Bhairavaprakasha

(“brilliance of Bhairava”) Name given to
the spear that is the symbolic weapon of
the Mahanirvani akhara, a particular
group of the Naga class of the
Dashanami Sanyasis. The Dashanami
Nagas are devotees (bhakta) of the god
Shiva and are organized into different
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Bhairava
akharas, or regiments, much like an
army. Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Nagas’ primary
occupation was as mercenary soldiers,
although they also had substantial
trading interests; both of these have
occupations largely disappeared in
contemporary times. All of the akharas
have particular features, including this
spear, which signify their organizational identity.