Batuk Bhairabh Temple. Photo by Priti Thapa

Batuk Bhairabh Temple is a one-storey pagoda-style temple topped with a brass roof at the crossroad in Lagankhel, the heart of Patan district. Unlike other temples, this one doesn't have an idol rather a stone shrine is worshipped as Bhairabh accompanied by Lord Ganesh, Lord Kumar, and Goddess Kumari in the inner sanctum. Many believe that Batuk Bhairabh is a family deity of God Minnath. According to the legend, King Amshuvarma of the Lichhavi Period built this temple after his return from Prayag visit between 595 CE - 621 CE, then Juddha Shumsher Rana refurbished it in 1912 B.S. Lord Shiva divined himself as wrathful Bhairabh to scare off Brahma and Bishnu when a dispute on who is the greatest of all erupted between these three gods. It is believed that Shiva cut off one of the five heads of Brahma when he counter-argued that Brahma was the greatest for being the Creator. This wrathful God has eight manifestations called Ashta Bhairabh viz Asitanga Bhairabh, Ruru Bhairabh, Chanda Bhairabh, Krodha Bhairabh, Unmatta Bhairabh, Kapala Bhairabh, Bheeshana Bhairabh and Samhara Bhairabh. Batuk is the child form of Kaal Bhairabh, one of the Ashta Bhairabhs who control the eight directions. Bhairabh is a Tratrik God and is worshipped at various Shakti Peethas (the divine places of the Mother Goddess) alongside Bhairabhi, the female form of Bhairabh. According to the ancient text Shakti Sangam from Kali Khanda scripture, Batuk Bhairav was born to kill the demon Aapad who gained a powerful boon from Brahma. Aapad misused his powers to create havoc in all three worlds; heaven, hell, and earth. Infuriated Gods to punish the demon for his misdeeds created a five-year-old boy with their combined powers. The boy was Batuk Bhairabh, the living embodiment of time and space. Aapad couldn’t be killed in present, past, or future time zones because of his boon, so Batuk momentarily paused the Kalachakra (time), ripped Aapad’s body apart, and saved the entire living creature. A stone shrine representing Batuk Bhairabh, Ganesh, Kumar, and Kumari in the inner sanctum.

Also, Batuk Bhairabh, a child form of Lord Shiva is the most worshipped form of Bhairabh by Hindus because He as a five-year boy is considered calmer than all the other wrathful ones. People worship Batuk Bhairabh to get rid of Sani Dosh, the obstacles created by the planet Saturn. Weak Saturn results in insomnia, laziness, and many physical, mental, and psychological losses not only to oneself but to immediate family members too. In easier terms, life and lifestyle go down south because of Sani Dosh. Worshipping Batuk Bhairabh on a specific day of a week for a specific number of days will help one alleviate their problems. People also feed black dogs, Bhairabh’s animal form on Saturdays as a service to Him.