Bhairav Aaradhyaa

Abhinavagupta's Bhairava Stavah

अभिनवगुप्त भैरव स्तवः

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.

By Abhinavagupta

Kalabhairava Ashtakam

कालभैरव अष्टकम्

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.

By Adi Shankaracharya

Batuk Bhairava Kavach

बटुक भैरव कवचम्

May Lord Bhairava be pleased, salutations to Bhairava.

By From Rudra Yamala Tantra

Shiva Panchakshara Stotram

श्रीशिवपञ्चाक्षरस्तोत्रम्

To him whose garland is the king of serpents, three-eyed, whose bodily paste is ash, eternal, pure, clad in the directions, anointed with the Mandakini's water and sandal, Maheshvara - to him, of the form of the syllable "na," salutation to Shiv.

Shiva Tandava Stotram

शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम्

At the place purified by the stream of water falling from the forest of his matted locks, letting hang a lofty garland of serpents, with the resounding damaru making the sound "ḍama-ḍama-ḍama-ḍama" - he performed the fierce Tandava; may that Shiv extend auspiciousness to us.

Shiva Mahimna Stotram

शिवमहिम्नः स्तोत्रम्

O Hara! If a praise unequal to the farthest limit of your glory, composed by one who does not fully know that glory even to the extent that it is known by Brahma and the other gods, nevertheless falls short of you, then let it be so - since everyone speaks only to the limit of their own understanding, let this effort of mine to praise you also be blameless.

The Decapitation of Brahma's Fifth Head

In the timeless realm where gods dwell, a fierce dispute arose between Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Preserver over who was supreme. Their argument grew so heated that the fabric of creation trembled. From the blazing third eye of Shiva emerged Bhairava, a terrifying form of pure cosmic fury, to humble the pride of Brahma.

Batuk Bhairava: The Divine Child Who Protects Children

When a terrible demon named Aapat threatened to devour all the children of the three worlds, even the combined might of the gods seemed insufficient. In desperation, all the devas pooled their divine radiance into a blazing sphere of light. From this unified energy emerged a miraculous child - Batuk Bhairava.

Kala Bhairava: The Kotwal of Kashi

In the sacred city of Varanasi, where Shiva himself resides as the eternal lord, there stands a temple unlike any other - the Kala Bhairav Mandir. Here, Bhairava is not merely worshipped as a deity. He is revered as the Kotwal, the supreme police chief and guardian of the city.

Somnath

The first of the twelve. Chandra, cursed with wasting disease for favouring one wife over the rest, is restored at Prabhasa by six months of worship, and Shiva stays there as Someshvara.

Kashi Vishwanath

Kashi's origin as Shiva's own city, held up on his trident through dissolution, and the Purana's teaching on dying in the five-krosha boundary of Avimukta.

Mahakaleshwar

Four devoted brahmana brothers of Avanti meet the asura Dushana with meditation alone, and Shiva rises from the earth as Mahakala. A second chapter tells how a gopi's five-year-old son is rewarded for imitating the king's worship.