Mantras of Bahiravi find its mention in the Sarada-tilaka. It is a ninth-century C.E. text which is attributed to Laksmana Desikendra. He was a spiritual teacher of the tenth century Kashmiri philosopher Abhinavagupta. The text narrates many early hymns in praise of Goddess Bhairavi. She is considered as the source of the world. The goddess has a beautiful face with three eyes. She has four hands and in two hands she holds a book and a rosary. With the other two hands she bestows blessings and love to her devotees. The goddess a crescent moon on her hair and has a fair complexion like an autumn moon. The goddess also holds a jar of amrita or immortality nectar and is worshipped along with Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The goddess is a source of consciousness and grants yogic powers that enables one to overcome six natures of passion such as sexual lust, greed, delusion, intoxication, anger and jealousy. The consorts of the siddhas or the heavenly beings become red eyed upon worshipping her.
Bhairavi goddess is worshipped as the coiled serpent or Kundalini who travels to the city of Lord Shiva. She bypasses along the Susumna Nadi making all lotus blossom. This aspect depicts the awakening and raising the Kundalini. The goddess is the source of all Vedas. The goddess is also called by other names like Goddess Narayani, Goddess Gauri and Goddess Saraswati.
The hymn of the goddess depicts her cosmic aspect. The hymn emphasizes Bhairavi as empowering the three male deities, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Maheshwar or Shiva. The goddess is not only worshipped as a consort but also an independent God. The beauty of the goddess and her erotic excitement has also emphasized in the hymn. Through the help of Yoga she provides the power to overcome worldly passions. The hymn identifies Goddess Bhairavi with the Kundalini Shakti. She has the inherent power of awakened consciousness that is nurtured in the Tantric sadhana.
Bhairavi mantra is Hsraim Hskalarim Hsrsauh. Just as in Sundari, the three parts of the mantra are called the Vagbhava, Kamaraja and Shakti Kutams. When H (Shiva), S(Shakti), R(fire of the desire of the union between Shiva and Shakti) are added to Aim, Klim and Souh, the mantra of Bhairavi is formed. Worship of Bhairavi is done by the pancha makaras: madya, matsya, amsa, mudra, maithuna
By the Grace of Bhairavi, the devotee accomplishes concentration of consciousness in his mind and body. In the physical, he learns to stop the downward course of life-streams, conserve the sexual energy and turn it upwards (urdhva retas), thus making the retas into ojas.
