भैरवावतारवर्णनम् (Bhairavāvatāra-varṇanam) — “Description of the Descent/Manifestation of Bhairava”
प्रजज्वालाथ कोपेन ब्रह्मणः पञ्चमं शिरः । आवयोरन्तरे कोऽसौ बिभृयात्पुरुषाकृतिम्
prajajvālātha kopena brahmaṇaḥ pañcamaṃ śiraḥ | āvayorantare ko'sau bibhṛyātpuruṣākṛtim
Da entbrannte er vor Zorn und setzte Brahmās fünften Kopf in Brand. „Zwischen uns beiden—wer ist jener, der menschliche Gestalt annähme und vermessen als Mittler dastehen wollte?“
Lord Shiva (Rudra)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
The verse highlights Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who destroys pride and adharmic arrogance; Brahmā’s “fifth head” symbolizes inflated ego and false self-authority that must be purified for liberation.
It supports Saguna Shiva worship by portraying Rudra as the active, grace-bestowing Lord who corrects cosmic disorder; the Linga tradition emphasizes that Shiva is directly approachable without any ego-based ‘intermediary’ claims of superiority.
A practical takeaway is ego-purification through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and humble worship with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) or Rudrāksha, cultivating surrender to Shiva rather than self-importance.