by Lord Veerabhadra – Destroys to Save
Shivabhadra is popularly a part of the retinue of Lord Shiva. The other three belonging to the Shiva Parivaar are Bhiringi, Nandi, and Chandesvara. Shiva in a very ferocious mood is Veerabhadra. Shiva manifests himself in him. The story of this fierce warrior is a show of ego shedding. Lord Veerabhadra is a form of the Rudra Shiva, who was the one who created him and acted as a henchman to him during his fights with Daksha. Also, he is the main deity at Veerashaiva Movement and worshipped by many bhakts in the state of Karnataka in India.
There are three primary temples that are dedicated to Veerabhadra – Lepakshi Temple in Anantapur, Perambalur Temple in Tamil Nadu and one near Rishikeshin Veerabhadra.
The Depiction of Veerabhadra:
The various pictures of the Lord depict ferocity and anger of Shiva. He puts on Garland when in a very destructive mood. He is seen of skulls, having four arms, holding different kinds of weapons. He is a warrior God who was generally worshipped during a war in medieval and ancient periods. As the incarnation of Lord Shiva, he is described as having more than a thousand heads, thousand feet, and eyes. He wields a thousand clubs and wears the tiger’s skin. His wife Bhadra kali came into a being by the wrath of Mother Devi. Although auspicious, she assumed a relatively fierce aspect and is represented with three eyes, four to eighteen hands, along with a tusk, which protrudes from her mouth.
The symbolism of Veerabhadra Swamy:
Veerabhadra is just not only a murderous demon. In the way in which Lord Shiva and destruction are such an essential component of the Trinity, Veerabhadra, as destroyer, the Great Warrior, stands as a symbol that, within ourselves also,we all have the power to overcome our bad ego – this is symbolized in stories told by King Daksha; like The Sake of One’s Heart – which is symbolized by Sati, the daughter of Daksha and first wife of Shiva. Shiva in Daksha’s episode represents one’s Higher Self; Shakti or Sati represents the heart, and ego is represented by Daksha. Hence, what the representation means is that one’s Higher Self will destroy the ego for heart’s sake. Through compassion, one’s higher self can forgive the ego but will still withdraw to remember the heart’s essence.
It is said that Shiva represents a person’s pure-consciousness. Devi is the person’s creative energy, which means she is the thought within one’s consciousness, and Veerabhadra is the ultimate power of one’s action the determined person might have to transform his will into an act. The action hero, Veerabhadra, personifies faith, reverence, and absolute devotion as also the ruthless efficiency to carry out his creator’s command.
Also, Veerabhadra symbolizes the incisive power of differentiating, potent in each person, to offer attachments to traditional values, lost faith and the daily life routines. Veerabhadra’s message to each one is open your heart, embrace each and everything offered by life, without any prejudice or fear.
In order to save, Veerabhadra destroys!
