The Face of Time Itself

This fierce yet mesmerizing image of Kala Bhairava-the devourer of time -captures one of the most profound paradoxes of Tantra: the stillness hidden within motion, the eternal concealed inside decay.

Created in 1901, this painting arises from the devotional folk-tantric traditions of North India, where the fierce forms of Shiva are both feared and adored. Bhairava’s twin faces, mirrored and consuming, signify the past and future being absorbed into the eternal now.

His skin, eyes, and serpentine adornments pulse with symbolic precision-each element a portal into the deeper reality that time is not linear, but cyclical and sacred.

A Mandala of Transformation

In this composition, Bhairava’s cosmic head becomes a mandala of awareness.
At its base, two ascetics bow toward a Shiva-linga, embodying the surrender of ego into stillness.
The serpents represent Kundalini energy, rising and coiling through creation, while the flaming eyes and open mouth signify the burning away of ignorance-the fire of consciousness itself.

Around him, Sanskrit mantras are inscribed: each syllable a vibration of divine presence. These are not mere decorations-they are seed sounds (bija mantras) meant to awaken resonance in the viewer. To behold the painting is to participate in a subtle initiation.

Tantric Symbolism and Devotion

The symmetrical postures, bold colors, and rhythmic geometry reflect the village Tantra aesthetic-where high metaphysics meets folk expression.
Unlike courtly miniatures, this style breathes with direct, raw spiritual power: a hand-painted visual prayer echoing through time.

The inscriptions read “काल भैरवाय नमः” (Salutations to Kala Bhairava) and “त्रिकाल भैरव”-the Lord of three times-past, present, and future.
The serpent-tongue, the trident-shaped crown, and the linga below form a vertical axis: the descent of divine awareness into material existence.

Why You’ll Love It

This is not an image-it’s a ritual in color and form. Kala Bhairava reminds us that every birth is already shadowed by dissolution, and yet, through awareness, we transcend both.

His eyes challenge; his symmetry calms; his presence absorbs.
Owning this artwork is like holding a mirror to impermanence-one that reflects eternity instead of fear.

Perfect for seekers, meditators, collectors, or those drawn to the fierce beauty of truth, this painting embodies the union of terror and transcendence-the essence of Bhairava’s grace.

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Invite the stillness behind time into your sacred space.
Let Kala Bhairava - The Devourer of Time remind you that everything perishes-except awareness itself.

Curated by Somarasa | Where Art Becomes Sadhana.