Pages

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Annamalaiyar Temple – Fourth Prakaram – Kalabhairavar Shrine

Annamalaiyar Temple – Fourth Prakaram – Kalabhairavar Shrine
Kalabhairavar is the God of time. His mount is dog. The main duty of this deity is to determine time. The shrine stands between the left of the Vallala Maharaja Gopura and on the north eastern bank of the Brahma tirtha. The shrine has a rectangular cell and a square open mandapa supported by eight pillars. Inside the recess stands the eight armed Bhairava holding the sulam, created by Siva to remove the fifth head of Brahma.

Bhairava presents a terrific appearance in a standing pose with a halo round his head. The eight arms hold udukkai, kapala, sword, shield, parrot, bell, pasa and sula. Tongues of fire shoot out from the halo. He has a ferocious look with protruding teeth. He wears anklets and possesses the third eye. His height is three and half feet. The utsavamurti of this deity belongs to 13th or 14th century A.D.

The eight images of Bhairava adore the top of the eight pillars in the open mandapa. The eight images of Bhairava are Niru Bhairavar, Kapali Bhairavar, Bhisna Bhairavar, Krothana Bhairavar, Asitharga Bhairavar, Samkara Bhairavar, Unnathu Bhairavar and Sandai Bhairavar. Of these Samkara Bhairavar has ten hands and Kapali Bhairavar has eight hands, the other Bhairavar have four hands.

On the roof of the open pillared mandapa four pictures are painted. They refer to the legend of the origin of holy hill. Only two of the original four paintings have escaped damage from the continuous use of camphor during aarthi.

The first of these pictures depicts the argument between Brahma and Vishnu with many celestial beings looking on. The second picture portrays the creation of Bhairavar by Siva to remove Brahma’s fifth head after he had told the untruth that he had seen the top of the effulgence. In the third picture, Bhairava is seen entering Brahmaloka, wherein a fighting mood, he nicks the tuft of Brahma’s fifth head with his finger nails. In the fourth picture, Brahma realizes his error and falls at the feet of Bhairava, begging for forgiveness. Brahma is spared by Siva and blessed by Bhairava.


One of the most visited and revered Shrines at the Thiruvannamalai Temple, is that of Kala Bhairavar who is worshipped as Guardian of this Temple. One can often hear the sound of a clanging bell at this place as devotees believe that ringing the Bell; helps mitigate the evil consequences of sins. Kala Bhairavar’s Shrine is located in the Temple’s 4th Prakaram, southwest of the Vallala Maharaja Gopura at the north east bank of the Brahma Teertham. 

It is believed that formerly Kala Bhairavar was situated in the second Prakaram near the Palliarai (sleeping chamber of the deities). The reason for the change in location goes as follows:- 
“After an untoward incident according to a legend a child was left inside the second Prakara but when the mother came to reclaim her child after the doors had been closed she was advised by a voice from inside to come and take back her child in the following morning and reassured that her child would be safe. But the mother insisted and so the voice angrily told her to take her child and proceeded to throw it out with torn limbs—and the child was dead. 


This was supposed to be done by Kala Bhairavar who is the guardian of the Temple. Hence this powerful statue was shifted to the fourth Prakara. Kala Bhairavar is one of the fierce manifestations of Lord Siva.”