Dimensions: Height 6 cm Wide 3,2 cm Depth 2,2 cm

Weight: 41 grams

A small bronze figure of Bhairava, the fierce manifestation of Shiva, standing upright on a square base. The god is depicted with four arms, holding attributes including the trident (triśūla) and the drum (ḍamaru), both directly associated with Shiva’s destructive and creative powers. His elongated ears, muscular torso, and firmly planted stance emphasize both divine authority and ferocity. A small dog, Bhairava’s vahana (vehicle), stands faithfully at his side.

Bhairava is worshipped in both Shaiva and Shakta traditions, representing Shiva’s terrifying aspect as the protector of sacred spaces and punisher of transgressions. He is particularly revered as a guardian deity in temples and cremation grounds, where his role embodies the tantric embrace of fearsome energy as a path to transcendence. Miniature bronzes such as this one likely functioned as portable icons for personal protection and ritual invocation, channeling Bhairava’s destructive energy into a force of spiritual guardianship for the devotee.