The Kal Bhairav Temple is dedicated to Kal Bhairav (Kala Bhairava), as the name suggests. The idol is a face carved on a rock, covered with kumkuma (vermilion). The deity wears a silver headpiece and a Maratha-style turban, a tradition that started during Maharaja Shinde’s rule.
The temple follows the Shaivite tradition, where people worship Ashta Bhairava (eight forms of Bhairava), with Kal Bhairav being the most important. In the past, the Kapalika and Aghora sects worshipped Kal Bhairav, and Ujjain was a major center for these sects.
Kal Bhairav is believed to be the protector of Ujjain and is called the Senapati (Chief General) of the city. The current temple was built over an older temple, which is said to have been built by a lesser-known king named Bhadrasen.
The temple is mentioned in the Avanti Khanda of the Skanda Purana. Many old sculptures of Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, and Ganesha from the Paramara period (9th-13th century CE) have been found here. The walls of the temple were once decorated with Malwa-style paintings, but now only a few traces remain.