Virabhadra
Virabhadra (Sanskrit: वीरभद्र, romanized: Vīrabhadra, lit. 'auspicious hero'), also rendered Veerabhadra, Veerabathira, and Veerabathiran, is a fierce form of the Hindu god Shiva. He is created by the wrath of Shiva, when the deity hurls a lock of his matted hair upon the ground, upon hearing of the self-immolation of his consort, Sati, at the Daksha yajna.
| Virabhadra | |
|---|---|
Virabhadra and Daksha | |
| Other names |
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| Affiliation | Shiva |
| Abode | Mount Kailash |
| Planet | Angaraka (Mars) |
| Mantra |
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| Weapon | Trident, sword, arrow, discus, conch, spear, staff, thunderbolt, two varieties of shields, bow, noose, goad, axe, and club. |
| Day | Tuesday |
| Mount | |
| Texts | Shiva Purana |
| Festivals | |
| Consort | Bhadrakali |
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| Shaivism |
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He appears in the Puranas as a vengeful being, attacking the deities who had attended the Daksha yajna with Bhadrakali. In the ensuing melee, Bhaga's eyes are plucked out, Agni, Mitra, and Chandra are also accosted. The fate of Daksha himself varies from text to text: Virabhadra either decapitates him, urges him to beg forgiveness from Shiva, or is saved by Vishnu, who defeats Virabhadra.