English: The creator-god Brahma told Shiva that he, Shiva, was the embodiment of the forces of disintegration, that he was naked, and that he was the destroyer of worlds. Although this was all true, Shiva became so angry that he transformed himself into a being of frightful appearance named Bhairava and cut off one of Brahma's heads. After years of wandering, he was finally cleansed of this great sin. "May Bhairava's fearful face . . . graciously destroy your sins," wrote a medieval poet. The entire image, originally placed in a temple niche, showed Bhairava either sitting or standing.