2-730-330 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Goddess Mahabhairavi, 1000s. The wrathful aspect of Shiva is called Bhairava, and his consort is called Bhairavi. She is here shown seated on the shoulders of Bhairava. A crown of skulls adorns each of the heads of this remarkable pair of deities. Her topmost head is the most ferocious, with her mouth wide open, baring her teeth. Her form is youthful and beautiful, but her multiple arms show her dominating power. For this reason this image of Bhairavi is called maha or "great."