Twinn Swan

Every evening, the Ganges River of Varanasi comes alive with the Ganga Aarti, as a mesmerising display of fire lamps are offered to the sacred river. This ritual signifies reverence for life-giving water and the cleansing power of the Ganges. It reminds Hindus of the constant flow of existence, where death is just one stage in the human journey towards liberation moksha.

Cremation ceremonies on the ghats riverbank steps are a central ritual in Varanasi. Witnessing the pyres consuming the bodies reminds us of our impermanence. The fire, like Bhairava residing amidst the flames as Bhairavanath (Lord of Ashes), symbolises the burning away of karma, negative emotions and attachments, preparing the soul for its next journey in the beyond.

Following the cremation, the ashes are immersed in the Ganges. This ritual signifies the merging of the individual with the cosmic whole, a dissolving of the ego and a step towards liberation. Bhairava’s presence underscores the role of the cremation grounds in facilitating this transformation. The flowing water of the Ganges becomes a vehicle for carrying the soul on its journey towards the next life or ultimate liberation. Bhairava, residing amidst the flames, becomes a witness to this transformative process.

The ashes, carried by the flowing water, are believed to reach the ocean: a vast, formless entity representing ultimate liberation. Bhairava’s presence at the cremation grounds signifies his role as a witness and facilitator in this transformative process.

Timeless One

Kala Bhairava is both the embodiment of time and the one who transcends it, therefore, he is without time. He is timeless, ageless and does not die for he was never born. Kala Bhairava is the timeless one for he has knowledge of the past, the present and the future. The most striking element of Bhairava is the severed head, which, given the process of time, becomes nothing more than a skull. Bhairava uses this skull as an empty bowl. His staff, adorned with a skull at its top, represents Bhairava’s authority over death and all our worldly attachments.

The cremation grounds, Bhairava’s abode, are not just a place of death. They symbolise the all-consuming fire that burns at the end of a cosmic cycle, reducing all to ash. By residing here as, he signifies his mastery over impermanence. The burning fire of the cremation grounds isn’t just about physical destruction. It represents the fiery transformation that burns away our attachments, our limitations and our negative emotions.

Bhairava, as Bhairavanath, embodies this fierce catalyst for change, urging us to confront our inner demons and embrace the transformative power of fire. The very concept of a deity residing in a place considered ‘inauspicious’ like a cremation ground is to deliberately challenge societal norms. Bhairava, as the Lord of Time, rejects societal obsession with purity as well as the denial associated with death. He encourages us to confront the realities of impermanence and embrace the transformative power that lies within decay.