Bhairava is a Hindu Tantric deity - a fierce manifestation of Rudra or Shiva, associated with annihilation. Bhairava is also called Dandapani (as he holds a rod or Danda to punish sinners) and Swaswa meaning 'whose horse is a dog.' Bhairava originates from the word bh?ru, which means 'fearful'. Bhairava means 'terribly fearful form'. It is also known as one who destroys fear or one who is beyond fear. The right interpretation is that he protects his devotees from dreadful enemies, greed, lust and anger. Bhairava protects his devotees from these enemies. These enemies are dangerous as they never allow humans to seek God within. There is also another interpretation: Bha means creation, ra means sustenance and va means destruction. Therefore, Bhairava is the one who creates, sustains and dissolves the three stages of life. Therefore, he becomes the ultimate or the supreme.