Bhairava

Bhairava is a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation. Bhairava is depicted as being ornamented with a range of twisted serpents, which serve as earrings, bracelets, anklets and sacred thread (Yajnopavita)). He wears a tiger skin and a ritual apron composed of human bones. Bhairava has a dog (shwana) as his divine vahana. Sritattvanidhi, written by the Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III list eight manifestations of Bhairava . Stucco sculptures of these are installed in the outer precincts on the 20-ft high wall on the southern side.