Kankalamurti

He is depicted as a four-armed man with a kankala-danda (skeleton-staff) in his hand and followed by bhuta ganas (ghostly attendants) and love-sick women.

To expiate the sin, Bhairava had to undertake the vow of a Kapali: wandering the world as a naked mendicant with the skull of the slain as his begging bowl.

Angered, Bhairava slew Vishvaksena, impaled the corpse on his trishula (trident) and carrying it over his shoulder, which added to his sin.

In another version, Vishnu cut an artery on Bhairava's forehead; a stream of blood spurts into his begging bowl as his food.

Vishnu then directed Bhairava to visit the sacred city of Varanasi, where his sin would be expiated.

[6] All Puranas agree that upon reaching Varanasi, Brahma's skull falls off Bhairava's palm and Vishvaksena's corpse disappears.

[11][12] Kankalamurti is depicted with a jatamukuta (matted hair piled up in form of a crown), adorned by the crescent moon on the right and a serpent and datura flowers on the left.

Kankalamurti wears red upper garments and a short pant made of tiger hide and silk.

[11] Decorated with peacock feathers, a flag and a small bell at the end, the staff is held horizontally and rests on the left shoulder.

Kankalamurti should be standing with his left leg straight and firm on the ground and his right one, slightly bent, suggesting walking.

The women, sometimes seven – wives of the seven great sages as in the Darasuram sculpture now in the Thanjavur Maratha Palace museum,[12] are variously pictured as enamoured of Shiva, eager to embrace him, blessing him, or serving him food in his begging bowl with a ladle.

Some gods are prescribed to be shown cleaning Kankalamurti's path, others singing his praises or showering him with flowers.

[9] In another description, Kankalamurti is said to hold a kankala-danda, a club, a deer and a damaru with a serpent around it and carry the veena around his neck.