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Kālāgnipriyaṅkara Bhairava

कालाग्निप्रियंकर भैरव

kaa-LAAG-ni-pri-yan-ka-ra BHAY-ra-va

#subordinate#samhara-group#kalagni#dissolution

Introduction

Kālāgnipriyaṅkara Bhairava, "beloved-maker of the fire-of-time," is a subordinate Bhairava of the Saṃhāra group associated with the pralaya-fire.

Detailed Understanding

Kālāgnipriyaṅkara combines kālāgni ("fire of time," the doomsday-fire that consumes the cosmos at dissolution) with priyaṅkara ("maker of what is dear"). As a member of the Saṃhāra group in the Rudrayāmala 8×8 enumeration he shares that group's iconography. Reflection: the one who makes even the fire of dissolution beloved, teaching that endings, rightly seen, are acts of grace.

Iconography & Symbolism

Traditional Attributes (of the Saṃhāra group)

Direction: North-East
Śakti (Mātṛkā): Mahālakṣmī (also Yogeśvarī)
Vāhana: Dog
Complexion: dazzling, lightning-white
Held objects: the fierce weapon-set of the group

Source: Rudrayāmala tradition (secondary, nathas). In the Rudrayāmala 8×8 structure the 64 sub-forms share their group-leader's traditional depiction.

Appearance

No individual iconography is given in the source; as a Saṃhāra-group Bhairava he shares the group description: dazzling/lightning-white complexion, bearing the fierce weapon-set (Rudrayāmala / Śilpaśāstra).

A contemplative description; the sourced depiction is the group's Traditional Attributes above.

Vehicle (Vahana)

Dog (Saṃhāra group)

Sacred Attributes

Lightning-white complexion (group)
Fierce weapon-set (group)

Spiritual Significance

Invoked as one of the 64 Bhairavas within the Saṃhāra group; contemplated in relation to cosmic dissolution (pralaya) and letting go.

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