Shloka 39
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
അപ്പോൾ കോപാഗ്നിയിൽ ജ്വലിച്ച് അദ്ദേഹം ബ്രഹ്മാവിന്റെ അഞ്ചാം ശിരസ് ദഹിപ്പിച്ചു. ‘നമ്മಿಬ್ಬർക്കിടയിൽ മനുഷ്യാകൃതി ധരിച്ചു മധ്യസ്ഥനായി നിൽക്കാൻ ധൈര്യമുള്ളവൻ ആരാണ്?’
Lord Shiva (Rudra)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
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.