VedicFeed

Astrology
Cosmology
Spirituality
Deities
Itihasa
Mantras
Stotram
Temples
DEITIES
Lord Veerabhadra – Vigorous Fighter & Fierce Avatar of Shiva
BY RAMESH
SHARE
As mentioned in Hindu Scriptures, Lord Veerabhadra is the vigorous fighter and
frightening form of Lord Shiva. Including Nandi, Bhringi, and Chandesvara,
Veerabhadra is also the Prathamagana of Lord Shiva.

The word ‘Veerabhadra’ is derived from two Sanskrit words: ‘Veera’ meaning hero and
‘Bhadra’ meaning friend. In tamasic or catastrophic form, he carries four different
kinds of weapons in his eight hands: Bana (arrow), Khadga (sword), Dhanusha (bow),
and Khetaka (shield), along with attires garland of skulls.

Source
Once, when Lord Vishnu threw Sudarshan Chakra on Veerabhadra to kill him,
Veerabhadra swallowed the powerful Sudarshan Chakra. Veerabhadra was so powerful at
that time.

Contents show
Daksha Yajna
Goddess Sati, the youngest daughter of Daksha Prajapati, always set her heart on
Shiva and wished to marry Shiva since her childhood. But Daksha didn’t like
Mahadeva. He believed that Lord Shiva was at odds among all the gods, wearing
Tiger’s skin and snakes around his neck. Daksha also didn’t like Shiva consuming
Bhang and Dhatura. Despite her father’s rejection, Sati anyhow married Shiva.

Daksha held a grand Yajna (Yagya) and invited all his thirty-three daughters and
son-in-law, including other gods: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Rishis. But then
Daksha refused to invite Lord Shiva and Sati in his Yajna as Sati knew that his
father had invited everyone from Devaloka except her and her beloved husband,
Shiva. She then started crying in agony with Shiva and pleaded to go to Yajna.
Although Lord Shiva tried stopping her, the compassionate Lord Shiva told her to go
and return fast.

Sati went to the Yajna and asked her parents why her beloved daughter and son-in-
law were not invited. In reply, Dhaksha said, “If I call you, I would have to call
your husband too, and I don’t want him to come to the Yajna. I don’t like that
dirty and archaic man coming to the grand ceremony.”

Source
He insulted Shiva in every possible way. Sati could not hear the insulting, and
ignorant words said to her admired consort and threw herself into the Yajna and
killed herself.

The messenger Narada Muni went to Lord Shiva and told him about Daksha insulting
Sati and Lord Shiva and how she immolated herself.
Shiva’s Warth
Upon hearing the incident, Mahadeva got really angry and created a furious sound.
Shiva then created two ferocious forms: Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali from his matted
lock of hair. Veerabhadra was created to destroy Daksha and kill all his army.

Veerabhadra appeared so ferocious that his height was too tall to reach the
heavens; his complexion was as dark as the clouds, had many arms carrying terrible
weapons, and wearing a garland of skulls. Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali were created
consecutively to represent Shiva and Shakti‘s energy in fierce form.

Lord Shiva instructed Veerabhadra to take all his army and destroy the Dhakasha.
Veerabhadra went to Dhaksha Yajna with the gang of the armies. As the war began, he
started chopping down the heads of the armies of Daksha. All other gods, Rishis
limbs were also broken down.

As mentioned in Skanda Purana, Lord Vishnu threw Sudarshan Chakra on Veerabhadra to

kill him. But then, he was so powerful that he swallowed the most powerful
Sudarshan Chakra.

Art by Bhargav Patel on DeviantArt

Lord Shiva could not bear the grief of Sati. He took the lifeless body out of Sati
from Yajna and started roaming around the universe carrying her in his back by
neglecting his roles and responsibilities.

Realization of Shiva
After the huge destruction in the Yajna, all gods and Rishis went to Brahma to ask
for help. Brahma reminded them that Shiva is the only creator of the whole universe
and consulted them to make peace and harmony with Lord Shiva. Brahma went to
Kailash and pleaded with Shiva to forgive Dhakasha and repair the broken limbs of
gods and Rishis.

Vishnu and Brahma both knew that an incomplete Yajna was impending and needed to be
complete. They both went to Mount Kailash, and Lord Brahma asked to forgive his
son’s behavior and pleaded for his son’s life. The compassionate Mahadeva felt pity
for Prasuti (Daksha’s consort) and restored his brunt head with goat’s head. He
also repaired the limbs of Gods and Rishis and made it as an original. Shiva calmed
down and permitted Yajna to be completed.

Daksha then felt pity for his own ignorance and invited Lord Shiva to the Yajna to
complete it. In the presence of all other gods and Lord Shiva, the Yajna was
ritually performed. From that day onwards, Dhaksha became the great devotee of Lord
Shiva.

Significance of Veerabhadra
It is said that Dhaksha Yajna represents the higher self of Lord Shiva, Sakti
represents the heart, and Daksha represents the ego.

Veerabhadra represents a great warrior, an army to kill ego and ignorance within
us.
Thus, he was created to destroy Daksha, who was full of ego and ignorance.
The compassionate nature of Veerabhadra forgives ego and remember the essence of
the heart at the same time.
Also, are different series of Veerabhadra asanas (Warrior 1,2, and 3) that are
supposed to develop extreme confidence, strength, and unparalleled power in the
practitioner.
Veerabhadra Temples
The two famous temples in India dedicated to the Veerabhadra are.

Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi

Situated in the small village called Lepakshi in the Anantapur district of Andhra
Pradesh, the temple was built in the 16th century. The architecture of the temple
follows the Vijayanagara style. About 200 meters away from the main temple, there
is a large Nandi (bull), the mount of Shiva.

The main temple is divided into three distinct sections: Mukha Mantapa or Natya
Mantapa or Ranga Mantapa. The temple is supposed to be built by two brothers
Virupanna Nayaka and Viranna, the Governors of the Vijayanagar Empire, during King
Achutaraya, at Penukonda.

Veerabhadra Temple, Yadur

It is situated on the bank of the holy river Krishna in Yadur of Belgaum District,
Karnataka, India. It is approximately 94 kilometers from Belgaum. The temple was
built by the Veerashaiva saint of Karnataka Shree Kadsiddeshwar in the 12th
century.

Shakti Peeths
Later, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshana
pieces, which fell on Earth. The total
different places, and all these places
Shiva returned to Kailash, and Goddess
birth as Goddess Parvati.
Chakra to cut the body of Devi Sati to
pieces were 52, and they fell on 52
are known as holy 52 Shakti Peeths. Later,
Sati returned in another life by taking

(Last Updated On: August 21, 2021)

Ask Astrologer – Get Accurate Predictions
Ask Astrologer Ask Astrologer on iOS

Get accurate answers to all your concerns based on your birth chart.

Related Posts
Ashok Sundari
Ashok Sundari – Daughter of Shiva and Parvati
MAY 5, 2021

Goddess Tripura Sundari – The Governess of the Universe

APRIL 22, 2021
North Face of Mount Kailash
8 Facts About Mount Kailash – The Abode of Lord Shiva
MARCH 3, 2021
Shiva Tandava Dance
Nataraja – Lord Shiva as the Cosmic Dancer
FEBRUARY 27, 2021
Satyanarayana Puja
Satyanarayana Puja – Significance & Benefits of the Ritual
JANUARY 16, 2021
Venkateswara Tirupati Balaji
Lord Venkateshwara – Supreme Avatar of Lord Vishnu in this Age
NOVEMBER 11, 2020

CONTACT US
PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
© 2021 VEDICFEED

TOP
Understand what's going on in your life, find your life purpose. Ask Astrologer
online!