Kashi Ke Kotwal

Bhairava is a fierce deity and is the guardian of the holy city Varanasi. His origin is interesting. It seems Once Lord Brahma got very proud and neglected God Shiva. Lord shiva burnt with anger and his fierce anger reframed itself in to Lord Bhairava, who immediately went to Lord Brahma’s place and pinched of one of the heads of Lord Brahma (Those times he had five heads). This was a Brahmahathi sin and the head got attached to the hand of Lord Bhairava. He was advised to go to Kashi (Varanasi) and worship Goddess Annapurneswari to get rid of the sin. . He did so and as a result the head of Brahma got detached. Lord Shiva then appointed him as a Kotwal to guard the holy city of Varanasi. He sits there in several forms. This octet addresses him first in his principal form of Kshehthrapala (guardian of the temple) and then to the eight different forms located in different places of Varanasi. These temples are located in Varanasi  at:-

1) Ruru Bhairava Located Near Hanuman Ghat

2) Chanda Bhairava Located In The Premises Of Durgakund Temple

3) Asitanga Bhairava  Located In The Premises Of Maha Mrityunjay Temple

4) Kapal Bhairava or Laat Bhairav Located At Alaipur Varanasi

5) Krodha Bhairava Located At Kamaccha

6) Unmatta Bhairava Located in Pancoshi Road Deora Village, Kashipur Varanasi

7) Samhara Bhairava Located Near Gai Ghat

8) Bhishana Bhairava or Bhoot Bhairav Locted Near Kashipura, Maidagin Varanasi

9) Kaal Bhairava Is Locates At Bhaironath Near Bisheshwarganj Varanasi