Great Marathi Saint and poet of 17th century Samarth Ramdas composed an aarti in honor of Kala Bhairava and enumerated some his forms such as Kala Bhairava, Bal Bhairava, Tol Bhairava and Batu Bhairava.
In the Arati, Samarth Ramdas states that Bhairo destroys different kinds of evil (vicar). Kala Bhairava according to him is above Kala himself.
Ramdas describes him not only as Mahakala but also as Kshetrapala, guardian deity of the region. This proves that at the time of Ramdas, Bhairava was quite a prominent deity in many regions in Maharashtra. In Pune, Peshwas constructed a shrine in honor of Kala Bhairava.
It is believed by some scholars that deities such as Sri Mangesh, Ravalnath are forms of Bhairava.
Samarth Ramdas in a verse says that the deity of north had come to south and obliged his devotees by killing demon Ratnasur.