Shani Amavasya (Part XII)

On Shani Amavasya, Kala Bhairava and Batuk Bhairava poojas bestow benefits.

The appearance of Bhairava is told in the following story: There was a demon named Andhaka. He got a boon from Lord Shiva for his penance that he cannot be vanquished by any Deva including Brahma and Vishnu. Lord Shiva is a granter of boons. Thus, He gave the boon Andhaka requested. The demon began to torture the Devas.

The Devas went to complain to Lord Shiva about Their torments at the hands of the demon. Lord Shiva took the avatar of Bhairava and vanquished the demon. The power that helped Bhairava was Pratyankara Devi. She is also His wife.

Lord Bhairava has several names. The most important ones are Kala Bhairava and Batuk Bhairava. Since all the Bhairavas performed the pooja of Devi Pratyankara, She is called Maha Bhairava Poojita. Since She is the wife of Bhairava, She is also called Bhairava Patni. Since Bhairava has the power called Pratyankara in him, He becomes very powerful. He can be approached for the resolution of all negativity and Nava Graha Doshas.

The vehicle of Bhairava is the dog. To resolve Shani Dosha, 8 pipal leaves are placed in front of Bhairava photo with the dog. Apply kohl on the wooden cups of coconut that remains after grating the eatable portion from it and place it inverted on the pipal leaves. Mix black sesame seeds and jaggery. Make a pyramid or a face out of it and place it on the coconut cup. We can simplify this process by placing the sesame-jaggery mix on a single pipal leaf. Perform the Shani pooja as mentioned before and offer garland to Bhairava.

We can chant Kala Bhairava Ashtaka, Kala Bhairava Mantra and Kala Bhairava Kavacha. Naivedyam is the same as mentioned before for Shani and we conclude the pooja with Mahamangalarati. The whole apparatus including the pipal leaves has to be consigned to running water the next day.

To be continued…