Kaalbhairav temple is located where 12 jyotirlingas are located of Lord Shiva. In Varanasi, Ujjain, Gujarat, etc., people have established the Kaalbhairav temple at the location of Shiva’s Jyotirlinga. Lord Kaalbhairav, the fierce incarnation of Lord Shiva, is said to protect the city. This is the oldest temple in the city, entirely devoted to Kaal Bhairav. Kaal means ‘death’ and ‘time.’
People worship Lord Kaalbhairav effectively in Kashi, the most sacred place. This incarnation of Lord Shiva was created when he had to defeat someone. Lord Shiva appointed Kaalbhairav as the Kshetrapal.
Hence, the lord has the right to punish sinners. In the shelter of the temple, there is a silver idol of Kaalbhairav, his vehicle ‘Shvna’ means dog, hence there are forms. It is considered that your trip to Kashi is still incomplete without paying homage to Kaal Bhairav temple.
History of Kaalbhairav Temple
The history of the Kaal Bhairav temple in cities dates back multiple centuries. As per the Hindu legends, the temple is considered to have been developed by an unknown king named Bhadrasen between the 9th and 13th centuries AD. Models of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Lord Vishnu, and Ganesha belonging to the Parmara period (9th-13th century AD) have been retrieved from the temple. The present temple, which shows Maratha’s influence, developed over the remains of the old temple.
In 1761 AD, the Maratha general Mahadji Shinde gave his turban to the deity in prayer for success in his battle to reestablish Maratha power in North India following the Marathas’ defeat at the Third Battle of Panipat. Once Maratha’s control was effectively restored, he brought the shrine back to its former splendor. The patron god of Ujjain and a furious manifestation of Lord Shiva, Kaal Bhairav, is the object of devotion in the Kaal Bhairav Temple. Hundreds of devotees attend the temple every day, making it one of the busiest in the city. It is situated on the banks of the Shipra River.
