Read about the deep connection between Lord Bhairava and the Creatrix of the Universe, Ma Kali, and how doing Her Sadhana awakens Him.
In this article we will cover:
- Lord Bhairava, the Kshetrapala
- The Form of Lord Bhairava
- The Union of Kala and Kali
- Shiva-Shakti Through the Sri Yantra
- Invoking Lord Bhairava on Tantra Sadhana App
In the sacred traditions of Tantra Sadhana, the cosmos is the living interplay of Consciousness (Shiva) and Energy (Shakti).
Their divine union lies at the heart of all creation, dissolution, and liberation.
In Tantra, Lord Bhairava (a form of Lord Shiva) is Pure Consciousness - unchanging, eternal, and formless. Ma Kali (the representation of Shakti) is the dynamic creative force, the energy through which Lord Shiva expresses and experiences Himself.
śivaḥ śaktyā yukto yadi bhavati śaktaḥ prabhavitum |
na ce devaḥ devo na khalu kuśalaḥ spanditum api ||Shiva becomes capable of creating only when united with Shakti. Without Her, even He cannot stir.
— Saundarya Lahiri, Verse 1
This union is not confined to ritual or philosophy; it pulses within the breath, beats in the heart of every being, and shines in the awakened soul.
The sacred ‘Ha–Sa’ (ह–स) is a profound concept in Tantra, Yoga, and Vedantic mysticism, representing the natural mantra of breath—a spontaneous sound vibration that mirrors the eternal union of Shiva and Shakti within every living being.
"Ha" (ह) and "Sa" (स) are seed syllables (bīja mantras) that correspond to the inhalation and exhalation of the breath. According to Tantric texts and yogic teachings:
- Inhalation (Prāṇa) = “Ha”
- Exhalation (Apāna) = “Sa”
When linked together, the phrase ‘Haṁsa’ (हंस) emerges, meaning ‘Swan’, which is deeply symbolic in yogic philosophy. It represents spiritual discernment and the state of liberated consciousness.
When reversed, it becomes ‘So’ham’ (सो ऽहम्), meaning ‘That I Am’, a direct affirmation of non-duality (Advaita).
Lord Bhairava, the Kshetrapala
The energies of Devi and Lord Bhairava flow as one—eternally intertwined and inseparable. There is a common saying in the world of Tantra:
Yatra Yatra Sthita Devi, Tatra Tatra Sthito Bhairavah |
Wherever the Devi resides, there too resides Bhairava.
This reflects the inseparable union of Shiva and Shakti, Consciousness and Energy.
This union is not just metaphysical but can also be observed in our day-to-day life.
All Devi temples that have been consecrated in line with scriptural injunctions have a small shrine dedicated to Lord Bhairava either in the main temple premises or very close to it. He acts as a Kshetrapala — the protector of the sacred space.
Traditionally, devotees pay their respects to Lord Bhairava before entering Devi’s sanctum. He stands as the doorkeeper, ensuring that only those who are humble, have undergone the process of self-purification, and are inwardly aligned, may proceed into the sanctified space.
Without passing through Lord Bhairava, one may physically enter the temple but spiritually remain outside the sanctum of the Divine Feminine.
In this way, the devotee first aligns with the stillness and silence of Lord Bhairava that can hold the intense experience of Shakti. Only when Consciousness (Bhairava) is present can Energy (Shakti) be properly channelled.
The Form of Lord Bhairava
Lord Bhairava appears as a fierce, awe-inspiring form of Lord Shiva. His skin glows dark like storm clouds, his eyes blaze with the fire of divine wrath and wisdom. His matted hair whirls like a halo of flame, crowned with a garland of skulls, symbolising the destruction of ego and time.
In His four to eight hands, He wields a trident, drum, skull-cup, and sword — each a weapon of liberation, not violence. His third eye glares open, burning away ignorance, while serpents coil around his limbs, radiating untamed kundalini energy.
He rides a black dog, His loyal guardian and symbol of dharma and fearlessness. Around Him echoes the silence of the Shmashan (cremation ground) — a realm beyond birth and death, where He dances amidst impermanence, inviting the seeker to face the truth without fear.
According to the Rudrayamala Tantra and other Shaiva texts,
- ‘Bha’ stands for Bharana (sustenance)
- ‘Ra’ for Ravana (withdrawal or destruction), and
- ‘Va’ for Vamana (dispersion or creation)
Thus, Lord Bhairava is He who creates, sustains, and dissolves—a form embodying the entire cycle of existence.
The Union of Kala and Kali
This fierce imagery might remind one of the fierce Ma Kali, His feminine aspect.
If Lord Bhairava is the still, unyielding awareness that burns through illusion, then Ma Kali is the dynamic, all-consuming force that destroys the false self and births the soul into truth.
In Chapter 8 of the Devi Mahatmya, Ma Kali emerges from Ma Durga’s forehead to battle Raktabija, a demon whose spilt blood created infinite clones. She manifested in her most fearsome form — dark as the void, hair unbound, eyes blazing, tongue lolling, and Her body adorned with skulls. She descended onto the battlefield with Her wild, uncontrollable energy and began slaughtering the demons with ferocious power.
Ms Kali devoured Raktabija’s blood before it could touch the earth—eventually slaying him and his army.
However, after this victory, Her frenzied dance of destruction continued unchecked. Her bloodlust intensified, threatening not just the demons but the cosmic balance itself.
The gods feared total annihilation, as She devastated indiscriminately, and turned to Lord Shiva for help.
To halt Her rampage, Lord Shiva lay down on the battlefield amongst corpses. Ma Kali, lost in Her ecstatic fury, stepped on his chest—and in that moment, recognition dawned. She saw Her consort, Her very ground of being, underfoot.
Her tongue protruded—not out of shame, as often interpreted literally, but as a symbol of sudden awareness and transcendental realisation.
Her dance ceased. Stillness returned. The cosmos breathed again.
Only when Ma Kali's foot touches Lord Shiva's heart does Creation's dance resume.
This evocative quote is found in Shakti Sangama Tantra (Kali Khanda 4.7), reflecting deep Tantric wisdom. Ma Kali’s foot symbolises raging Shakti—unchecked energy that fuels creation and dissolution.
Lord Shiva’s heart is symbolic of the seat of pure, resting Awareness—the Divine Witness or Sakshi, and the touch represents the moment of integration, when energy meets awareness.
It marks the fusion of dualities.
Shiva-Shakti Through the Sri Yantra
This divine union can also be seen in other aspects of Tantra Sadhana, like Yantras. The widely popular Sri Yantra is one of the most profound and visually intricate symbols in Tantra and Sanatana Dharma. It is not just a diagram—it is a living mandala, a spiritual technology, and a visual expression of the divine union of Shiva and Shakti.
This sacred geometrical design is made up of:
- 9 interlocking triangles
(a) 5 downward-pointing (representing Shakti/Feminine Energy)
(b) 4 upward-pointing (representing Shiva/Masculine Consciousness) - These form a complex pattern of 43 smaller triangles, each a divine power centre.
- At the very centre lies the Bindu, the point of origin—the oneness from which all duality arises and into which it dissolves.
The union of Lord Bhairava and Ma Kali isn’t just some ancient myth—it’s happening inside every being, in every breath and moment of awareness. Tantra is about feeling that connection and living it.
Invoking Lord Bhairava on Tantra Sadhana App
Tantra Sadhana App can help you explore that path with ease—through guided mantras, Yagnas and Sadhanas rooted in real tradition. It’s like having a little temple in your pocket, helping you turn practice into direct experience.
Because Tantra isn’t just something you study. It’s something you live.
As you begin your journey with Tantra Sadhana App, you’ll awaken the energies of the Das Mahavidyas—the Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses—starting with Ma Kali. She is the primal force, the destroyer of illusions, and the first gateway to transcendence.
And invoking Ma Kali also calls forth Lord Bhairava, Her eternal consort, the stillness that holds and channels her boundless energy.
This is Bhairava Tantra at its most sacred, invoking Shakti to awaken Shiva.
Each mantra, Yantra, and guided practice within the app is designed to align you with this sacred union. Through structured Sadhanas, you progress from Ma Kali’s fierce grace to Ma Tara’s protective wisdom, Ma Tripura Sundari’s radiant beauty, to Ma Bhuvaneshwari’s vastness, and so on—each embodying a distinct aspect of the Divine Feminine.
With every Devi you invoke, Lord Bhairava’s presence becomes more intimate, more integrated, ensuring that your rising energy is not scattered, but stabilised, crystallised into awareness. The app becomes your companion on this sacred journey.
Awaken the Divine within; with every mantra, let the ancient path of Tantra unfold through you.
References: sanskrittrikashaivism, archive.org, wikipedia.org, researchgate.net, devimahatmya, shwetathanki.files
