Editing Virabhadra

{{short description|Form of Hindu god Shiva}}
{{About|a form of the deity Shiva|the 2006 film|Veerabhadra (film)}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = Virabhadra Daksha.jpg
| caption = Virabhadra and Daksha
| name = Virabhadra
| affiliation = [[Shiva]]
| consort = [[Bhadrakali]]
| planet = Angaraka (Mars)
| day = Tuesday
| deity_of = 
| weapon = Trident, sword, arrow, discus, conch, spear, staff, thunderbolt, two varieties of shields, bow, noose, goad, axe, and club.
| texts = [[Shiva Purana]]
| battles = 
| abode = [[Mount Kailash]]
| mount = {{hlist|[[Horse]]|[[Nandi (bull)]]}}
| festivals = {{hlist|[[Maha Shivaratri]]|[[Shravana (month)|Shravana]]}}
| other_names = * Veerabhadreshvara 
*[[Rudra|Veerarudra]]
*[[Shiva|Veerashiva]]
| mantra = *oṃ vīrabhadrāya namaḥ
*oṃ vīrarudrāya namaḥ
*oṃ śrī vīrabhadreśvarāya namaḥ
*om hroum hum vam veerabhadraya namah
*om veerabhadraya vidmahe ganeshvaraaya dhimahi tanno shaantah prachodayat
}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=March 2016}}
{{Saivism}}

'''Virabhadra''' ({{Langx|sa|वीरभद्र|lit=auspicious hero|translit=Vīrabhadra}}),<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2012-06-29 |title=Virabhadra, Vira-bhadra, Vīrabhadra: 24 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/virabhadra |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> also rendered '''Veerabhadra''', '''Veerabathira''', and '''Veerabathiran''', is a fierce form of the [[Hindu]] god [[Shiva]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wangu |first=Madhu Bazaz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k8y-vKtqCmIC&dq=harivamsha+virabhadra&pg=PA41 |title=Images of Indian Goddesses: Myths, Meanings, and Models |date=2003 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-416-5 |pages=41 |language=en}}</ref> He is created by the wrath of Shiva, when the deity hurls a lock of his matted hair upon the ground, upon hearing of the self-immolation of his consort, [[Sati (goddess)|Sati]], at the [[Daksha yajna]].<ref name=Maha>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12b111.htm the Horse-sacrifice of the Prajapati Daksha] [[Mahabharata|The Mahabharata]] translated by [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]] (1883–1896), Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section CCLXXXIV. '''p. 315''' Mahadeva created from his mouth a terrible Being whose very sight could make one's hair stand on its end. The blazing flames that emanated from his body rendered him exceedingly awful to behold. His arms were many in number and in each was a weapon that struck the beholder with fear. '''p. 317'''. “I am known by the name of Virabhadra’’ and I have sprung from the wrath of Rudra. This lady (who is my companion), and who is called Bhadrakali, hath sprung from the wrath of the goddess.”</ref><ref name=Vishnu>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp043.htm Vishnu Purana] SACRIFICE OF DAKSHA (From the Vayu Purana.) The Vishnu Purana, translated by [[Horace Hayman Wilson]], 1840. p. 62, "In former times, Daksha commenced a holy sacrifice on the side of Himaván, at the sacred spot ''Gangadwara'', frequented by the [[Rishi]]s. The gods, desirous of assisting at this solemn rite, came, with Indra at their head, to Mahadeva, and intimated their purpose; and having received his permission, departed in their splendid chariots to ''Gangadwára'', as tradition reports.” 62:2 The [[Linga Purana]] is more precise, calling it ''Kanakhala'', which is the village still called Kankhal, near Haridwar.'''p. 66''' ''Rudrakali''. '''p. 68''' Vírabhadra said, 'I am not a god, nor an [[Ādityas|Aditya]]; nor am I come hither for enjoyment, nor curious to behold the chiefs of the divinities: know that I am come to destroy the sacrifice of [[Daksha]], and that I am called Vírabhadra, the issue of the wrath of Rudra. [[Bhadrakali]] also, who has sprung from the anger of [[Devi]], is sent here by the god of gods to destroy this rite. Take refuge, king of kings, with him who is the lord of [[Parvati|Uma]]; for better is the anger of Rudra than the blessings of other gods.'</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The story of Veerbhadra |url=https://www.sadhguruwisdom.org/wisdom/the-story-of-veerbhadra/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Sadhguru Wisdom |language=en-US}}</ref>

He appears in the [[Puranas]] as a vengeful being, attacking the deities who had attended the Daksha yajna with [[Bhadrakali]]. In the ensuing melee, [[Bhaga]]'s eyes are plucked out,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=George M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC&dq=virabhadra+bhaga&pg=PA78 |title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology |date=2008-03-27 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-533261-2 |pages=78 |language=en}}</ref>  [[Agni]], [[Mitra (Hindu god)|Mitra]], and [[Chandra]] are also accosted.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Coulter |first1=Charles Russell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWxekbhM1yEC&dq=virabhadra+pushan&pg=PT853 |title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities |last2=Turner |first2=Patricia |date=2013-07-04 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-96397-2 |pages=853 |language=en}}</ref> The fate of [[Daksha]] himself varies from text to text: Virabhadra either decapitates him,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tapasyananda |first=Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dNyBDwAAQBAJ&dq=virabhadra+beheaded+daksha&pg=RA1-PA43 |title=Srimad Bhagavata – Volume 1 |publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math(vedantaebooks.org) |pages=43 |language=en}}</ref> urges him to beg forgiveness from Shiva,<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Valmiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&dq=virabhadra+daksha&pg=PT7301 |title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated) |last2=Vyasa |date=2018-05-19 |publisher=Delphi Classics |isbn=978-1-78656-128-2 |pages=7301 |language=en}}</ref> or is saved by Vishnu, who defeats Virabhadra.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Books |first=Kausiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d_ZLEAAAQBAJ&dq=daksha+vishnu&pg=PA42 |title=Siva Purana: Rudra Samhitha: 2 Sati Khanda: English Translation only without Slokas |date=2021-10-24 |publisher=Kausiki Books |pages=42 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DgMxAQAAMAAJ&dq=vishnu+virabhadra&pg=PA68 |title=Oriental Translation Fund |date=1840 |pages=68 |language=en}}</ref>

==Legend==

=== Origin ===
[[File:Virabhadra silver plaque.jpg|thumb|Virabhadra devotional plaque<br>[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/:File:Virabhadra_silver_plaque.jpg Notes]]]

Virabhadra was created by [[Shiva]] after [[Sati (Hindu goddess)|Sati]], [[Shiva]]'s wife, immolated herself during the [[Daksha]] Yajña.

The origin of the [[Daksha]] Yajña legend lies in Taittirīya Samhita 2.6.8, where [[Rudra]] (later Shiva) was excluded from the sacrifice by the Devas, then Rudra pierced the sacrifice. [[Pushan]] lost his teeth and [[Bhaga]] got blinded. This legend is also mentioned in the Shatapatha Brāhmana of the Shukla Yajurveda and in the Gopatha Brāhmana of the Atharvaveda. The Gopatha Brāhmana version mentions [[Prajapati]] as the one who excluded Rudra from the sacrifice. In post-Vedic literature, [[Daksha]] [[Prajapati]] excluded Shiva from the Yajña.

According to [[Shaivism]], Virabhadra's origins are described as follows: Sati was the youngest daughter of [[Daksha]]. While growing up, she had her heart set on Shiva and worshipped him. During the [[Swayamvara|svayamvara]] of Sati, Daksha invited all the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]] and princes except Shiva. Sati cast her garland into the air, calling upon Shiva to receive it, and beheld him to be standing in the midst of the court, with the garland about his neck. Daksha had no choice but to accept the marriage of his daughter to Shiva.<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Sister Nivedita]] & [[Ananda K. Coomaraswamy]]: Myths and Legends of the Hindus and Buddhists, Kolkata, 2001 {{ISBN|81-7505-197-3}}</ref>

One day, Daksha invited all the deities, as well as all of his children and grandchildren, in order to perform a [[Yajna|ritual sacrifice]], deliberately not inviting Sati and Shiva. Sati's urge to attend the event, due to her affection towards her parents, overpowered the social etiquette of not going to an uninvited ceremony. When Shiva refused to accompany her, Sati insisted on attending the ritual without him. Upon her arrival, Daksha started to humiliate her and her husband, expressing his hatred for Shiva in front of the entire assembly of people. Unable to bear the ignominy, the furious Sati leapt into the sacrificial fire, immolating herself with her yogic abilities. When Shiva heard of these tidings, he tore a clump of his matted hair, from which Virabhadra and Bhadrakali emerged.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=87k0AwAAQBAJ&dq=bhadrakali+daksha&pg=PT371 |title=The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths |date=2014-04-18 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-396-7 |pages=371 |language=en}}</ref> Shiva instructed Virabhadra to lay waste to the sacrifice, and destroy all of its participants.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Doniger |first=Wendy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iM_QAgAAQBAJ&dq=daksha+sati&pg=PA226 |title=On Hinduism |date=March 2014 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-936007-9 |pages=226 |language=en}}</ref> Veerabhadra is a small element of Shiva. Shiva himself personally did not want to get into a violent mode. So, he took a strand of his hair and created Veerabhadra.

The [[Padma Purana]] identifies Virabhadra as the fierce form of [[Mangala]] (Mars). Virabhadra is born when Shiva, due to his anguish regarding the death of [[Sati (Hindu goddess)|Sati]], perspires, and his perspiration falls upon the earth. This gives birth to the fierce Virabhadra, who destroys the sacrifice. In the aftermath, Shiva calms him down and makes him Angaraka, the planet Mars.<ref>Padma Purana Srishti Khanda First Canto Chapter 24.Verse 29b-41a. English translation by Motilal Bansaridas Publications Book 1 page 343-344 Link: https://archive.org/details/PadmaPuranaVol05BhumiAndPatalaKhandaPages15651937ENGMotilalBanarsidass1990_201901</ref>

=== Daksha yajna ===
{{Main articles|Daksha yajna}}

The [[Skanda Purana]] states that ill-omens immediately started to surface when Shiva's forces started to march upon the Daksha yajna, describing a rain of blood and meteor showers. Finding these phenomena to be foreboding, Daksha sought the protection of [[Vishnu]], who agreed to offer it, while also according blame to the former for his disrespect. The forces consisted of the [[Navadurga]], [[rakshasa]]s, [[yaksha]]s, [[pishacha]]s, a host of [[Bhoot (ghost)|bhutas]], thousands of [[gana]]s, as well as [[yogini]]s and [[guhyaka]]s. These forces were commanded by the three-eyed Virabhadra, bearing a thousand arms, entwined with great serpents, with his chariot drawn by two thousand horses and a million lions. Indra and the devas were assisted by [[Bhrigu]] in routing the first wave of gana attacks. Angered, Virabhadra marshalled his forces in a counterattack, and wielding their battle-axes and iron clubs, they started to massacre the devas. The sages begged Vishnu to defend the sacrifice from the attackers, and the deity prepared to fight against Virabhadra. While Virabhadra offered his obeisance to the preserver deity, he accused him of seeking a share of the offerings of the sacrifice, and warned him against staying there. Vishnu laughed, and informed him that he had a duty to shield his devotees, and would leave after he had had his fill of Virabhadra's missiles. Indra chose to challenge Virabhadra, and struck him with his [[vajra]]. In retaliation, Virabhadra attempted to swallow Indra as well as his mount, [[Airavata]]. Vishnu intervened, saving Indra, and obstructing the assault of Virabhadra. He also summoned the [[Ashvins]], who healed the fallen devas with their medicine. Enraged, Virabhadra confronted Vishnu. The preserver deity employed his [[Sudarshana Chakra]] against Virabhadra, which the latter swallowed whole. After retrieving his celestial discus, satisfied that he had turned the tide of the battle, Vishnu returned to his abode.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-12-14 |title=A Fight between Vīrabhadra and Viṣṇu and Others [Chapter 4] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc365951.html |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> Not satisfied with the carnage, Virabhadra accosted Bhrigu, Pushan, and when he saw the terrified Daksha cowering beneath the altar, he beheaded him, offering his head to the fire as a sacrifice. The disturbed [[Brahma]] visited Shiva, and begged him to put an end to the bloodshed. Shiva arrived at the Daksha yajna, conversed with Virabhadra, and restored life to Daksha by placing the head of a deformed animal upon his neck. The resurrected Daksha offered his obeisance to Shiva, which ended the conflict.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bhatt |first1=G. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WndMEAAAQBAJ&dq=virabhadra+powerful&pg=PA23 |title=The Skanda Purana Part 1: Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology Volume 49 |last2=Shastri |first2=J. L. |last3=Deshpande |first3=N. A. |date=1992 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0966-6 |pages=15–30 |language=en}}</ref>

Various scriptures, coloured by their traditions, offer variations of the conflict, and Virabhadra's role in the legend. The [[Kurma Purana]] has Virabhadra realise that Vishnu and Shiva are the same deity, and proclaim that the world was created by [[Narayana]]. In the [[Harivamsa|Harivamsha]] and Vamana Purana, Vishnu gains the upper hand in his fight against Virabhadra.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Arvind |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&dq=harivamsha+virabhadra&pg=PA126 |title=Essays on the Mahābhārata |date=2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=978-81-208-2738-7 |pages=126 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/vamana-purana-vaishnava-upa-purana-sanskrit-english-ocr |title=Vamana Purana English Translation with Sanskrit Text |pages=16–17}}</ref>

=== Significance ===
Veerbhadra is considered gotrapurusha / forefather of many [[Jats|jat clans]] and [[Veerashaiva|VeeraShaiva-lingayat]] subsects(like lingayat vani).They believe to be originated from Shiva's Jats and therefore worship lord virabhadra as their ancestral god. They believe in having qualities of a [[Kshatriya]] and neglect discrimination and ego (same was the purpose of virabhadra to kill [[daksha]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parāñjape |first=Tārābāī |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Em0uAAAAMAAJ&q=paranjape%20lingayat%20vani%20in%20marathi |title=Sīmā pradeśātīla bhāvagaṅgā |date=1985 |publisher=Marāṭhī Sāhitya Parishada, Āndhra Pradeśa |language=mr}}</ref><ref>Y.P.Shastri, op.cit., p.40-41</ref><ref>Dr [[Ram Swarup Joon]], History of the Jats (Eng), 1967, p.14-15</ref><ref>[[Jat History Thakur Deshraj|Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas, 1934]], p. 85-86</ref>

Many temples were created by rulers of veerashiva lingayat faith including the lepakshi veerbhadra temple.The temple was built in 1530 CE (1540 CE is also mentioned) by [[Virupanna and Viranna|Virupanna Nayaka and Viranna]], both brothers who were Governors under the [[Vijayanagar Empire]].According to [[Skanda Purana]], the temple is one of the ''divyakshetras'', an important pilgrimage site of Lord Shiva.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Knapp |first=Stephen |title=Spiritual India handbook: a guide to temples, holy sites festivals and traditions |date=2009 |publisher=Jaico Publ. House |isbn=978-81-8495-024-3 |location=Mumbai}}</ref>

==Gallery==
{{multiple image
| border            = infobox
| width             = 240
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = LORD VEERABHADRA.jpg
| caption1          = Veerabhadreshwara at [[Vadhav]] Temple of [[Maharashtra]]
| image2            = Veerabhadra.jpg
| caption2          = Veerabhadreshwara statue in Dharmapuri district of [[Tamilnadu]]
| direction         = horizontal
| image3            = Veerbhadra Temple Lapakshi.jpg
| caption3          = Ancient [[Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi]]
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Shaivism|state=collapsed}}
{{HinduMythology}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Forms of Shiva]]
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Names of God in Hinduism]]