This art is an illustration of Bhairava who is believed to be the fiery, raging, tempestuous and wandering form of Lord Shiva, according to Hindu Mythology. The fiery Bhairava is thought to be born out of Lord Shiva's third eye and therefore is connected with an umbilical cord amidst raging flames to the third eye in the illustration. The howling dog is considered to be Bhairava's pillion. There are 64 Bhairavas in all, and are grouped under 8 categories with each one headed by a major Bhairava (known as Astanga Bhairava) and is thought to control the 8 directions of the universe. The 8 bipyramidal wooden planks denote the 8 Cardinal points of the universe which Bhairava guards. Bhairava defends people from lust, greed, anger and enemies as seen in the form of two skulled entities caressing each other in the top,a craving hand on the left,the angry human head and blade on the right.