Legend of Bhairava
There are interesting legends about the origin of Bhairava. According to one of them, once, Lord Brahma, the God of creation too was having 5 heads, just like Lord Shiva. He became a bit arrogant on account of this feature, began taking himself as equal to Shiva in all respects and started considering self as the ultimate source of all creations. Also holding himself as the supreme Almighty, he started expecting everyone else to worship him. Shiva realized what was happening and felt that it is time that Brahma is shown his place for the good of the universe. It is then that he then took the fierce form of Bhairava and plucked out one of Brahma’s heads. Thus chastised, Brahma’s arrogance was destroyed and he bowed to Shiva as atonement for his illusion. However, the separated skull of Brahma got stuck to Bhairava’s hands inextricably and he had to move around from place to place, trying to get rid of the severed head from his hand. As he went about seeking alms in the skull stuck to his hand, so that it could become full and can fall off his hands on its own, the Bhairava Shiva came to be known as Bhikshadana, the mendicant. It is said that at last, Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi gave him food, which filled the skull and immediately, it fell off his hands and Bhairava got relieved from the affliction. It is for this reason that Bhairava is also regarded as a wandering God.
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