There are specific mantras for each Bhairava, but in practice, devotees often chant the or the collective names.
: To dispel fears and ward off evil spirits.
: It is widely believed to clear "chronic obstacles" in career and personal life, often attributed to the "Vighna Dosha".
The eight Bhairavas are considered guardians of the eight cardinal directions. They control the eight fundamental forces of nature: creation, preservation, destruction, concealment, grace, time, space, and energy.
To atone for this sin, Bhairava was ordered to wander the earth as a beggar with the skull as his begging bowl. He eventually reached Kashi (Varanasi), where the skull fell from his hand, liberating him from the sin. Thus, Bhairava is also known as the "Kotwal of Kashi."
