Bhairav (Lord of Terror) is the fierce form of
Lord Shiva, regarded as his rudra or dreadful form. He is related to Goddess Mahavidya, who performs Lagna Shuddhi (purification of the ascendant).
Lord Shiva could not digest the death of his first consort, Goddess Sati. So he took the corpse and wandered here and there in a highly disturbed condition. Seeing this and fearing that the peace and harmony of the world might be shattered, Lord Vishnu took his Sudarshana Chakra and cut the dead body into many pieces, which led to the scattering of the limbs. Lord Shiva took the form of Bhairav and guarded the limbs that fell on different spots on the earth.
The vehicle of Bhairav is dog, which is treated with milk, curd and sweets. Bhairav is invoked during rites performed to destroy enemies. There are many Bhairav temples in India. The ideal time to worship Bhairav is in the mornings just after sunrise.
