Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of the Devi virtually indistinguishable from

Kali, except for her particular identification as the consort of the Bhairava.

Contents

1 Symbolism
2 Other definitions
3 Temples
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

Symbolism

Bhairava with his consort, Bhairavi.

She is also called Shubhamkari, good mother to good people and terrible to bad ones. She
is seen holding book, rosary, and making fear-dispelling and boon-conferring gestures.
She is also known as Baala or Tripurabhairavi. It is believed that when Bhairavi entered
the battle field, her horrible appearance made the demons become weak and very feeble,
and it is also believed that most of the demons started panicking as soon as they saw her.
The consort of Goddess Bhairavi is Bhairava an aspect of Shiva.
Bhairavi is seen mainly as the Chandi in the Durga Saptashati version of slaying
Shumbha and Nishumbha. However, she kills and drinks the blood of Chanda and Munda
the Chieftains of asuras, so the Goddess Parvati gives her a boon that she would be called
Chamundeshwari. In other forms, she is also identified with Parvati or Durga. When
furious, she is found sitting on a faithful donkey, with her mouth full of demons' blood,
her body covered with a tiger skin and skeleton. She also presents the abhaya mudra and
vara mudhra, and she is shown holding weapons such as a trishula (trident), parashu
(axe), and vajra (thunderbolt).

Bhairavi

Other definitions
Bhairavi is also a title for a female adept in Kundalini Tantra. A Yogini is a student of
Tantra, or an aspirent. A Bhairavi is one who has succeeded. Supposedly there are many
more levels of achievement than these two, but Tantra is, in essence, a mystery religion,
and one would have to be initiated, to learn them all. The name "Bhairavi" means
"Terror," or "awe-inspiring," so the one who has achieved the state of Bhairavi, is beyond
the fear of death, and therefore awesome.[1]

Temples
Many South Indian Temples are dedicated to Bhairavi as Baala Tripura Devi. One of the
famous shrines of her is in Jagannath Temple, Puri as Vimala. The Vimala temple is also
known as a Bhairavi temple. In Brahmayamala Tantra Vimala is regarded as the Shakti
of Purusottama Kshetra.
Linga Bhairavi temple at Isha Yoga Center (Kovai, Tamil Nadu).
Bhairavi Shakti Peeth temple located at the bank of holy Bagmati river at Gokarna
Kathmandu, Nepal where Sati's left ear fell.