Asitāṅga Bhairava | Aṣṭa Bhairava Canvas Art Print

Asitāṅga Bhairava is the first of the eight Aṣṭa Bhairavas, the consort of the Mātṛkā Brāhmī. In the dhyāna of the Bhairava Tantra he rides the swan, holds a drinking vessel, a sword, a rosary and a water pot (kamaṇḍalu), and is three-eyed, youthful and digambara (clothed by the directions), peaceful and boon-giving, an embodiment of compassion.

This canvas art print by Swaroop is based on the dhyāna of Asitāṅga Bhairava, and is one of a series of all eight Aṣṭa Bhairavas.

त्रिणेत्रं वरदं शान्तं कुमारञ्च दिगम्बरम् ।
पानपात्रञ्च खड्गं च अक्षमालां कमण्डलुम् ॥
ब्रह्माणी शक्ति सहितं हंसारूढं सुरूपिणम् ।
नीलवर्णं कृपामूर्त्तिं असिताङ्गं भजाम्यहम् ॥

“Three-eyed, bestowing boons, peaceful and youthful, sky-clad; holding a drinking vessel, a sword, a rosary and a water pot; accompanied by Brahmāṇī Śakti, riding a swan, beautiful, blue in colour, the embodiment of compassion — I worship Asitāṅga, the dark-limbed one.”

Source: Bhairava Tantra.

• Place in the series: 1 of 8 Aṣṭa Bhairavas
• Consort (Śakti): Brāhmī
• Vāhana: swan
• Complexion: blue (nīlavarṇa); the name Asitāṅga means “the dark-limbed one”
• In his hands: a drinking vessel, a sword, a rosary and a water pot (kamaṇḍalu)
• Form: three-eyed, youthful and digambara (clothed by the directions), peaceful and boon-giving, an embodiment of compassion

The Aṣṭa Bhairavas are the eight forms of Bhairava, each paired with one of the Mātṛkā goddesses and, in most forms, sharing her vāhana. They hold a major place in both Śākta and Śaiva worship — in tradition, the worship of any deity is considered incomplete without honouring Bhairava in some form.

1. Asitāṅga Bhairava — with Brāhmī, on the swan
2. Ruru Bhairava — with Māheśvarī, on the bull
3. Caṇḍa Bhairava — with Kaumārī, on the peacock
4. Krodha Bhairava — with Vaiṣṇavī, on Garuḍa
5. Unmatta Bhairava — with Vārāhī, on the horse
6. Kapāla Bhairava — with Aindrī (Indrāṇī), on the elephant (Airāvata)
7. Bhīṣaṇa Bhairava — with Cāmuṇḍā, on the preta
8. Saṃhāra Bhairava — with Caṇḍikā, on the lion

• Medium: cotton canvas, matte finish, 300–350 GSM
• Sizes: 12 × 18″, 24 × 18″, 24 × 20″, 30 × 20″, 36 × 24″, 30 × 40″, 36 × 48″ and 40 × 60″ (canvas size; the blank border adds 4″ to each side measurement, e.g. 12 × 18″ becomes 16 × 22″ outer)
• Border: a blank border on all sides, ready for stretching or framing
• Proportions: the artwork keeps its original proportions — it is never cropped or stretched; any extra space is left blank
• Format: unframed, shipped rolled in a protective tube
• Made to order: printed in 2 working days, dispatched on the 3rd working day
• Artist: Swaroop

The print arrives rolled and unframed. Any local framer can stretch it on a wooden frame (gallery stretch) or mount it under glass; the border gives them room to work. Hang it away from direct sunlight and damp walls, and dust it gently with a soft, dry cloth.