Veerbhadra is an extremely powerful and fierce form of Lord Shiva, which he created to avenge the insult of his wife Devi Sati. Veerbhadra is described in the Puranas as an extremely fierce and invincible warrior, whose aim was to destroy adharma and injustice. The story of Veerbhadra shows us the wonderful balance of both Lord Shiva's compassion and anger.
Origin of Veerbhadra
The story related to the origin of Veerbhadra is found in the Shiva Purana. According to the story, when Goddess Sati could not bear the insult of Lord Shiva by her father Daksha, she sacrificed her body through Yoga Agni. Lord Shiva was extremely angry with this insult and death of Goddess Sati and he created Veerbhadra from his hair.
Veerbhadra was a fierce warrior, who had only one purpose - to destroy Daksha's yagya and take revenge for his insult. Veerbhadra went to the place where Daksha's yagya was being held and completely destroyed it and beheaded Daksha. Later, Daksh was given life by the mercy of Lord Shiva, but he was given the head of a goat.
Appearance of Veerbhadra
Appearance of Veerbhadra was extremely fearsome and fierce:
Three eyes: Like Shiva, Veerbhadra was also three-eyed, which was a symbol of his immense power and anger.
Decorated with ashes: His body was decorated with ashes like Shiva, which shows his connection with the crematorium and destruction.
Fire and sword: He holds a burning fire and a sword in his hands, which symbolizes his destructive nature and destruction of enemies.
Garland of ornaments: Veerbhadra wore a garland of human heads, which indicates his invincibility and fierce power.
Appearance of Veerbhadra Importance
Raudra Roop of Shiva: Veerbhadra is the embodiment of Shiva's anger, which shows that Lord Shiva is not only compassionate and kind, but is also capable of standing up against injustice and humiliation.
Protector of Dharma and Justice: Veerbhadra was incarnated to destroy adharma and ego. His legend teaches that whenever a person follows the path of ego and adharma, his destruction is certain.
Protector of Devotees: Veerbhadra is also worshipped as a deity who protects his devotees and saves them from evil forces and calamities.
Veerbhadra Puja and Significance
Veerbhadra is especially worshipped in parts of South India, where he is revered as a powerful deity. Veerbhadra is also considered to be the head of Shiva's Ganas, warriors who are extremely devoted to Shiva and follow his command.
Conclusion
Veerbhadra is the symbol of Lord Shiva's justice and wrath, showing that injustice and arrogance will not be tolerated. His legend teaches us that those who follow the right path are always protected, and anyone who chooses the path of injustice has to face a protector like Veerbhadra. The worship of Veerbhadra and his legend is part of Shiva's broader personality, in which he is the god of both justice and destruction.
