Veerabhadra Swamy
Sri Veerabhadraswamy Jayanthi is one of the most celebrated festivals dedicated to Veerabhadra Swamy, an avatar of Lord Shiva. Sri Veerabhadra Swamy was created by Lord Shiva in order to teach a lesson for Lord Daksha, who had insulted Lord Shiva and avoided him to invite for the Yagna conducted by him.
In 2025, Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Jayanti date is August 26, Tuesday. As per the sources, Veerabhadra Jayanti utsavam is observed on the first Tuesday of Bhadrapada Masam of Chandramana Amavasyanta Panchangams (Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati calendars).
Suttur Srikshetra is known as the birth place of Sri Veerabhadra Swamy hence the Suttur Veerabhadreshwara Swamy Temple is considered the most sacred place dedicated to the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva.
Dakshayani is the incarnation of Goddess Shakti, desiring to marry Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva had created Veerabhadra, to destroy Daksha and his army, when Dakshayani, had tried to stop his father Dakhsa from performing Dakshayagnam. Ferocious Daksha ignored Dakshayani and continued performing the Yaga to insult and abuse Lord Shiva. Check out the whole story behind Veerabhadraswamy Avataram..
Shiva ordered Veerabhadra to destroy the Yagna of Daksha. He attacked all the demi gods and other devas with his powerful weapons and destroyed the entire place with the help of Bhadra Kali. Finally he chopped the head of Lord Daksha, and due to his wife’s prayers, he placed a goat’s head in the body of daksha and brought him back alive. Read the story – How Daksha Yagnam is destroyed along with the supreme ego of Daksha