Ia digambarkan berhiaskan belitan ular yang dikenakan sebagai anting, gelang, gelang kaki, dan tali kasta (yajnopavita). Ia mengenakan cawat kulit harimau dan berhiaskan rangkaian tengkorak manusia.<ref name="ASIA-SI">[http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/singleObject.cfm?ObjectId=27267 Bhairava statuette] in copper from 15th-16th century Nepal, in collection of [[Smithsonian Institution]]. Accessed August 11, 2007.</ref> Bhairawa memiliki seekor [[serigala]] sebagai [[wahana]] (kendaraan).
== Legenda ==
The origin of Bhairava can be traced to the conversation between Lord Brahma and Lord [[Vishnu]] recounted in "Shiv Maha-Puran" where Lord Vishnu asks Lord Brahma who is the supreme creator of the Universe. Arrogantly, Brahma tells Vishnu to worship him because he (Brahma) is the supreme creator. This angered Shiva who in reality is the creator of all. Shiva then incarnated in the form of Bhairava to punish Brahma. Bhairava beheaded one of Brahma's five heads and since then Brahma has only four heads. When depicted as '''Kala Bhairava''', Bhairava is shown carrying the decapitated head of [[Brahma]]. Cutting off Brahma's fifth head made him guilty of having slain Brahma, and as a result, he was forced to carry around the head for years until he had been absolved of the sin.
