Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.s9.5

v2.c16.s9.5

would not leave him. However, the thought occurred to Viṣṇu that if Bhairava went to Vārāṇasi the sin would leave him off and he advised him to go to this sacred place for being freed from his sins. Dancing with joy Bhairava wended his way to Vārāṇasi (or Kāśi) with the body of Viṣvaksēna and as soon as he reached that place, the sin left him and plunged into the nether world. The skull of Brahmā and the dead body of Viṣvaksēna also left him and he once again became Mahēśvara and returned to Kailāsa. Viṣvaksēna was restored to life and he joined Viṣṇu's service as usual. Such, in short, is the account we meet with in the Kūrma-purāṇa regarding the bearing of the skull and the dry bones (kaṅkaḷa) of Viṣvaksēna by Śiva and also regarding his begging expedition. There is a confusion here about Śiva and a particular aspect of his, Bhairava; also the sin of the slaughter of Viṣvaksēna is imposed upon the shoulders of Śiva which were already groaning under that of the cutting off of the head of Brahmā.