarsha chakshu, naramundamala o sarpa alankarare sushobhita . se bibhinna hastare nana astrashastra o sarpa dharana karithanti . ehi upasana baranasi o ujjayini anchalare bahu prasiddhi labha karichi . odishare bhairaba murti bahu sankhyare upalabdha, jaha ehi upasanara lokapriyataku pratipadita kare .

Gallery information:

These photographs are from the “Hindu heritage” of the Odisha state museum in Bhubaneswar. This gallery features significant Hindu deities like Bhairava, the terrifying protector form of Shiva, and Ganesha, the Lord of wisdom, whose rare images span the 7th to 14th centuries. It also displays the war god Kartikeya, known for his spear and peacock. Additionally, the collection highlights the ancient tradition of Naga Worship, showcasing serpent figures, some dating back to the 1st century B.C., underscoring the enduring religious heritage of India, especially in Orissa.