Story of Bhairav removing Brahma 5th head
The Sivapurana deals with the story of Shiva as Kal Bhairav removing the fifth head of Lord Brahma. Lord Mahavishnu, the protector of the world and Lord Brahma, the creator of the world, started a heated word exchange. Each one claimed that he was the Lord of the universe. While their word-war was going on, there appeared in between them, a white and fat phallus. Also they heard a heavenly voice:” You need not quarrel about lordship. One who finds out the end of this phallus will be the Lord.” Lord Brahma took it as a trick played by Lord Shiva and he scolded Siva.
Lord Siva became angry and he created Bhairava to wreak vengeance to Brahma. Bhairav, the Ugramurti (fierce figure) proceeded towards Brahma as instructed by Mahadev. Brahma was Pancamukha (one who has five heads) up to that time. Bhairava plucked the fifth head of Brahma with his left hand. As a result of this Brahma became Chaturmukha (one who has four heads). What Bhairava did was the great sin of Brahmahatya (killing of Brahma). Therefore, he wanted to do Prayaschitta (remedial deed) for the same. He rushed to Siva to seek his advice in this regard.
Lord Shiva advised Bhairava to go for begging with the bowl of the skull of Brahma’s head and to take dip in the sacred Thirthas. Siva created with his godly power the woman Bhairavi also to accompany Bhairava while doing the Prayaschitta. Bhairava went for begging along with Bhairavi and then took dip in different sacred Thirthas. But he could not get rid of the Brahmahatya sin he committed. Therefore, he went back to Bolenath and prayed to him to suggest a solution to the danger he had crept in. Siva advised him to go to Varanasi (Benares) and take dip in Ganga for getting rid of his sin. Bhairava then proceeded to Varanasi along with Bhairavi and had full dip in Ganga. The Kapala (skull) of Brahma which was his begging bowl also flowed away in Ganga. It is believed that the entire sin of Brahmahatya he committed also flowed away along with the Kapala of Brahma. The particular place where Bhairava took the dip with the Kapala came to be known as Kapalamochana Thirtha.
Kal Bhairava then went to fight with the gods of heaven and defeated Indra. This was not with the permission of Siva. Indra approached Siva and complained. Siva cursed Bhairava to become a tree and he became so. The tree was named Damanaka in the sense that it put an end to the pride of the gods. Bhairava later apologized and begged Siva for pardon. Siva made provision that all those who worship the gods should worship Bhairava also. Thus Bhairava also came to be worshipped by people.
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Brahma is one of the Trimurti (Three primary Gods of Hinduism), the others being God Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma was not created by anyone, but was self-born out of a Lotus flower thus he is referred to as Prajapati. Brahma is commonly represented as having four heads, four arms, and red skin. But as per Puranas, Brahma actually had five heads, which later became four due to his ego.
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