Kāla Bhairava

I, Abhinavagupta, with one pointed devotion, am praying to that supreme all-pervading Lord Śiva, who is himself present in each and everything that exists, and who through realization reveals himself as the one limitless Bhairavanātha the protector of the helpless.

Benefits:

• •Direct awakening of non-dual Bhairava consciousness
• •Liberation from fear of death and worldly existence
• •Dissolution of subject-object duality through grace

I sing praise of Kalabhairava, the ruler of the City Kashi, whose lotus feet are served by Indra the king of gods, who is adorned with serpents as sacred thread and moon on forehead, who is merciful, who is glorified by Narada and other celestial singers, and who is clad in space itself.

Benefits:

• •Protection from negative energies and evil spirits
• •Removal of fear of death
• •Liberation from the cycle of birth and death

Om! Worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheshvara in Bhairava's form, the remover of difficulties - who is fierce and fiercer than fierce, holding staff in hand, who has cut enemies to pieces, who grants happiness, who makes the world joyful, who sports playfully, who shows his teeth (fangs), who dances, whose conch sounds with damaru beats, whose earrings swing, who smiles sweetly, who bears the world's burden.

Benefits:

• •Complete removal of all difficulties and obstacles (kashtahara)
• •Protection from inner enemies: lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, jealousy
• •Union with Shakti - awakening of divine feminine energy

Yam yam yam - in the form of a Yaksha, known in all ten directions, causing the earth to tremble. Sam sam - whose form is dissolution, whose crown of matted locks is adorned with the lunar orb. Dam dam dam - with a tall body, with fierce nails and face, with hair standing upright, terrifying. Pam pam pam - the destroyer of sins, always bow to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field.

Benefits:

• •Direct realization of Mahakala as the guardian of one's consciousness-field
• •Mastery over time (kala) and transcendence of death anxiety
• •Activation of all energy centers through systematic bija mantra practice

Opening Doha: Victory to Lord Bhairava, the Lord of Kashi Vishwanath! O ocean of compassion, remove all sorrows, poverty, and calamities.

Benefits:

• •Complete protection from all forms of suffering and poverty
• •Removal of fear, especially fear of death and the unknown
• •Fulfillment of righteous desires and material needs

Om Bhram! Salutations to Bhairava, the remover of all inauspicious influences! Svaha!

Benefits:

• •Grants all desires (sarva-phala-prada: giver of all fruits)
• •Removes planetary afflictions and astrological obstacles
• •Bestows knowledge, wealth, progeny, fame, and health

I bow to Bhairava who holds a sword, skull-cup, damaru drum, and trident in his lotus-like hands, who is three-eyed, sky-clad, with body adorned with sacred ash, and who wears the crescent moon as his crown.

Benefits:

• •Grants poetic genius and wisdom (kavitva)
• •Destroys sufferings of old age, disease, and worldly bondage
• •Bestows sovereignty and leadership qualities

Om, salutations to the Lord of Batuka! To the Essence of all being! To the Lord of the Lords of the three worlds! To the Lord of all Lords! To the eternal Youth! To the Lord of Kali! To the Wish-fulfiller! To the Protector of all worlds! To the Lord of spirits! To the Chief of celestial hosts! To He who is worshipped by heroes!

Benefits:

• •Quick daily practice invoking 22 powerful names of Bhairava
• •Each name activates a specific aspect of Bhairava's protection
• •Ideal for beginners starting Bhairava worship

Yam Yam Yam, to Him who has the form of a Yaksha, known in all ten directions, making the earth tremble! Sam Sam, to the embodiment of destruction, crowned with matted locks and the moon disc! Dam Dam Dam, to the towering one with fierce claws, distorted face, upward-standing hair, terrifying! Pam Pam Pam, destroyer of all sins! Bow always to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field!

Benefits:

• •Removes all obstacles (nirvighna) from life path
• •Destroys all suffering and fear
• •Protection from negative entities (Shakinis)

Salutations to Lord Bhairava, the embodiment of eternal bliss, who reveals the final path of all scriptures and shows the true meaning of the Vedas.

Benefits:

• •Composed by the Devas (gods) themselves, carries divine potency
• •Grants the eight forms of divine sovereignty
• •Destroys all calamities of devotees

Om Hrim! Salutations to: 1. Asitanga (dark-bodied) Bhairava. 2. Vishalaksha (wide-eyed) Bhairava. 3. Martanda (sun) Bhairava. 4. Modakapriya (sweet-loving) Bhairava. 5. Svacchanda (independent/free) Bhairava. 6. Vighna-santushta (obstacle-pleased) Bhairava. 7. Khecara (sky-moving) Bhairava. 8. Sacharachara (moving-unmoving) Bhairava.

Benefits:

• •Invokes all 64 forms of Bhairava in one practice
• •Each name with "Hrim" bija creates powerful mantra-shakti
• •Comprehensive protection from all 64 directions of cosmic space

Parvati said: O God of gods, great Lord, benefactor of the world, please narrate to me the Panjara (cage of protection) of Batuka, O Lord.

Benefits:

• •Creates an impenetrable Vajra Panjara (diamond cage) of protection around the practitioner
• •Lord Shiva himself was saved from Bhasmasura by this kavach
• •Destroys all evil forces and removes all diseases

Bhairava said: I shall describe, O Goddess, the auspicious kavach that protects life, adorned by the gods, for the protection of Mahadeva day and night.

Benefits:

• •Concise yet complete protection kavach, accessible for intermediate practitioners
• •Invokes Rudra/Shiva's various names for body-part protection
• •Destroys all sins including the gravest (Brahma-hatya)

The Devas said: Salutations to the Lord of Time, salutations to the one whose form is Time. Salutations to the fearsome and fierce one, salutations to the trident-bearer.

Benefits:

• •Spoken by the assembled Devas, carries the devotional power of all celestial beings
• •Reveals Kala Bhairava's cosmic vishvarupa (universal form), thousand arms, eyes, feet
• •Connects to Bhairava as the fabric of existence: directions, earth, sun, moon, planets

Eternal bliss, supreme peace, without parts, without disease, beyond space, the supreme void, I bow to that Bhairava.

Benefits:

• •Devi herself composed this stuti, it carries the Goddess's own devotional power
• •Bhairava was so pleased by this stuti that he immediately appeared and granted boons
• •Reveals the non-dual philosophy: Bhairava is the void beyond the void, the space beyond space