Saṃhāra Bhairava | Aṣṭa Bhairava Canvas Art Print

Saṃhāra Bhairava is the eighth of the eight Aṣṭa Bhairavas, the consort of the Mātṛkā Caṇḍikā. In the dhyāna of the Bhairava Tantra he rides the lion, holds a trident, a drum (ḍamaru), a conch, a mace, a discus, a sword, a vessel, a skull-staff (khaṭvāṅga), a noose and a goad, and is ten-armed and three-eyed, wearing a serpent as the sacred thread and a garland of great skulls; fierce-faced with fangs, youthful and digambara, the bestower of the eight kinds of wealth (aṣṭaiśvarya).

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

दशबाहुं त्रिणेत्रञ्च सर्पयज्ञोपवीतिनम् ।
दंष्ट्राकरालवदनं अष्टैश्वर्यप्रदायकम् ॥
दिगम्बरं कुमारञ्च सिंहवाहनसंस्थितम् ।
शूलं डमरुकं शङ्खं गदां चक्रञ्च धारिणम् ॥
खड्गं पात्रं च खट्वाङ्गं पाशमङ्कुशमेव च ।
दैत्यशीर्षकपालोग्रबृहन्मालाधरं वटुम् ।
उग्ररूपं मदोन्मत्तं बाडबानलभैरवम् ।
चण्डिकाशक्तिसहितं ध्यायेत् संहारभैरवम् ॥

“Ten-armed and three-eyed, wearing a serpent as the sacred thread; his face terrifying with fangs, the bestower of the eight kinds of wealth; naked, youthful and mounted on a lion; holding a trident, drum, conch, mace and discus, a sword, a vessel, a skull-staff, a noose and a goad; wearing a great garland of demons’ skulls; fierce, intoxicated, like the submarine fire — with Caṇḍikā Śakti, meditate on Saṃhāra Bhairava.”

Source: Bhairava Tantra.

• Place in the series: 8 of 8 Aṣṭa Bhairavas
• Consort (Śakti): Caṇḍikā
• Vāhana: lion
• Complexion: not specified in the dhyāna
• In his hands: a trident, a drum (ḍamaru), a conch, a mace, a discus, a sword, a vessel, a skull-staff (khaṭvāṅga), a noose and a goad
• Form: ten-armed and three-eyed, wearing a serpent as the sacred thread and a garland of great skulls; fierce-faced with fangs, youthful and digambara, the bestower of the eight kinds of wealth (aṣṭaiśvarya)

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.