Kalabhairava (Black Bhairava), is one of the terrifying manifestations of Shiva. The head that Kalabhairava holds belongs to Brahma. Brahma once offended Shiva. Shiva flew into a rage and his anger brought into being Bhairava, who attacked Brahma and deprived him of his fifth head.

This aspect of Shiva sometimes appears riding a dog; in such cases he is called Shvashva, meaning 'the one who rides a dog instead of a horse'. Kalabhairava is worshipped mostly by the Shaivites in South India.