Rajarshi Nandy

MAHASHIVARATRI UPASANA

​Wishing everyone a very auspicious Mahashivaratri. While Shivaratri is undoubtedly one of the greatest nights for puja and devotional sadhana of Bhagwan Shiva, it is also a time when many other sadhanas can be performed to produce remarkable spiritual effects. Most people spend the time in abhishekam of the Shiva Linga through all the prahars of the night, along with fasting and other sevas to Shiva.
​For those who are into Bhairava sadhanas, one may do the upasana given in the video for this night:
​https://youtu.be/CWsnJ-4FGAo?si=jFFja...

​On this sacred occasion, Kamakhya Bhairava Kula is organising multiple Rudrabhishekams and Abhishekams of Bhagwan Bhairava in close to 20 temples across Kashi, Ujjain, Chennai, Cheyyur, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Poichalur, Tezpur, Thiruvennainallur, and Thirumeiyyam.

​Those participating in the shivaratri sadhana can upload the photos using the following link:
​
forms.gle/e5jisMC2QcreeuxQ7

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1 day ago (edited) | [YT] | 2,796

Rajarshi Nandy

COLLECTIVE SADHANA ANNOUNCEMENT

Namaste,

Kamakhya Bhairava Upasaka Foundation (KBUF) is pleased to announce next Collective Sadhana for Desha and Dharma Raksha , scheduled for:

🗓️ Sunday, 22nd Feb 2026


This will be an offline/physical event , conducted across multiple cities in India and around the world , where upasakas will gather to perform sadhana as per the guidelines provided by Shri Rajarshi Nandy.

🌟 Purpose of the Event


The explicit purpose of this event is to invoke divine blessings for the victory and protection of our Desha and Dharma through collective Sadhana

Whenever a group of people with Shraddha on the sadhana and the Devata, get together and perform bhakti and stuti or japa, it automatically multiplies the power of the effort and generates a much stronger Shakti than normal. In times of transformation and crisis, this is exactly what is needed, for no amount of individual effort can match the power generated through collective sadhanas.

⏰ Duration & Eligibility


* The event will last approximately one and a half hours.


* It is open to all who have faith in Bhagawan Bhairava and Ma Kamakhya , and who are either directly or indirectly connected to the Kamakhya Bhairava Upasaka Foundation and wish to contribute to the Raksha and Vijaya of our Desha and Dharma in a spiritual manner.

📍 Locations

Cities in India:

Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Dibrugarh, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jammu, Mumbai, Mysore, Pune, Visakhapatnam.

Cities Outside of India:

Austin, Texas, USA; Cary, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Sunnyvale, California, USA; Dubai, UAE and Toronto, Canada.

New Cities added for 22nd Feb '26:

Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Sunnyvale

Cities not participating from last Collective Sadhana:

Kolkata, New York, Sydney

If you are based in any of the above cities and would like to participate, kindly fill out the attached form. Further details regarding timings and exact locations will be shared shortly.

Form Link: forms.gle/j9KFS54hLp3jGmPg7

📝 PS:
1. This is an offline/physical event only.
2. Please fill the form only if you are committed to attending on the day of the event .
3. Due to space limitations , participation will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis .
4. Timings and exact locations will be communicated post 17th Feb 2026. Kindly check your email for RSVP forms.

Team – Kamakhya Bhairava Upasaka Foundation (KBUF)

2 days ago | [YT] | 1,844

Rajarshi Nandy

NAMA 87, 88 & 89 of BHAIRAVA ASHTOTTARNAMA (108 Names of Bhairava)

NAMA 87

ॐ स्तम्भिने नमः 
oṃ stambhine namaḥ 

Meaning:
Salutations to the One who is the embodiment of paralysing or arresting force.

Remarks:
Stambhin (स्तम्भिन्) derives from the Sanskrit verbal root √stambh — to fix firmly, to support, to arrest, to make rigid or motionless. Thus, Stambhin denotes “the one who possesses the power of arresting, stabilizing, and rendering motionless.”

Internally, the force of Stambhana stills prāṇa and arrests citta-vṛtti, eventually opening the gates to higher spiritual states. The practitioner experiences a state in which mental fluctuation ceases, yet awareness remains fully luminous.

Externally, it functions as a protective force, halting hostilities—evil eye, sorcery, or psychic aggression—before they manifest in physical reality.

Stambhana is also one of the Ṣaṭkarmas in Tantra. It is used in applications to paralyze enemies, freeze the movement of water or fire, and silence the speech of opponents.


NAMA 88

ॐ मारणाय नमः 
oṃ māraṇāya namaḥ 

Meaning:
Salutations to the One who is the embodiment of annihilating force.

Remarks:
Māraṇa derives from the root √mṛ (मृ) (to die) and means the act of killing or annihilation.

Bhairava is called Mahākāla and Kālakāla, the one who devours even Kāla itself. Kāla is the force that marks the end of every being. Thus, Bhairava has control over the entire life cycle of birth and rebirth. He governs the transition of the jīva from one upādhi (mind–body limitation) to another, and ultimately beyond all upādhis.

Internally, this force is experienced as the destruction of avidyā (ignorance), the burning of vāsanās, the destruction of paśu-bhāva, and the annihilation of the ṣaḍ-ripus.

It is also one of the known Ṣaṭkarma prayogas in Tantra, in the context of causing death to an opponent or enemy in battle. Standing at the threshold, Bhairava can still the breath and release the jīva from its hold on the mind and body, bringing about prāṇotkramaṇa—the departure of the life force from the physical form.


 NAMA 89

ॐ क्षोभणाय नमः
oṃ kṣobhaṇāya namaḥ

Meaning:
Salutations to the  One who is the embodiment of agitation.

Remarks:
Kṣobhaṇa is derived from the root √kṣubh (to shake, to agitate) and denotes the force that causes agitation or movement.

In the state of cosmic rest (pralaya), Puruṣa and Prakṛti exist in a silent, static embrace. Bhairava is the “divine tremor” (spanda) that shatters this stillness. By his mere will, he agitates these two fundamental principles, causing the dormant guṇas of Prakṛti to stir and the light of Puruṣa to project outward into the world of form. Just as a magnet agitates iron filings without moving itself, Pārābhairava, through his mere presence and will (icchā), sets the universe in motion.

It is this very force that stirs us out of material contentment and awakens us from sleep and ignorance. Kṣobhaṇa raises kuṇḍalinī from dormancy and shakes the citta loose from saṃskāras, eventually leading one onto the spiritual path.

When viewed through the lens of Ṣaṭkarma prayogas, the act of kṣobhaṇa produces disturbance and agitation in the minds of adversaries.

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6 days ago | [YT] | 1,520

Rajarshi Nandy

Upcoming Kala Ashtami timings for Bhairava Vishesh Sadhana. (IST)

Detailed Sadhana guidelines: kamakhyabhairavaupasaka.com/wp-content/uploads/202…

Om Bhairavaya Namah. 🙏

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 3,137

Rajarshi Nandy

COLLECTIVE SADHANA ANNOUNCEMENT

Kamakhya Bhairava Upasaka Foundation (KBUF) is pleased to announce the next Collective Sadhana for Desha and Dharma Raksha, scheduled for:

🗓️ Sunday, 8th Feb 2026

This will be an offline/physical event, conducted across multiple cities in India and around the world, where upasakas will gather to perform sadhana as per the guidelines provided by Shri Rajarshi Nandy.

​🌟 Purpose of the Event

​The explicit purpose of this event is to invoke divine blessings for the victory and protection of our Desha and Dharma through collective Sadhana.

​Whenever a group of people with Shraddha in the sadhana and the Devata get together and perform bhakti, stuti, or japa, it automatically multiplies the power of the effort and generates a much stronger Shakti than normal. In times of transformation and crisis, this is exactly what is needed, for no amount of individual effort can match the power generated through collective sadhanas.

​⏰ Duration & Eligibility

• The event will last approximately one and a half hours.

• ⁠It is open to all who have faith in Bhagawan Bhairava and Ma Kamakhya, and who are either directly or indirectly connected to the Kamakhya Bhairava Upasaka Foundation and wish to contribute to the Raksha and Vijaya of our Desha and Dharma in a spiritual manner.

​📍 Locations

​Cities in India:

Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Gurgaon, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jammu, Kolkata, Mumbai, Mysore, Pune, and Visakhapatnam.

​Cities Outside of India:

Austin, Texas, USA; Cary, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dubai, UAE; New York, USA; Sydney, Australia; and Toronto, Canada.

​If you are based in any of the above cities and would like to participate, kindly fill out the attached form. Further details regarding timings and exact locations will be shared shortly.
​
Form Link: forms.gle/WkAjFLcdqVs2QD9T6

​📝 PS:

1. This is an offline/physical event only.
2. Please fill the form only if you are committed to attending on the day of the event.
3. ⁠Due to space limitations, participation will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.
4. ⁠Timings and exact locations will be communicated post 3rd Feb 2026. Kindly check your email for RSVP forms.

Team – Kamakhya Bhairava Upasaka Foundation (KBUF)

2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 4,468

Rajarshi Nandy

NAMA 84, 85 & 86 of BHAIRAVA ASHTOTTARNAMA (108 Names of Bhairava)


NAMA 84 

ॐ नागयज्ञोपवीतकाय नमः 
oṃ nāgayajñopavītakāya namaḥ 

Meaning:
Salutations to the One who wears snakes as a sacred thread (yajñopavīta).

Remarks:
Nāgayajñopavītaka identifies Bhairava as the one who wears a nāga in place of the yajñopavīta, the sacred thread worn during Vedic sacrifice. 

By substituting this thread with a living serpent, it shows He is not bound by the 'thread of time,' but the Master who binds Time (Kāla) to His own form as an ornament.In this sense, he stands as master of past, present, and future.

The nāga is a potent and dangerous force, associated with poison, death, and liminality, and its placement as a sacred thread signifies Bhairava’s complete mastery over energies that ordinarily terrify or destroy. What is lethal to ordinary beings becomes, in his form, a controlled and sanctified power. Thus the “poison” of fear, ego, and mortality is not rejected but transmuted into an emblem of sovereignty.

Esoterically, the serpent also signifies Kuṇḍalinī Śakti, the dormant spiritual energy at the base of the body. Bhairava wearing the nāga as yajñopavīta expresses the state in which this energy has fully risen and is perfectly stabilized.


NAMA 85

ॐ जृम्भणाय नमः 
oṃ jṛmbhaṇāya namaḥ 

Meaning:
Salutations to the One who is the embodiment of the yawning or sleep-inducing force.

Remarks:
The term derives from the root √jṛmbh (जृम्भ्) — to yawn, gape, open, expand. In its simplest sense, it refers to yawning: a natural, involuntary opening in which the body relaxes and the mind momentarily loses sharpness.

In Itihāsa and Purāṇic literature, this idea appears as the Jṛmbhaṇāstra (जृम्भणास्त्र). In the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (Bāla Kāṇḍa), it is listed among the astras used by Viśvāmitra. In the Bhāgavata Purāṇa and Harivaṃśa, Viṣṇu employs it such that even Śiva is said to be overcome by yawning and briefly rendered inactive.

This astra does not harm; it works by causing a pause. The natural flow between intention and action is interrupted.

Bhairava, as the lord of thresholds, presides over the subtle passage between thought and action, mantra and speech, will and expression.

A yawn is a small but clear break in continuity — where speech pauses, attention softens, and action stops for a moment.


NAMA 86

ॐ मोहनाय नमः 
oṃ mohanāya namaḥ 

Meaning:
Salutations to the One who is the embodiment of delusion/enchantment.

Remarks:

Mohana derives from the Sanskrit root √muh, “to be bewildered, infatuated, or deluded.” From this arise moha (delusion) and mohana (the instrument or act of deluding/enchanting). 

Mohana is also one of the many names of Sri Krishna and an epithet for Lord Siva as well. The power of attraction and being enchanted comes naturally in their presence as they are of highest puruṣa tattva. 

One of the herbs sacred to Bhairava / Śiva called Dhatūra, is also called mohana, due to its intoxicating and delusory properties. Mohana is also one of the types of Ṣaṭkarma prayogās in Tantra. It is the power to hypnotize or cloud the consciousness of a target through specific rituals.

Bhairava embodies this power of the "delusion" of the mind. He can cause it by putting on a veil of māyā over the mind. It is his power through which he can distort or alter someone’s perception of reality. 

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 1,364

Rajarshi Nandy

FAQs about the Magha Gupta Navaratri Sadhana:

1) If one has to travel within this time period of 10 days to a different location for some days, then is it okay to do the japa and stotra without the ghatasthapna ?

Ans : Yes


2) Sir plz put light on, the topic of periods during the sadhna,how to continue the sadhna at that time plz reply sir

Ans: If one has been doing Kamakhya stotram for at least few months daily then one can do this sadhana even if in periods.. otherwise avoid.



3) Is it necessary to fast. Or satvik food will do

Ans: No.. keep a gap of at least one hour between food and sadhana..


4) What to do with the kalash once puja is done

Ans: Remove the kalash and keep it if made of metal.. can be re used again later for other pujas.. or one can do visarjan of it too if made of mud..


5) Namasthe sir, right now i am doung kalabhairava sadhana foe 43 days can i do both at the same time?

Ans: Do reduced volume of sadhana or at different times.. yes can be done.



6) 36 malas are to be done in continuity or can be done throughout the day?

Ans: Throughout the day is also okay..


7) Need to avoid non veg these 10 days?

Ans: No need..


8) My doubt is about niyamans that one need to follow once kalash sthapana and akanda deepam have been set up at home. My mother says that we should sleep on the floor, do not eat onion/garlic and non veg.

Kindly share some light on this. Not that I don't want to follow what my mother says. I'm asking this just for information purposes.

Ans: If it was compulsory then we would have mentioned in document. Kamakhya is a purely Shakta Tantric form of Devi where even during normal puja in temple non-veg naivedyam is offered. She is beyond duality and takes all offerings when given with shraddha and bhakti. It is individuals choice how they approach Her.


9) Need some guidance on how to do Akhand Diya. Do we need to change wicks everyday and clean the diya?

Ans:Not daily but as needed change wick..


10) Namaste Team, Can you please suggest if I can do the Sadhana if I am travelling in between the Navratri days. I will start and end the sadhana in the same place but around 4 days in between I won't be at that location but I can continue the Sadhana at the place I go.

Ans: Do sadhana without ghatasthapana..


11) I would love to do this Sadhana, except that there is no Devi temple near me. Also, there is no little Indian girl in my community. I live in Africa in a non central area. What could I use as replacement?

Ans: Mentally pray to Her to accept your prayers and sadhana. Feed any little girl or tell Ma Kamakhya whenever you get chance you will feed a little girl.. any little girl is fine... need not be Indian..


12) Is ghattastaphana absolutely necessary or can we skip it?

Ans: Ghatasthapa increases the power of sadhana. However if one is not sure one can skip the ghatasthapana and do the sadhana still.


13) Namasthe sir, right now i am doung kalabhairava sadhana foe 43 days can i do both at the same time?

Ans:Yes


14) Dear Rajarshi Sir, I am in the process of 16 Thursdays worship of Ma Tara. Can I perform this 10 day Navratri Sadhana along with the above mentioned Sadhana

Ans:Yes this sadhana can be done along with the 16 Thursday Ma Tara sadhana...


15) Dada plz suggest something what if ladies got periods in between these 10days should we skip it or continue it basically we are doing it in our Pooja space and we are all begginers plz guide us

Ans: If one has been doing Kamakhya stotram for at least few months daily then one can do this sadhana even if in periods.. otherwise avoid.


16) What to do in this kind of situation?

Every time my problem is finding a little girl to offer food. I live in a different city and not in my hometown. So if I go offer chocolate to some little girl here, I don't think it will be taken in a positive stride by her or her family (rightfully so on their part).

Ans: If finding a girl child is difficult then make some donation to any org that works for welfare of poor children


17. I did Maa Kamakhya Anusthana during the gupt Navaratri. However as per Sir’s guidance this year the Upasana has bit different. My query is once this sadhana is completed can we also do the Maa Kamakhya Anusthana for 1250 stotra and then do the Homa and kanya pujan or complete this sadhana successfully and then next Ashada Navratri we can complete the Maa Kamakhya Stotra Anushthana

Ans - Yes.


18. ⁠As the ahutis for 36 malas for homa will take more time can it be done in two sittings, say 11th and 12th day?

Ans - Yes.


19. ⁠Can homa be done if sadhana is completed including travel at the end?

Ans- Yes


20. ⁠Do we need to do homa exactly on the 11th day or can be done with few days gap considering monthly cycles?

Ans- The quicker it is completed, it is better. But gap is fine.


21. Can homa be done if sadhana is completed while there was traveling in between?

Ans - Yes.


22. As per the faq, we do the sadhana in periods also. Can ghat puja also be done? And mala japa will be done with alternate mala.

Ans - Yes.


23. Hi Rajarshi ji i am doing japa sadhana of bhairav baba from last 2 year, first year I am doing japa of mantra om bhairavya namah from March 25 onwards I am doing japa of batuk Bhairav mantra and om bhairavya namah as suggested by u, now my question is:

For anusthan which mantra should I do, I mean to say I am doing. Both mantras.

Whether I have to discontinue the daily japa which I do on regular basis when I am doing the anusthan..I mean to say both

Ans: Either one can be done no need to discontinue.


24. Sir in the pdf there is nyas and many mantra. Which i am unable to chant. The pronunciation is very tough. Please guide me

Ans: Do as per capacity. We mention whole vidhan for completeness.


25. Sir can I start Kamakhya puja today

Ans : Yes


26. Rajarshi da! Do you give deeksha? Otherwise can I consider you as Guru while doing my basic sadhana of Bhairav Baba?

Ans: You can consider as Manasika Guru


27. Dada Pranam kindly advise if after sanklp One mala takes 10 minutes. Is it 36 malas or 36 times? How do people with full time job and small children do 36 malas?on first day one is not able to do 36 mala and 9 strotam path. Can it be reduced

Ans : Do as per capacity


28. If I have taken a sankalpa but not able to complete it, what do I do?

Ans: Light a Diya and mentally say sorry or do a simple Kshama Prarthana to the deity in your own words. After that don’t bother too much and do as much as is in your capacity. Since this is the first time you are doing this sadhana, it will not cause any negative effect.

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/0bmFoTHurso?si=RSwWo...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 346

Rajarshi Nandy

COLLECTIVE SADHANA ANNOUNCEMENT

Namaste,

Kamakhya Bhairava Upasaka Foundation (KBUF) is pleased to announce another round of Collective Sadhana for Desha and Dharma Raksha , scheduled for:

🗓️ Sunday, 25th January 2026


This will be an offline/physical event , conducted across multiple cities in India and around the world , where upasakas will gather to perform sadhana as per the guidelines provided by Shri Rajarshi Nandy.

🌟 Purpose of the Event


The explicit purpose of this event is to invoke divine blessings for the victory and protection of our Desha and Dharma through collective Sadhana

Whenever a group of people with Shraddha on the sadhana and the Devata, get together and perform bhakti and stuti or japa, it automatically multiplies the power of the effort and generates a much stronger Shakti than normal. In times of transformation and crisis, this is exactly what is needed, for no amount of individual effort can match the power generated through collective sadhanas.

⏰ Duration & Eligibility


* The event will last approximately one and a half hours.


* It is open to all who have faith in Bhagawan Bhairava and Ma Kamakhya , and who are either directly or indirectly connected to the Kamakhya Bhairava Upasaka Foundation and wish to contribute to the Raksha and Vijaya of our Desha and Dharma in a spiritual manner.

📍 Locations

Cities in India
Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dibrugarh, Gurgaon, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Mysore, Visakhapatnam

Cities Outside of India
Austin - Texas - USA, Cary, North Carolina - USA, Charlotte - North Carolina - USA, New York - USA, Sunnyvale - California - USA, Dubai - UAE, London - UK, , Sydney - Australia, Toronto -Canada

If you are based in any of the above cities and would like to participate, kindly fill out the attached form. Further details regarding timings and exact locations will be shared shortly.

Form Link: forms.gle/F998DgLx6vK1CynGA


📝 PS:

1. This is an offline/physical event only.
2. Please fill the form only if you are committed to attending on the day of the event .
3. Due to space limitations , participation will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis .
4. Timings and exact locations will be communicated post 20th January 2026. Kindly check your email for RSVP forms.

Team – Kamakhya Bhairava Upasaka Foundation (KBUF)

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 4,362

Rajarshi Nandy

Wishing everyone a very auspicious Makar Sankranti, Bihu, Pongal, Maghi and every festival that happens on this day.

From Makar Sankranti to Ratha Saptami and Chhat Puja are all different ways of worshiping the Sun. By common knowledge Sun is not only the giver of light, but also the most important literal and metaphorical source of Dharma in the human universe. Evolution of life would have been impossible without the Sun's power, light and warmth. The way plants move towards light instinctively, all animate beings finally are drawn and guided towards the spiritual light without which life would became a meaningless accident. In its jyotisical manifestation Sun governs fame, nobility of character, confidence, power, good health and knowledge of rhythms.

हिरण्मयेन पात्रेण सत्यस्यापिहितं मुखम्।
तत्त्वं पूषन्नपावृणु सत्यधर्माय दृष्टये ॥

​hiraṇmayena pātreṇa satyasyāpihitaṃ mukham |
tattvaṃ pūṣannapāvṛṇu satyadharmāya dṛṣṭaye ||

The face of Truth is hidden by a golden vessel. O Pushan (Sun), uncover that cover, so that I, who am devoted to Truth and Dharma, may behold it.

1 month ago | [YT] | 4,438

Rajarshi Nandy

NAMA 81, 82, 83 of BHAIRAVA ASHTOTTARNAMA (108 Names of Bhairava)


NAMA 81

ॐ भूधरात्मकाय नमः
oṃ bhūdharātmakāya namaḥ 

Meaning:
Salutations to the One whose very essence is the support of the world.

Remarks:
The term is a compound of Bhūdhara (Bearer/Mountain/Support) and Ātmaka (having the nature of, or whose essence is). It signifies that Bhairava is not merely an external force holding up the universe; he is the very substance of that support.

Bhairava is not separate from the cosmic order he sustains. His very body is constituted of Bhūdhara, the principle that upholds the Earth and all manifest existence. Bhairava’s form is the universe; his limbs are the directions, his breath is time, his bones are mountains, and his presence is the silent axis around which creation revolves.

Thus, Bhairava does not "carry" the world externally, rather the world arises within His being, as an expression of his svātantrya (absolute freedom).


NAMA 82

ॐ कङ्कालधारिणे नमः
oṃ kaṅkāladhāriṇe namaḥ

Meaning:
Salutations to the One who is holding the skeleton.

Remarks:
Kaṅkāladhārin literally means “the bearer of the skeleton,” from kaṅkāla (skeleton) and dhārin (one who carries), and the name refers directly to Bhairava’s iconic manifestation as Kaṅkālamūrti.

According to Purāṇic legend, after Bhairava cut off Brahmā’s fifth head, he incurred the sin of Brahminicide and was therefore compelled to wander the world as a mendicant. During this expiatory wandering, described in the Kurma Purana, Bhairava passed through the realms of gods and demons and eventually reached the abode of Vishnu. 

When Vishnu’s gatekeeper Vishvaksena denied him entry, Bhairava slew him and impaled the corpse upon his trident, carrying it over his shoulder, which added to the burden of his sin. Through this act, Bhikṣāṭana-mūrti transformed into Kaṅkāla-mūrti, the bearer of the skeleton, and entered Vishnu’s abode as a beggar.


NAMA 83

ॐ मुण्डिने नमः 
oṃ muṇḍine namaḥ 

Meaning:
Salutations to the One who is clean-shaven.

Remarks:
Etymologically, Muṇḍin means “one who is shaven,” referring to the complete removal of hair. In Hindu tradition, head-shaving (muṇḍana) is a powerful mark of renunciation, signifying the abandonment of social identity and worldly affiliation. As an epithet of Bhairava, Muṇḍin identifies him as the Supreme Ascetic.

A shaven head signifies that one has stepped outside ordinary identity and has stripped away worldly identity and social masking. Mythologically, after Bhairava decapitated the fifth head of Brahma, he was afflicted by the sin of Brahmahatyā. As a part of his wandering penance (Vrata), he lived as a homeless, shaven-headed beggar, carrying Brahma’s skull as an alms bowl. In this sense, Muṇḍin refers to the Wandering Penitent form of Shiva.

This polarity is already anticipated in the Śrī Rudram, which salutes Rudra as both kapardin and vyuptakeśa—“the one with matted locks” and “the one who is shaven.” By invoking both forms together, the hymn presents Rudra as encompassing opposing modes of being: wild, untamed ferocity and disciplined, ascetic renunciation, affirming his presence across all extremes of existence.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 1,377