Vaṭukotpatti

The Vaṭukotpatti tells the origin of Vaṭuka. It is found in Chapter 13 of the Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā of the Śiva Purāṇa. Vaṭuka is a youthful, self-controlled form of Bhairava, or of Bhagavān Śiva’s gaṇa (attendant) form. The account is joined with the great ṛshi Dadhīci and his son Sudarśana. It belongs to the larger group of accounts about the forms of Bhagavān Śiva’s attendants and about the protection of his devotees.

Dadhīci and his son Sudarśana

The Purāṇas praise Dadhīci as the ṛshi who gave up his own bones so that the Vajra weapon could be made for Indra, to kill the asura Vṛtra. In this account Dadhīci is the father of Sudarśana. After Dadhīci gave up his body, his son Sudarśana remained.

Through Sudarśana a particular form of Bhagavān Śiva’s power was shown in the world.

Vaṭuka

Vaṭuka means a young brāhmaṇa student, a boy. The name is given to a youthful, brahmachārī (celibate), ascetic form of the divine. It is linked with Bhairava and with the fierce, protecting side of Bhagavān Śiva, shown in the form of a young male.

In the Śaiva tradition Vaṭuka Bhairava is worshipped as the guardian form of Bhairava. He is linked in particular with the protection of devotees on their spiritual path.

The Vaṭukotpatti tells how this youthful divine form came to be shown, through events that involve Sudarśana and the line of Dadhīci. It sets down the pūjā of Vaṭuka as a practice that rests on the Purāṇas.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 13