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.”