Virabhadra
According to Hindu religious beliefs, Virabhadra or Veerabhadra is a super being created by the wrath of Rudra (Shiva), when he stepped in to destroy the Yagna (fire sacrifice) of Daksha, after his daughter Dakshayani (Sati) - consort of Shiva, self-immolated in yagna fire. Along with him was created, his consort or wife Bhadrakali, from the wrath of Devi.[1][2]
Vīrabhadra is described as a warrior who eventually blinded Bhaga and broke, among many other countless gods, Pushan's teeth. Other gods fled the battlefield unable to sustain his power
Vīrabhadra also known as Veerabhadra. The origin of Virabhadra is related to the mythological story of Dakshayaga. Lord Shiva created him by thrashing his matted lock in his deep anger and sorrow due to the self-immolation of Sati Devi. The history of Daksha yaga and Sati Devi's self-immolation had immense significance in shaping the Sanskrit literature. It led to the development of the concept of Shakti Peethas and there by strengthening Shaktism. Enormous mythological stories in puranas took the Daksha yaga as the reason for its origin. It is an important incident in Shaivism resulting in the emergence of Shree Parvati in the place of Sati Devi and making Shiva a grihastashrami (family person). Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam (Hindi: कोट्टीयुर वैशाख महोत्सव) a 27 day yagnja ceremony, conducted in the serene hilly jungle location in North Kerala (Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam) is a huge religious pilgrimage attracting thousands of pilgrims. It is a festival commemorating the Daksha yaga and self-immolation of Sati devi. The Daksha yaga is said to have located in this place, Sati Devi is said to have committed suicide here. The rites and rituals of the temple were classified by Shri Sankaracharya.[3]
Sati was the youngest daughter of Daksha, the king of all men. 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.[4]
One day Daksha made arrangements for a great horse sacrifice, 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. Unable to bear further trauma she ran into the sacrificial fire. The site where Sati had died later on became famous as "Jwalamukhi devi".[5]
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 was born. Virabhadra's believed to be the destroyer of Ajnana, his tall 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 on Devi.
Maheshwara replied, 'Spoil the sacrifice of Daksha'. Then the mighty Virabhadra, having heard the pleasure of his lord, bowed down his head to the feet of Shiva; and starting like a lion loosed from bonds, despoiled the sacrifice of Daksha, knowing that this had been created by the displeasure of Devi. She too in her wrath, as the fearful goddess Rudrakali, accompanied him, with all her train, to witness his deeds.
—Vayu Purana, [2]
Shiva directed Virabhadra: "Lead my army against Daksha and destroy his sacrifice; fear not the Brahmanas, for thou art a portion of my very self". On this direction of Shiva, Virabhadra 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 priests and finally cut off Daksha's head, trampled on Indra, broke the staff of Yama, scattered the gods on every side; then he returned to Kailash.
After the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, the defeated gods sought Brahma and asked his counsel. Brahma advised the gods to make their peace with Shiva. Brahma himself went with them to Mount Kailash. Brahma prayed to lord Shiva to pardon Daksha and to mend the broken limbs of gods and rishis. The compassionate lord (Shiva) took pity on Daksha and restored the burnt head of Daksha with that of a goat's head, and the broken limbs were made whole. Then the devas including Brahma asked the forgiveness of lord Shiva and invited him to the yagna. There Daksha looked on him with reverence, the rite was duly performed, and then all the gods and rishis saluted Shiva and departed to their places. After that, Daksha became a great devotee of Lord Shiva.
Sri Veerabhadra Swamy was born brightly to demolish DAKSHAYAGNA. After demolition of Dakshyagna with advice of Lord Maha Vishnu, he again a lived DAKSHA and the Dakshyagna was successfully completed. Even after completion of Yagna, Sri Veerabhadra Swamy could not leave his anger and so he was full in fire that was caused with the YOGA Sakthi of SATHI DEVI. To pacify Sri Veerabhadra Swamy, the saints and the devotees went to Vaikunta and requested Sri Maha Vishnu to pacify Veerabhadra Swamy.
On their request Maha Vishnu went to Veerabhadra Swamy in the disguise of Narasimha to pacify Veerabhadra Swamy. But Sri Veerabhadra Swamy caught hold of Maha Vishnu tightly. Then Maha Vishnu who was in Narasimha disguise has gone to Brahma Loka and informed Lord Brahma Deva about Veerabhadra Swamy. 0
Then Thrimurtulu requested Adiparasakthi to pacify Veerabhadra Swamy who was in harsh stage. Then she has sent one of her KALA by name Bhadrakali (Out of 16 KALAs) on earth to pacify Veerabhadra Swamy but it was in vain. Then she was shrink in the nearby water tank and came out in the disguise of a young lady and went near Veerabhadra Swamy. After seeing her, Veerabhadra Swamy was pacified.
Then they both got married in the way of GANDARVA VIVAHAM. All the Maha Munis have erected Ashramas called Muni Mandali which was turned in the name of MURAMALLA after many years. From then onwards, all the Maha Munis are performing Gandarva Vivaham to Lord Veerabhadra Swamy in the disguise of Nitya Kalyanam, Which is continuing till today.
Accordingly, the devotees are performing marriages to their daughters. If the marriages to their daughters are delayed parents are performing marriages to Sri Veerabhadra Swamy so that the marriage of their daughter will be performed early.
The Nitya Kalyanam of Sri Veerabhadra Swamy will be witnessed not only by the devotees but it is in vogue that Munis like Agastya, Sukudu, Viswamitra, Vasista, Gowtama, Bhargava, Vyasa, Bharadwaj, Marichidu, kasyapudu, Markendeyudu and Narada will also witness this Kalyanam.
Virabhadra
"Thus Lord Siva, being extremely angry, pressed his lips with his teeth and immediately snatched from his head a strand of hair which blazed like electricity or fire. He stood up at once, laughing like a madman, and dashed the hair to the ground.
A fearful black demon as high as the sky and as bright as three suns combined was thereby created, his teeth very fearful and the hairs on his head like burning fire. He had thousands of arms, equipped with various weapons, and he was garlanded with the heads of men.
When that gigantic demon asked with folded hands, "What shall I do, my lord?" Lord Siva, who is known as Bhutanatha, directly ordered, "Because you are born from my body, you are the chief of all my associates. Therefore, kill Daksa and his soldiers at the sacrifice."
Purport: Here is the beginning of competition between brahma-tejas and siva-tejas. By brahma-tejas, brahminical strength, Bhrgu Muni had created the Rbhu demigods, who had driven away the soldiers of Lord Siva stationed in the arena. When Lord Siva heard that his soldiers had been driven away, he created the tall black demon Virabhadra to retaliate. There is sometimes a competition between the mode of goodness and the mode of ignorance. That is the way of material existence. Even when one is situated in the mode of goodness, there is every possibility that his position will be mixed with or attacked by the mode of passion or ignorance. That is the law of material nature. Although pure goodness, or suddha-sattva, is the basic principle in the spiritual world, pure manifestation of goodness is not possible in this material world. Thus, the struggle for existence between different material qualities is always present. This quarrel between Lord Siva and Bhrgu Muni, centering around Prajapati Daksa, is the practical example of such competition between the different qualitative modes of material nature.
Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, that black person was the personified anger of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he was prepared to execute the orders of Lord Siva. Thus, considering himself capable of coping with any power offered against him, he circumambulated Lord Siva.
Many other soldiers of Lord Siva followed the fierce personality in a tumultuous uproar. He carried a great trident, fearful enough to kill even death, and on his LEGS he wore bangles which seemed to roar.
At that time, all the persons assembled in the sacrificial arena--the priests, the chief of the sacrificial performance, and the brahmanas and their wives--wondered where the darkness was coming from. Later they could understand that it was a dust storm, and all of them were full of anxiety.
Conjecturing on the origin of the storm, they said: There is no wind blowing, and no cows are passing, nor is it possible that this dust storm could be raised by plunderers, for there is still the strong King Barhi, who would punish them. Where is this dust storm blowing from? Is the dissolution of the planet now to occur?
Prasuti, the wife of Daksa, along with the other women assembled, became very anxious and said: This danger has been created by Daksa because of the death of Sati, who, even though completely innocent, quit her body as her sisters looked on.
At the time of dissolution, Lord Siva's hair is scattered, and he pierces the rulers of the different directions with his trident. He laughs and dances proudly, scattering their hands like flags, as thunder scatters the clouds all over the world.
The gigantic black man bared his fearful teeth. By the movements of his brows he scattered the luminaries all over the sky, and he covered them with his strong, piercing effulgence. Because of the misbehavior of Daksa, even Lord Brahma, Daksa's father, could not have been saved from the great exhibition of anger.
While all the people talked amongst themselves, Daksa saw dangerous omens from all sides, from the earth and from the sky.
My dear Vidura, all the followers of Lord Siva surrounded the arena of sacrifice. They were of short stature and were equipped with various kinds of weapons; their bodies appeared to be like those of sharks, blackish and yellowish. They ran all around the sacrificial arena and thus began to create disturbances.