Kashi is believed to be under the protection of Kalabhairav, its guardian deity. Tradition holds that anyone who visits Kashi must first seek his permission before seeking darshan of Kashi Vishwanath. But how did Kalabhairav come to rule over Kashi?
The story is narrated by Kartikeya to Sage Agastya in the Kashi Khand.

Once, Brahma and Vishnu, overcome by Maya, began quarrelling over who was the supreme creator of the universe. Narada advised them to seek the wisdom of the sages at Badrikashram. The sages, however, told them that Shiva was the supreme creator.
Still unconvinced, Brahma and Vishnu travelled to Vedpuri and questioned the four Vedas. One after another, they received the same answer: Shiva was the Supreme Being, and Brahma and Vishnu were created through his will.
Their quarrel continued until Shiva, seeing the disorder it had caused, created a fierce and powerful being from his arm and named him Kalabhairav. He commanded him to restore order.

Kalabhairav appeared before Brahma and Vishnu and proposed a test. The Supreme Being, he said, extended across the universe, with his crown reaching the heavens and his feet deep in Patala. Whoever could find either the crown or the feet would be declared supreme.Vishnu descended into Patala, searching endlessly for the feet. At last, he encountered Ganapati, who revealed the futility of his search and urged him to surrender to Shiva. Vishnu accepted the truth.

Brahma, however, refused to give up. On his journey towards the heavens, he met Kamadhenu, who warned him that countless universes existed within Shiva and that the crown could never be found. But Brahma, unwilling to lose, persuaded Kamadhenu and the Ketaki flower to become witnesses to a lie, that he had seen the crown. When Brahma returned, Vishnu had already accepted Shiva’s supremacy. Brahma proudly claimed that he had found the crown, producing Kamadhenu and Ketaki as witnesses.
Kalabhairav immediately saw through the deception. In fury, he struck Brahma and severed one of his heads. He cursed Kamadhenu and Ketaki for supporting the lie.At that moment Shiva appeared with his ganas. He reprimanded Kalabhairav for killing Brahma, warning him that even the punishment of wrongdoing carries consequences. Shiva revived Brahma with sacred water from Manikarnika and restored him.Brahma finally accepted Shiva as the Supreme Being.

Kalabhairav, however, now carried the burden of the sin of killing Brahma. He wandered through Vishnu-loka, Swarga and Patala before finally reaching Kashi, where he performed penance.Pleased with his devotion, Shiva forgave him and gave him a new role: guardian of Kashi and leader of the ganas. And so, Kalabhairav came to Kashi, not merely as a fierce deity, but as its protector, guardian of its sacred order, and the one who stands at the threshold of the city.

It is believed that remembering Kalabhairav’s name removes obstacles and protects the devotee on the journey through life.

Story collected by : Vidya Kamat
Source: Shri Kashi-Khand Kathasagar, ed. by S. R. Devale, Pune
Image copyright : Vidya Kamat