Veerbhadra

Veerbhadra or Virabhadra(Veerabhadra),also known as Veerabathira,Veerabathiran,Veeraputhiran is a fearsome form of the Hindu god Shiva. He was created by the wrath of Shiva and destroyed the Yagna (fire sacrifice) of Daksha, after Daksha’s daughter and Shiva’s consort Sati self-immolated in the sacrificial fire. He is described as a warrior who eventually blinded Bhaga, subdued Indra and broke, among many other countless gods, Pushan’s teeth. Other gods fled the battlefield unable to sustain his power.

Sati was the youngest daughter of Daksha. When Sati grew up she set her heart on Shiva, worshipping him. In the Swayamvara of Sati, Daksha invited all gods and princes except Shiva. Sati cast her garland into air, calling upon Shiva to receive the garland; and behold he stood in midst of the court with the garland about his neck. Daksha had no choice but to get Sati married with Shiva.

One day Daksha made arrangements for a great horse sacrifice called the Daksha Yaga, and invited all the gods omitting only Shiva. Sati’s urge to go to her home due to the affection towards her parents overpowered the social etiquette for not going to an uninvited ceremony. Daksha insulted her in front of others.Angered on hearing insults against the supreme lord,she set herself ablaze by her inner yogaagni .The site where Sati had died later on became famous as “Jwalamukhi devi”.

Then Shiva came to know about this and with deep sorrow and anger, plucked a lock of hair and thrashed on the ground. Lord Veerabhadra, and Rudrakali were born. Virabhadra is believed to be the destroyer of Agnana, his tall, muscular body reached the high heavens, he was dark as the clouds, three burning eyes, and fiery hair; he wore a garland of skulls and carried terrible weapons. To provide him the power, arrived Bhadrakali, a wrathful incarnation of Devi.

Shiva directed Veerbhadra: “Lead my army against Daksha and destroy his sacrifice”. On this direction of Shiva, Veerbhadra appeared with Shiva’s ganas in the midst of Daksha’s assembly like a storm and broke the sacrificial vessels, polluted the offerings, insulted the Brahmin priests, trampled on Indra, broke the staff of Yama and scattered the gods on every side

Brimming with anger, Veerbhadra beheaded Daksha and marched along with his army to Mount Kailash to testify the completion of his assigned task.