India’s newly raised Bhairav Light Combat Battalions, part of the Indian Army’s ongoing transformation drive, will carry the image of Naga Vasuki, the King of Snakes, as a central element of their unit insignia.
According to official sources, the insignia features Nag Vasuki entwined with a Commando Dagger, reflecting the battalions’ core attributes of stealth, fearlessness, and indomitable spirit. The unit motto—“Adrashya” (Invisible) and “Adamya” (Indomitable)—is inscribed in Hindi, reinforcing the battalions’ role as agile, hard-hitting light combat formations.
The name Bhairav is associated with Lord Shiva, who is traditionally depicted with Vasuki around his neck. Military planners said the symbolism was carefully chosen to project the ethos of the new battalions. “The selection of symbols, imagery, and words has been done with a clear intent. The cobra represents fearlessness, agility, and an unyielding spirit—qualities central to the Bhairav battalions,” a source stated.
In Hindu mythology, Vasuki was used as the rope during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), wrapped around Mount Mandara to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality—an association that further underscores endurance and extraordinary strength.
The Bhairav Battalions are a key component of the Army’s force restructuring and modernisation initiative. As part of this transformation, the Indian Army plans to raise 25 Bhairav Light Combat Battalions by April, enhancing its capability for rapid, high-intensity operations in diverse terrains.
The new insignia is expected to make its first prominent public appearance when Bhairav units march down Kartavya Path during the Republic Day Parade, signalling the arrival of a new generation of combat formations in the Indian Army.
