God’s best friend

thedelhiwalla.blogspot.com

Shiva and intoxication are almost synonymous – and nowhere is this truer than at the Shri Kilkari Baba Bhairon Nath Ji Pandavokalin Mandir next to Purana Qila (its pujaris claim it was built by the Pandavas), a place of worship for the big god’s avatar, Bhairava. For it is at this, and other Bhairon temples around the city, that priests pour libations of Black Dog, Bagpiper or Royal Stag, offered up by a long queue of devotees as prasad.

Bhairava is a fairly awe-inspiring statue, carved out of black marble, holding a demon’s head in one hand and a bottle of liquor in another. On either side of the god is a black dog carved out of the same stone, one with its tongue sticking out playfully, and the other sitting in silent submission. Amusingly, these were joined by a street dog, sleeping snugly on the cold marble floor, next to the foot of the statue.

A priest told us that black dogs are considered to be the animal-form of Bhairava, and believers can show their devotion by feeding and taking care of them every Saturday. This is supposed to ward off the ill-effects of black magic and even shift the planetary positions favourably. Outside the temple too, are carvings of these black dogs. Praveen Singh, a devotee of Bhairon, had just finished offering whiskey. He affirmed that “Kaale kutte ke roop mein Bhairava Baba hi toh hain”.

Near Pragati Maidan parking (Gate 2).

Featured in Time-Out Delhi