Bhairava is also called upon as protector, as he guards the eight directions of the universe.
He is a powerful manifestation, or avatar, of Shiva associated with annihilation. In Trika system Bhairava represents Supreme Reality, synonymous to Para Brahman.
Bhairava is also called Dandapani, as he holds a rod or Danda to punish sinners, and Svaśva, meaning “whose vehicle is a dog”.