Ashta Bhairava Dhyana Stotram
अष्ट भैरव ध्यान स्तोत्रम्
Sanskrit
भैरवः पूर्णरूपो हि शङ्करस्य परात्मनः । मूढास्ते वै न जानन्ति मोहिताः शिवमायया ॥ मूलमन्त्रः - ॐ हं षं नं गं कं सं खं महाकालभैरवाय नमः । नमस्कारमन्त्रः - ॐ श्रीभैरव्यै । ॐ मं महाभैरव्यै । ॐ सिं सिंहभैरव्यै । ॐ धूं धूम्रभैरव्यै । ॐ भीं भीमभैरव्यै । ॐ उं उन्मत्तभैरव्यै । ॐ वं वशीकरणभैरव्यै । ॐ मों मोहनभैरव्यै ॥ ॥ अष्टभैरवध्यानम् ॥ असिताङ्गो रुरुश्चण्डः क्रोधश्चोन्मत्तभैरवः । कपाली भीषणश्चैव संहारश्चाष्टभैरवम् ॥
Transliteration
bhairavaḥ pūrṇarūpo hi śaṅkarasya parātmanaḥ | mūḍhāste vai na jānanti mohitāḥ śivamāyayā || mūlamantraḥ - oṃ haṃ ṣaṃ naṃ gaṃ kaṃ saṃ khaṃ mahākālabhairavāya namaḥ | namaskāramantraḥ - oṃ śrībhairavyai | oṃ maṃ mahābhairavyai | oṃ siṃ siṃhabhairavyai | oṃ dhūṃ dhūmrabhairavyai | oṃ bhīṃ bhīmabhairavyai | oṃ uṃ unmattabhairavyai | oṃ vaṃ vaśīkaraṇabhairavyai | oṃ moṃ mohanabhairavyai || || aṣṭabhairavadhyānam || asitāṅgo ruruścaṇḍaḥ krodhaśconmattabhairavaḥ | kapālī bhīṣaṇaścaiva saṃhāraścāṣṭabhairavam ||
Translation
Bhairava is verily the complete form of Shankara, the Supreme Self; the deluded, bewildered by Shiva's maya, do not know this. Mula-mantra: Om Haṃ Ṣaṃ Naṃ Gaṃ Kaṃ Saṃ Khaṃ, salutations to Mahakala Bhairava. Namaskara-mantra (to the eight Bhairavis): Om Shrim to Shri-Bhairavi, Om Mam to Maha-Bhairavi, Om Sim to Simha-Bhairavi, Om Dhum to Dhumra-Bhairavi, Om Bhim to Bhima-Bhairavi, Om Um to Unmatta-Bhairavi, Om Vam to Vashikarana-Bhairavi, Om Mom to Mohana-Bhairavi. The eight Bhairavas to be meditated upon: Asitanga, Ruru, Chanda, Krodha, Unmatta, Kapali, Bhishana, and Samhara, these are the eight Bhairavas.
Deep Meaning
The dhyana-stotra opens by declaring that Bhairava is the pūrṇa-rūpa (complete form) of Shankara himself, a truth hidden from the deluded by Shiva's maya. It then gives the seven-syllable Mahakala Bhairava mula-mantra, the eight namaskara-mantras to the eight Bhairavis (the Shakti of each Bhairava), and the naming verse listing the eight Bhairavas in order. This mantra preamble was missing from the site and is restored here from source; the eight dhyana (visualization) verses follow.
Sanskrit
रक्तज्वालजटाधरं शशियुतं रक्ताङ्ग तेजोमयं अस्ते शूलकपालपाशडमरुं लोकस्य रक्षाकरम्। ब्रह्माण्याधिदेवतायुतमशौ हंसप्रियं सत्त्वकं वन्देऽसिताङ्गभैरवं दशशिरः सर्वार्थसिद्धिप्रदम्॥१॥
Transliteration
raktajvālajaṭādharaṃ śaśiyutaṃ raktāṅga tejomayaṃ aste śūlakapālapāśaḍamaruṃ lokasya rakṣākaram| brahmāṇyādhidevatāyutamaśau haṃsapriyaṃ sattvakaṃ vande'sitāṅgabhairavaṃ daśaśiraḥ sarvārthasiddhipradam||1||
Translation
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.
Deep Meaning
Asitanga Bhairava is the eastern guardian, associated with creation (Brahma direction). This stotra describes him with red hue, though the canonical Ashta Bhairava tradition assigns him a white complexion. The ten heads represent mastery over the ten directions and ten senses. As consort of Brahmani, he channels creative cosmic power. His vahana is the swan, planet Jupiter.
Sanskrit
निर्वाणं निर्विकल्पं निरूपजमलं निर्विकारं क्षकारं हुङ्कारं वज्रदंष्ट्रं परिमलमथनं चण्डरूपं रुरुञ्च। नीलाङ्गं खड्गडिण्डीसुरभुजगकृतं भक्तिपूर्वं नमामि सर्वज्ञं सर्वसिद्धिप्रदमविचलितं रक्षकं मा हिमेश्यै॥२॥
Transliteration
nirvāṇaṃ nirvikalpaṃ nirūpajamalaṃ nirvikāraṃ kṣakāraṃ huṅkāraṃ vajradaṃṣṭraṃ parimalamathanaṃ caṇḍarūpaṃ ruruñca| nīlāṅgaṃ khaḍgaḍiṇḍīsurabhujagakṛtaṃ bhaktipūrvaṃ namāmi sarvajñaṃ sarvasiddhipradamavicalitaṃ rakṣakaṃ mā himeśyai||2||
Translation
I bow with devotion to Ruru Bhairava, who is the state of nirvana, who is beyond mental constructs (nirvikalpa), who is formless and spotless, who is unchanging, who is the sound of kṣa and huṃ, who has diamond-like fangs, who churns all fragrances, who has a fierce form, whose body is blue, who holds sword and ḍiṇḍī drum, who is adorned with divine serpents, who is all-knowing, who grants all siddhis, who is unwavering, and who protects with Maheshwari as his consort.
Deep Meaning
Ruru Bhairava embodies the non-dual absolute (nirvana/nirvikalpa). Blue color represents the infinite sky of consciousness. Diamond fangs symbolize cutting through all delusions. The kṣa and huṃ sounds are effective bija mantras for dissolution of ego. As guardian of the Agneya (southeast), he transforms passion into spiritual fire.
Sanskrit
बिभ्राणं शुभ्रवर्णं द्विगुणदशभुजं पञ्चवक्त्रन्त्रिनेत्रं त्रिशूलं खड्गशक्तिं धनुरपि सशरं शङ्खमुद्गारहस्तम्। पाशाङ्कुशाभयं च प्रवरमणिमयैः किङ्किणीभिर्विराजं वन्दे चण्डं च कौमार्यसहचरयुतं सर्वसिद्धिप्रदं तम्॥३॥
Transliteration
bibhrāṇaṃ śubhravarṇaṃ dviguṇadaśabhujaṃ pañcavaktrantrinetraṃ triśūlaṃ khaḍgaśaktiṃ dhanurapi saśaraṃ śaṅkhamudgārahastam| pāśāṅkuśābhayaṃ ca pravaramaṇimayaiḥ kiṅkiṇībhirvirājaṃ vande caṇḍaṃ ca kaumāryasahacarayutaṃ sarvasiddhipradaṃ tam||3||
Translation
I worship Chanda Bhairava, who has a white complexion, who possesses twenty arms, who has five faces and three eyes, who holds trident, sword, shakti spear, bow with arrows, conch, and mace, who displays noose, goad, and abhaya mudra, who shines with excellent gem-studded bells, who is accompanied by Kaumari as his consort, and who bestows all siddhis.
Deep Meaning
Chanda Bhairava (the fierce one) paradoxically appears in white - representing transcendence of duality. His twenty arms symbolize complete mastery over the twenty tattvas of material creation. Five faces represent dominion over the five elements and five senses. As guardian of the south (Yama's direction), he transforms the fear of death into spiritual fearlessness.
Sanskrit
उद्यद्भास्कररूपनिभन्त्रिनेत्रं रक्ताङ्ग रागाम्बुजं भस्माद्यं वरदं कपालमभयं तथा त्रिशूलं खट्वाङ्गं चक्रमपि च। ध्यायेत्क्रोधभैरवं सिद्धिदं वैष्णव्यासहचारिणम् दक्षिणस्यां दिशि श्मशानवासिनं सर्वदुःखप्रणाशनम्॥४॥
Transliteration
udyadbhāskararūpanibhantrinetraṃ raktāṅga rāgāmbujaṃ bhasmādyaṃ varadaṃ kapālamabhayaṃ tathā triśūlaṃ khaṭvāṅgaṃ cakramapi ca| dhyāyetkrodhabhairavaṃ siddhidaṃ vaiṣṇavyāsahacāriṇam dakṣiṇasyāṃ diśi śmaśānavāsinaṃ sarvaduḥkhapraṇāśanam||4||
Translation
One should meditate on Krodha Bhairava, who shines like the rising sun with three eyes, whose body is red like a lotus, who is covered with sacred ash, who shows the boon-giving gesture and abhaya mudra, who holds skull, trident, skull-staff and chakra, who grants siddhis, who is accompanied by Vaishnavi, who dwells in the cremation ground in the southwest direction, and who destroys all sorrows.
Deep Meaning
Krodha (wrath) Bhairava transforms divine anger into spiritual intensity. His sun-like radiance burns away karmic impurities. Red color represents controlled passion directed toward liberation. Dwelling in cremation grounds signifies his mastery over death and impermanence. As guardian of the southwest (Nirriti direction) with Vaishnavi, he channels Vishnu's preserving power through fierce protection.
Sanskrit
एकं खट्वाङ्गहस्तं पुनरपि भुजगं पाशमेकन्त्रिशूलं कपालं खड्गहस्तं मुषलमपि तथा वेणुवाद्यं डमर्वम्। वन्देऽहं भक्तियोगादुन्मत्तभैरवदेवं वारुण्या युतमष्टदिक्षु पश्चिमस्यां दिशि स्थितं पीताम्बरधरं मोक्षप्रदम्॥५॥
Transliteration
ekaṃ khaṭvāṅgahastaṃ punarapi bhujagaṃ pāśamekantriśūlaṃ kapālaṃ khaḍgahastaṃ muṣalamapi tathā veṇuvādyaṃ ḍamarvam| vande'haṃ bhaktiyogādunmattabhairavadevaṃ vāruṇyā yutamaṣṭadikṣu paścimasyāṃ diśi sthitaṃ pītāmbaradharaṃ mokṣapradam||5||
Translation
I worship with yogic devotion Unmatta Bhairava, who holds in his hands: skull-staff, serpent, noose, trident, skull, sword, pestle, flute, and damaru drum, who is united with Varuni, who is stationed in the western direction among the eight directions, who wears yellow garments, and who grants liberation.
Deep Meaning
Unmatta (the mad/intoxicated one) represents divine ecstasy beyond conventional sanity. His many implements symbolize mastery over diverse spiritual practices. The flute indicates his playful aspect - spiritual madness is divine play (lila). Yellow garments signify knowledge and discrimination. As western guardian, his canonical consort is Varahi (this stotra uses the variant name Varuni). He teaches that true intoxication is in divine consciousness, not substances.
Sanskrit
वन्दे बालं स्फटिकसदृशं कुम्भलोल्लासिवक्त्रं दिव्याकल्पैफणिमणिमयैकिङ्किणीनूपुरञ्च। कपालमालाधरं च त्रिनेत्रं खड्गपाणिं डमरुधरम् इन्द्राण्यासहचारं कपालभैरवं वयव्यदिक्षु कुबेरस्थाने जम्बुकारूढं सर्वरोगनिवारणकरं प्रणमामि॥६॥
Transliteration
vande bālaṃ sphaṭikasadṛśaṃ kumbhalollāsivaktraṃ divyākalpaiphaṇimaṇimayaikiṅkiṇīnūpurañca| kapālamālādharaṃ ca trinetraṃ khaḍgapāṇiṃ ḍamarudharam indrāṇyāsahacāraṃ kapālabhairavaṃ vayavyadikṣu kuberasthāne jambukārūḍhaṃ sarvaroganivāraṇakaraṃ praṇamāmi||6||
Translation
I bow to Kapala Bhairava, who appears youthful like crystal, whose face radiates with jar-like fullness, who wears divine serpent-gem anklets with tinkling bells, who wears a garland of skulls, who has three eyes, who holds sword and damaru, who is accompanied by Indrani, who resides in the northwest direction in Kubera's quarter, who rides a jackal, and who removes all diseases.
Deep Meaning
Kapala (skull-bearer) Bhairava in youthful crystalline form teaches that death and youth coexist. The skull-garland represents transcended egos of past lives. Crystal-like purity indicates transparent consciousness. This stotra describes a jackal vehicle, though the canonical Ashta Bhairava tradition assigns him the elephant. As northwest guardian with Indrani (queen of gods), he brings health and prosperity, showing that spiritual practice enhances worldly well-being.
Sanskrit
त्रिनेत्रं रक्तवर्णञ्च सर्वाभरणभूषितम्। कपालं शूलहस्तञ्च वरदाभयपाणिनम्॥ डमरुं खड्गपाशञ्च घण्टां चक्रं तथा शरम्। चामुण्डासहचारञ्च भीषणं वायव्यदिक्षु उत्तरस्यां स्थितं गर्दभारूढं ध्यायेत्सर्वभयनाशनम्॥७॥
Transliteration
trinetraṃ raktavarṇañca sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam| kapālaṃ śūlahastañca varadābhayapāṇinam|| ḍamaruṃ khaḍgapāśañca ghaṇṭāṃ cakraṃ tathā śaram| cāmuṇḍāsahacārañca bhīṣaṇaṃ vāyavyadikṣu uttarasyāṃ sthitaṃ gardabhārūḍhaṃ dhyāyetsarvabhayanāśanam||7||
Translation
One should meditate on Bhishana Bhairava, who has three eyes, whose body is red in color, who is adorned with all ornaments, who holds skull and trident in his hands, who displays boon-giving and fearlessness gestures, who bears damaru, sword, noose, bell, chakra and arrow, who is accompanied by Chamunda, who is stationed in the northern direction in the Vayavya quarter, who rides a donkey, and who destroys all fears.
Deep Meaning
Bhishana (the terrifying) removes fear by embodying it completely. His blood-red color represents purifying power. This stotra describes a donkey vehicle, though the canonical tradition assigns him the preta (ghost/spirit). With Chamunda (the fierce form of Kali), he guards the northern direction, teaching that fearlessness is the greatest treasure. His multiple weapons show that conquering fear requires diverse spiritual tools.
Sanskrit
एकवक्त्रन्त्रिनेत्रञ्च हस्तयो द्वादशन्तथा। डमरुञ्चाङ्कुशं बाणं खड्गं शूलं तथा परशुम्॥ पाशमभीतिकरं खट्वाङ्गं कपालं वरप्रदम्। सर्वशक्त्यासहचारं संहारभैरवं कृष्णवर्णं ईशान्यां दिशि महिषारूढं ध्यायेत्सर्वसंहारकम्॥८॥
Transliteration
ekavaktrantrinetrañca hastayo dvādaśantathā| ḍamaruñcāṅkuśaṃ bāṇaṃ khaḍgaṃ śūlaṃ tathā paraśum|| pāśamabhītikaraṃ khaṭvāṅgaṃ kapālaṃ varapradam| sarvaśaktyāsahacāraṃ saṃhārabhairavaṃ kṛṣṇavarṇaṃ īśānyāṃ diśi mahiṣārūḍhaṃ dhyāyetsarvasaṃhārakam||8||
Translation
One should meditate on Samhara Bhairava, who has one face and three eyes, who possesses twelve hands holding damaru, goad, arrow, sword, trident, axe, noose, fearlessness gesture, skull-staff, skull, and boon-giving mudra, who is accompanied by all Shaktis, whose body is dark/black in color, who is stationed in the northeast (Ishana) direction, who rides a buffalo, and who is the dissolver of all.
Deep Meaning
Samhara (dissolution) Bhairava completes the cosmic cycle in the northeast (Ishana/Shiva's own direction). This stotra describes him as black, though the canonical tradition assigns him a lightning-yellow-orange complexion. The stotra mentions a buffalo vehicle and "all Shaktis" as consort, while the canonical attributes are lion (vahana) and Narasimhi (consort). Twelve hands with diverse implements show mastery over the twelve months, twelve adityas, and complete time cycles. He teaches that destruction is not an end but a transformation back to the source.
Benefits of Recitation
- ✦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
- ✦Removal of specific obstacles related to each direction
- ✦Complete spiritual protection from all eight directions
- ✦Awakening of the eight chakras and energy centers
- ✦Liberation through meditation on all aspects of consciousness
- ✦Integration of fierce and gentle aspects of divinity
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