Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 231: Shri Maha bhairava pujita (OM mahAbhairavapUjitAyai namaH)

In Namams 199 to 248, the Divine Mother’s  Saguna or infiniteness power and glory are described. 

The Divine Mother is even worshipped by the Maha-bhairava (Lord Shiva). 

Maha-Bhairava or Shiva as a matter of fun is involved with three functions of creation, preserving and dissolution. Maha-Bhairava’s consort is Goddess Bhairavi. These three universal functions go on continuously. 

Bhairavar is in all creatures of the universe and also involved in all of their actions. But all the creatures think that they are the real doers and praise themselves as if, everything that they perform is their own actions. In fact, every human activity is to be considered as the worship of the Divine Mother. If anyone praises his or her own achievements, it ultimately represents the praise on the Divine Mother. 

The Divine Mother manifested Herself during a Yagam from the “Cid agni Kunadalam” which is the fire to safeguards the devas. It is said in Puranas that Lord Bhairava Himself supervised that yaga which was performed by devas. 

Though Lord Bhairava is continuously engaged with His three-fold functions of creation etc, in the universe, during the pralaya, He absorbs the whole universe within Him. He performs the all famous Tandava-Nritam or the Tandava Dance in order to consolidate the universal destruction.

The name Bhairava (a version of Lord Shiva) has special meaning; Bha denotes creation; ra means preservation and va indicates destruction. The Puranas say that Maha-Bhirava, who perfoms all above tasks on behalf of the Divine Mother, Himself worships the Divine Mother. The three syllables Bha, RA and Va stand for, bharana for protecting; Ramana for pleasing and Vamana for discarding. 

All things in creation are subjected to these three processes. We cannot, in the end, discard anything that we like and which makes us happy. All created things are called Maya (which literally means illusion). The Divine Mother says that “anything that is impermanent is Maya’. 

Lord Bhairava nourishes, pleasing and discarding everything in this universe. Padma Purana says “Shiva the source of universe is holding a rosary in His hand and performing Nyasa; He worships the Divine mother, who is the Sakti or potency of all the mantras.” Nyasa is explained as the ritualistic assignment of various parts of the body to different deities. It is done by prayer and corresponding gestures. 

Bhairava also means ‘to threaten’ or ‘to create fear’ in others, with his form, so that evil forces are afraid of him. He guards the assets of the temples or places of worships, after the days last prayers. 

Bhairavam is also a group of girls who have tender and self fearing character. They are worshipping the Divine Mother also for their welfare.

There is sufficient Purana evidence that Lord Bhairava (Shiva) worshipped the Divine Mother as He is helping Her in smooth running of the universe. 

She is Maha-bhairava Pujita.

Shri Kalabhiravar : He is handling the creation, preservation and destroying 

of the universe on the Divine Mother’s behalf.

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 11 September 2020.

 

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, San Ramon, California, USA, with Commentary by T. V Narayana Menon

2.       Shri Lalitha Sahasranama Stostram published in Tamil by N. Ramaswami Iyer charities’ societies, Trichirapalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

3.       The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sithbavandar.