Unmatta Bhairava | Aṣṭa Bhairava Canvas Art Print

Unmatta Bhairava is the fifth of the eight Aṣṭa Bhairavas, the consort of the Mātṛkā Vārāhī. In the dhyāna of the Bhairava Tantra he rides the horse, holds a sword, a skull (kapāla), a pestle (musala) and a shield (kheṭaka), and is three-eyed, youthful and digambara, peaceful and boon-giving.

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

त्रिणेत्रं वरदं शान्तं कुमारञ्च दिगम्बरम् ।
हेमवर्णं महादेवं अश्ववाहनसुस्थितम् ॥
खड्गं कपालं मुसलं दधन्तं खेटकं तथा ।
वाराहीशक्तिसहितं वन्दे उन्मत्तभैरवम् ॥

“Three-eyed, the bestower of boons, peaceful and youthful, clad in the directions; golden-hued and seated on a horse; holding a sword, a skull, a pestle and a shield; accompanied by Vārāhī Śakti — I salute Unmatta Bhairava.”

Source: Bhairava Tantra.

• Place in the series: 5 of 8 Aṣṭa Bhairavas
• Consort (Śakti): Vārāhī
• Vāhana: horse
• Complexion: golden (hemavarṇa)
• In his hands: a sword, a skull (kapāla), a pestle (musala) and a shield (kheṭaka)
• Form: three-eyed, youthful and digambara, peaceful and boon-giving

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.