Shloka 56
भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”
कपालं ब्राह्मणः सद्यो भैरवस्य करांबुजात् । पपात भुवि तत्तीर्थमभूत्कापालमोचनम्
kapālaṃ brāhmaṇaḥ sadyo bhairavasya karāṃbujāt | papāta bhuvi tattīrthamabhūtkāpālamocanam
ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ಭೈರವನ ಪದ್ಮಹಸ್ತದಿಂದ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನ ಕಪಾಲಪಾತ್ರ ಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದಿತು; ಆ ಸ್ಥಳವೇ ‘ಕಪಾಲಮೋಚನ’ ಎಂಬ ಪವಿತ್ರ ತೀರ್ಥವಾಗಿ, ಕಪಾಲದೋಷ ವಿಮೋಚನೆಯ ಸ್ಥಾನವಾಯಿತು.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāpālamocana tīrtha in Kāśī: the skull (kapāla) associated with Brahmā’s sin (brahmahatyā/kapāla-bandha) drops from Bhairava’s hand, marking the spot as the place of release—symbolizing the cutting of pāśa (bondage) by Śiva’s grace.
Significance: Bathing/visiting is believed to remove heavy sins and ‘kapāla-bandha’ type afflictions; reinforces Kāśī as a kṣetra of rapid pāpa-kṣaya and mokṣa.
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It presents Shiva as Bhairava, the supreme Pati, who dissolves a binding impurity symbolized by the skull; the falling away of the kapāla signifies release from pāśa (bondage) and the arising of a tīrtha where seekers remember purification and freedom.
Bhairava is a Saguna manifestation of Shiva whose compassionate power transforms a physical event into a sacred place; such tīrthas and Lingas anchor devotion, remembrance, and grace in the world, guiding devotees from outer worship toward inner liberation.
Pilgrimage and purification are implied: visit or contemplate Kāpālamocana, worship Shiva/Bhairava with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and seek inner ‘release’ by offering one’s impurities and egoic bondage into Shiva’s grace.