Vatuka Mahabhairava

वरवीरयोगिनीगणसिद्धावलिपूजितांघ्रियुगम् | अपहृतविनयजनार्तिं वटुकमपादानाभिदं वन्दे ||

– अभिनवगुप्त (975-1025)

‘I salute Vatuka, the remover of pain, who took away the troubles of people; whose pair of limbs are worshipped by a string of the best— the vira-s, yogini-s, and siddha-s.’

The reason for invoking Vatuka (when done correctly) is to manage all the negative forces that may affect a practice, especially Shakti upasana. He is one deity to restrict the workings of every other kind of gana, every dustagraha, and everything that disturbs that path. When Shakti increases in an individual upasaka, like a magnet, it will attract entities that seek to disturb, destroy, or steal that Shakti. Every upasaka has to pass through that stage once higher levels of power are accessed.

Then Bhairava comes as Vatuka to guard the sadhaka—day or night, inside or outside, in crowded places, empty deserted areas, forests, cremation grounds, or hills, surrounded by any negative force, whether human or astral, anything and everything. No traditional Shakti puja is complete without a bali to Vatuka Mahabhairava.