BHAIRAVA ASHTHAMI - The eighth lunar day of the dark half of Margashirsha is known as Bhairava Asthami. Bhairava is Shiva's Gan, or his inferior form of manifestation. Bhairava is terrible in form and character and is worshipped to obtain success, prosperity and removal of obstacles and recovery from illness. As a terrible aspect of Shiva, he punishes the sinners, and for this purpose carries a danda, or a staff, or a rod. Therefore, he is also called Dadapani. He rides a dog, therefore, he is called Swaswa, 'whose horse is a dog'.

On Bhairava Asthami, the people after having performed their early morning ablutions worship Bhairava and his mount (the dog), with sweets, flowers, etc. The dogs are fed with milk, sweets and such other delicacies. At night the aspirants keep vigil and spend the time in telling stories relating to Bhairavanath. Dead ancestors are also offered oblations and libations in the morning after bath, and then Kal-Bhairava is worshipped.

Kaal Bhairava - The Lord of the March of Time
Lord Kaala Bhairava is that manifestation of Lord Siva who oversees the march of time. As the saying goes, time lost is lost forever. There's nothing more precious than time. So intelligent humans should use every moment effectively on the spiritual path. And those want to do this have the divine help of Lord Kaal Bhairava if they request it with sincerity.

LEGEND: A myth says that once a controversy arose among the Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva that who was the greatest of them. Every deity pleaded his case, and ultimately the controversy took such an ugly turn that they started talking ill of one another. A chance remark of Brahma so enraged Shiva that he at once produced Bhairava and ordered him to cut off one of the five heads of Brahma. Bhairava at once did what he was told. Then Brahma lost one head and became four-headed. It terrified all other gods and they propitiated Shiva and his Gan - Bhairava.