Sacred Stotras of Bhairava

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

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

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

Stated in the Bhairava Tantra. Mahadeva said: May Lord Bhairava be pleased, salutations to Bhairava. O Goddess, tell the sure means for protection of the body.

Benefits:

• •Complete protection from all physical and psychic dangers
• •Removal of obstacles and calamities (apad uddharana)
• •Victory over enemies and negative forces

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

Shri Markandya said: O Lord, chief of the Pramatha ganas, equal to Shiva in prowess! You previously told me the mantra of the great-souled Bhairava.

Benefits:

• •Complete transformation from poverty to wealth (daridra to dhana-sampanna)
• •Attraction of gold, precious metals, and material abundance
• •Permanent dwelling of Lakshmi in the home (not temporary blessing)

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

We worship Martanda Bhairava, whose radiance resembles a golden lotus and coral, who holds in his lotus-hands the beautiful khatvanga staff and lotus, discus and shakti spear, noose and goad, the resplendent rosary and skull-cup, who is adorned with three luminous eyes and four beautiful Veda-faces, who shares half his body with his beloved consort, who wears a crown of precious gems and shines with brilliant necklaces.

Benefits:

• •Powerful visualization for meditation on Martanda Bhairava
• •Invokes the solar-Bhairava energy for vitality and brilliance
• •Provides complete iconographic vision for dhyana practice

O Lord, I have abandoned the service of the Guru, though capable I failed to follow the Guru's words. I remained bereft of your worship, meditation, japa, fire offering, and sacrifice. I never even made an effort to create your sacred image. Yet, O all-pervading one, as I am consumed by the web of worldly illusions, quickly bestow your heartfelt grace upon me!

Benefits:

• •Purifies all spiritual offenses and mistakes in practice
• •Bhairava dwells beside the devotee day and night
• •Grants supreme happiness (maha-saukhya) to the reciter

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

1. Bhairava (the Terrible). 2. Lord of Spirits. 3. Soul of all beings. 4. Sustainer of beings. 5. Knower of the field. 6. Protector of the field. 7. Giver of fields/land. 8. The Warrior. 9. The Radiant. 10. Dweller of cremation grounds.

Benefits:

• •Daily component minimum for Bhairava worship (guru-recommended)
• •Each name activates a specific protective energy
• •Grants all eight forms of prosperity (ashta-aishvarya)

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

1-18: The Terrible One. Lord of Spirits. Soul of Beings. Sustainer of Beings. Knower of the Field. Protector of the Field. Giver of Fields. The Warrior. The Radiant One. Cremation-ground Dweller. Flesh-eater. Skull-cup Consumer. Ender of Desire. Blood-drinker. Drink-consumer. The Perfected One. Granter of Perfection. Served by the Perfected.

Benefits:

• •Specifically designed for protection from calamities and emergencies
• •The "Apaduddharaka" prefix means "disaster-remover", specialized protection
• •Can be used during natural disasters, accidents, legal troubles, or health crises

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 Bhairavas said: Salutations to Martanda Natha, the immovable pillar, the Supreme Self. To Bhairava, the greatly fearsome, lord of the three abodes, salutations! To the one skilled in raising the dead, the cause of delivering from the womb, the banner of radiance, and the cause of the worlds.

Benefits:

• •Comprehensive purification through the "Bharga" principle, destroys every form of negativity
• •Removes all types of sins: great sins (Maha Pataka) and sub-sins (Upa Pataka)
• •Destroys anger, greed, desire, violence, fear, darkness, and negative tendencies

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

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 bow to Asitanga Bhairava, who bears matted locks blazing with red flames, who shines with the moon, whose body is red and luminous, who holds trident, skull, noose and damaru, who protects the world, who is accompanied by Brahmani as his consort deity, who loves the swan as his vehicle, who is sattvic in nature, who has ten heads, and who grants all desired siddhis.

Benefits:

• •Deep meditation and contemplation on the eight forms of Bhairava
• •Understanding the directional guardians protecting all eight quarters
• •Mastery over the eight siddhis associated with each Bhairava

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

Om. For this great mantra of Shri Batuk Bhairava Brahma Kavach: Brahma is the seer (rishi), Anushtubh is the meter (chandas), Shri Batuk Bhairava is the deity. This recitation is dedicated to the accomplishment of all my desired wishes.

Benefits:

• •Supreme protection as used by Bhairava himself to support the universe
• •Complete shielding of all body parts, organs, and subtle energies
• •Protection of all five main pranas and five subsidiary vayus

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)

O sharp-fanged one, of mighty body, resembling the fire of cosmic dissolution, salutations to you, O Bhairava! Please grant me permission to proceed.

Benefits:

• •Protection from all eight directions through the Ashta Bhairavas
• •Destroys all sins and great fears
• •Grants spiritual powers (siddhis)

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

Sri Devi said: O God of gods, mighty-armed one, increaser of devotees' happiness, by what means does Kali quickly grant siddhi, O enchanter of the three worlds? Tell me that, O ocean of mercy, for the fulfillment of practitioners' desires. Be gracious, O Lord of the world, speak, O best among knowers of the Vedas.

Benefits:

• •Grants all siddhis, whether recited with faith or without, the kavach works unfailingly
• •Teaches the construction of the 8-syllable and 10-syllable Mahakala mantras
• •One becomes a great poet, speech flows like the Ganga with prose and verse

Salutations to Sri Ganesha. Bhairava said: Listen, O Supreme Goddess, to the kavach spoken from my mouth. This supremely wondrous armor of Maha Mrityunjaya, it must never be given away carelessly.

Benefits:

• •Bhairava himself became lord of the three worlds by this kavach
• •Even one who has reached death lives, the supreme death-conquering armor
• •Invokes over 30 names of Shiva for head-to-toe protection

Om Hrim, Salutations to Sri Batuka: the heart deity, head deity, tuft deity, armor deity, eye deity, weapon deity. [Five faces:] Ishana, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva, Sadyojata, the five-faced one. [Eight Bhairavas:] Asitanga, Ruru, Chanda, Krodha, Unmatta, Kapala, Bhishana, Samhara Bhairava. [Natha lineage:] Bhutanatha, Adinatha, Anandanatha, Siddha, Shabaranatha, Sahajanandanatha, Nihsimanandanatha, Paratpara Guru, Parameshthiguru, Guru. [Seven Shakti-sons:] Son of Dakini, Rakini, Lakini, Kakini, Shakini, Hakini, Malini. [Divine mothers' sons:] Son of Devi, Uma, Rudra, the Mothers, the upward-facing, the downward-facing. [Matrika-sons:] Son of Brahmi-Batuka, Maheshvari-Batuka, Vaishnavi-Batuka, Kaumari-Batuka, Indrani-Batuka, Mahalakshmi-Batuka, Varahi-Batuka, Chamunda-Batuka. [Attendants:] Hetuka, Tripurantaka, Vetala, Agnijihva, Kalantaka, Karala, Ekapada, Bhimarupa, Achala. [44 Kshetrapalas from Hatakesha to Samvartakesha.] [Yogini assemblies:] Yogishvara with Yoginis in the celestial realm, in the atmospheric realm, in the terrestrial realm, all Yogins with their Shaktis. Salutations, salutations, salutations! Svaha!

Benefits:

• •Single recitation equals performing the complete multi-layered Avarana Puja of Batuka Bhairava
• •Invokes the entire spiritual hierarchy: 5 faces, 8 Bhairavas, 7 Shaktis, 7 Matrikas, 44+ Kshetrapalas
• •Activates the complete mandala of Batuka worship in one breath

Brahma himself is the sage, the meter is Trishtubh, the deity is Swarnakarshana Bhairava who is Hari-Hara-Brahma combined. The seed is Hrim, the power is Bhrigu's. We daily recite this stotra preceded by dhyana, woven entirely of mantras.

Benefits:

• •Even the unfortunate attain wealth exceeding their wishes, by Bhairava's grace alone
• •Contains specific bija mantras (Aim Klam Klim Klum; Hraam Hrim Hum Sah) for gold-attraction
• •Rasa-siddhi (alchemical perfection) and Nidhi-siddhi (treasure-mastery) manifest quickly

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

Sri Devi said: O Lord, God of gods! Tell me the secret of Batuka, by which a practitioner may bring Bhairava Shiva under their influence.

Benefits:

• •A "rahasyam" (secret), the most closely guarded teaching of Batuka Bhairava
• •Spoken by Batuka himself directly, a rare occurrence in tantric literature
• •The Mantra-Raksha contains unique bija-mantra sequences for each Ashta Bhairava