बटुख भैरव मंदिर

In the twisting lanes of Bhelupur, there’s a small sanctuary dedicated to a child deity full of power — the Batuk Bhairav Temple, devoted to the youthful form of Shiva's fierce aspect, Bhairav.

Here, the deity appears as a child or ‘Batuk’, often depicted with a dog’s head and a bluish-black hue—an image both tender and formidable. Local lore says he emerged to slay the demon Abad, a child blessed to kill only by another child — a role Batuk Bhairav fulfilled here in Kashi, becoming its protector.  

The tiny temple is known for its continuous oil lamp - Akhand Deep. Devotees believe the lamp’s oil, steeped in sacred presence, has healing powers — even used to treat wounds or animal bites. Around the shrine, dogs linger, believed to be the deity’s vahanas — their soft barks said to echo sacred resonance during evening rituals.

Open daily from early morning until late evening, it’s customary to complete a small circumambulation and quietly offer the ancient Batuk Bhairav mantra to seek protection, swiftness in relief, and inner courage. The temple celebrates Batuk Bhairav's birthday with special rituals, including a 56-bhog offering and feeding of 1,008 Brahmin children.

In Varanasi’s tapestry of sacred spaces, this little temple reminds us that guardianship can wear the face of a child—and that power can come softly, firmly, and unexpectedly in small places.