Sri Batuk Bhairava Ashtakam (Maha Bhairava Ashtakam)
श्रीबटुकभैरवाष्टकस्तोत्रम् / महाभैरवाष्टकम्
Sanskrit
तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्र महाकाय कल्पान्त दहनोपम । भैरवाय नमस्तुभ्यमनुज्ञां दातुमर्हसि ॥१॥
Transliteration
tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭra mahā-kāya kalpānta-dahanopama | bhairavāya namas-tubhyam-anujñāṃ dātum-arhasi ||1||
Translation
O sharp-fanged one, of mighty body, resembling the fire of cosmic dissolution, salutations to you, O Bhairava! Please grant me permission to proceed.
Deep Meaning
The opening verse is an "aajna" (permission prayer), seeking Bhairava's consent before beginning the recitation. This protocol acknowledges that tantric stotras require divine permission. Bhairava is compared to the apocalyptic fire (kalpanta-dahana) that dissolves the universe.
Sanskrit
करकलितकपालः कुण्डलीदण्डपाणि- स्तरुणतिमिरनीलो व्यालयज्ञोपवीती । क्रतुसमयसपर्या विघ्नविच्छेदहेतु- र्जयतिबटुकनाथः सिद्धिदः साधकानाम् ॥२॥
Transliteration
kara-kalita-kapālaḥ kuṇḍalī-daṇḍa-pāṇis-taruṇa-timira-nīlo vyāla-yajñopavītī | kratu-samaya-saparyā vighna-viccheda-hetur-jayati-baṭuka-nāthaḥ siddhi-daḥ sādhakānām ||2||
Translation
Victorious is Batuka Natha, skull-cup in hand, holding the kundali staff, dark as youthful night, wearing serpents as sacred thread. He who removes all obstacles during sacred rituals, the granter of siddhis to practitioners!
Deep Meaning
The dhyana (meditation verse) establishes the iconic visualization: Batuka holds a skull-cup (kapala) and kundali-danda (coiled staff), is deep blue-black in color like fresh darkness, wears serpents as yajnopavita. His specific function is vighna-vichchheda (cutting obstacles) during rituals. He is siddhi-da (granter of attainments) to sadhaks.
Sanskrit
यं यं यं यक्षरूपं दिशिचकृतपदं भूमिकम्पायमानं सं सं संहारमूर्तिं शिरमुकुट्जटा भालदेशेऽर्धचन्द्रम् । दं दं दं दीर्घकायं विकृतनख मुखं चोर्ध्वरोमं करालं पं पं पं पापनाशं नतिरिह सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥३॥
Transliteration
yaṃ yaṃ yaṃ yakṣa-rūpaṃ diśi-cakṛta-padaṃ bhūmi-kampāyamānaṃ saṃ saṃ saṃhāra-mūrtiṃ śira-mukuṭ-jaṭā bhāla-deśe'rdha-candram | daṃ daṃ daṃ dīrgha-kāyaṃ vikṛta-nakha-mukhaṃ cordhva-romaṃ karālaṃ paṃ paṃ paṃ pāpa-nāśaṃ natir-iha satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||3||
Translation
Yam Yam Yam, in Yaksha form, feet placed in all directions, making the earth tremble! Sam Sam, the destroyer form, with matted locks crowned upon the head, half-moon on the forehead! Dam Dam Dam, tall-bodied, with fierce nails and distorted face, hair standing upward, terrifying! Pam Pam Pam, destroyer of sins! Prostration here always to Bhairava, guardian of the field!
Deep Meaning
This version of the Kshetrapala stotra uses "natir-iha satatam" (prostration here always) instead of "pranamata satatam", making it a personal prostration rather than an instruction to others. The half-moon on the forehead (ardha-chandra) is a distinctive iconographic detail connecting to Shiva.
Sanskrit
रं रं रं रक्तवर्णं कटिनतनुमयं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रं च भीमं घं घं घं घोरघोषं घ घ घनघटितं घुर्घुरा घोरनादम् । कं कं कं कालपाशं ध्रिकि ध्रिकि चकितं कालमेघावभासं तं तं तं दिव्यदेहं नतिरिह सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥४॥
Transliteration
raṃ raṃ raṃ rakta-varṇaṃ kaṭi-na-tanu-mayaṃ tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭraṃ ca bhīmaṃ ghaṃ ghaṃ ghaṃ ghora-ghoṣaṃ gha gha ghana-ghaṭitaṃ ghurghurā ghora-nādam | kaṃ kaṃ kaṃ kāla-pāśaṃ dhriki dhriki cakitaṃ kāla-meghāvabhāsaṃ taṃ taṃ taṃ divya-dehaṃ natir-iha satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||4||
Translation
Ram Ram Ram, blood-red in color, of hard sturdy body, with sharp fangs, terrifying! Gham Gham Gham, with terrible roar, producing dense gha-gha-gha sounds, cascading ghurghura of fearsome noise! Kam Kam Kam, holding time's noose, with dhriki-dhriki startling sounds, shining like a dark thundercloud! Tam Tam Tam, of divine body! Prostration here always to Bhairava, guardian of the field!
Deep Meaning
The "dhriki-dhriki" sound is unique to this version, mimicking the rhythmic sound of Bhairava's damaru drum. "Kala-meghava-bhasa" (shining like dark thunderclouds) gives his body the appearance of monsoon clouds, simultaneously dark and luminous with inner lightning.
Sanskrit
लं लं लं लम्बदन्तं ल ल ल लितल ल्लोलजिह्वा करालं धूं धूं धूं धूम्रवर्णं स्फुट विकृतनखमुखं भास्वरं भीमरूपम् । रुं रुं रुं रूण्डमालं रुधिरमयतनुं ताम्रनेत्रं सुभीमं नं नं नं नग्नरूपं नतिरिह सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥५॥
Transliteration
laṃ laṃ laṃ lamba-dantaṃ la la la lita-la llola-jihvā karālaṃ dhūṃ dhūṃ dhūṃ dhūmra-varṇaṃ sphuṭa vikṛta-nakha-mukhaṃ bhāsvaraṃ bhīma-rūpam | ruṃ ruṃ ruṃ rūṇḍa-mālaṃ rudhira-maya-tanuṃ tāmra-netraṃ su-bhīmaṃ naṃ naṃ naṃ nagna-rūpaṃ natir-iha satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||5||
Translation
Lam Lam Lam, with protruding fangs, la-la-la playful, with a lolling tongue, fearsome! Dhum Dhum Dhum, smoke-colored, with clearly distorted nails and face, radiant, of terrible form! Rum Rum Rum, wearing a garland of severed heads, body drenched in blood, copper-eyed, most terrifying! Nam Nam Nam, in naked form! Prostration here always to Bhairava, guardian of the field!
Deep Meaning
The "rudhira-maya-tanu" (body made of blood) and "runda-mala" (garland of severed heads) are peak fierce iconography representing total dissolution of ego and physical attachment. Copper-red eyes (tamra-netra) symbolize both divine wrath and the fire of transformation. Nakedness (nagna-rupa) is pure existence without coverings of maya.
Sanskrit
वं वं वं वायुवेगं ग्रहगणनमितं ब्रह्मरुद्रैस्सुसेव्यं खं खं खं खड्गहस्तं त्रिभुवननिलयं घोररूपं महोग्रम् । चं चं चं व्यालहस्तं चालित चल चला चालितं भूतचक्रं मं मं मं मातृरूपं नतिरिह सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥६॥
Transliteration
vaṃ vaṃ vaṃ vāyu-vegaṃ graha-gaṇa-namitaṃ brahma-rudrais-susevyaṃ khaṃ khaṃ khaṃ khaḍga-hastaṃ tri-bhuvana-nilayaṃ ghora-rūpaṃ mahogram | caṃ caṃ caṃ vyāla-hastaṃ cālita cala calā cālitaṃ bhūta-cakraṃ maṃ maṃ maṃ mātṛ-rūpaṃ natir-iha satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||6||
Translation
Vam Vam Vam, swift as wind, honored by planetary hosts, served by Brahma and Rudra! Kham Kham Kham, sword in hand, dwelling in all three worlds, of fierce form, supremely terrible! Cham Cham Cham, serpent in hand, shaking and trembling, setting the wheel of beings in motion! Mam Mam Mam, in the form of the Mother! Prostration here always to Bhairava, guardian of the field!
Deep Meaning
This version adds "graha-gana-namita" (honored by planetary hosts) and "matri-rupa" (form of the Mother), unique details connecting Bhairava to astrology and the divine feminine. Even Brahma and Rudra serve him (brahma-rudrais-susevyam), establishing absolute supremacy. The "chalita-chala-chala" mimics the trembling of the cosmos.
Sanskrit
शं शं शं शङ्खहस्तं शशिशकलधरं सर्पयज्ञोपवीतं मं मं मं मन्त्रवर्णं सकलजननुतं मन्त्र सूक्ष्मं सुनित्यम् । भं भं भं भूतनाथं किलिकिलिकिलितं गेहगेहेरटन्तं अं अं अं मुख्यदेवं नतिरिह सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥७॥
Transliteration
śaṃ śaṃ śaṃ śaṅkha-hastaṃ śaśi-śakala-dharaṃ sarpa-yajñopavītaṃ maṃ maṃ maṃ mantra-varṇaṃ sakala-jana-nutaṃ mantra-sūkṣmaṃ sunityam | bhaṃ bhaṃ bhaṃ bhūta-nāthaṃ kili-kili-kilitaṃ geha-gehe-raṭantaṃ aṃ aṃ aṃ mukhya-devaṃ natir-iha satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||7||
Translation
Sham Sham Sham, conch in hand, bearing the crescent moon, wearing serpents as sacred thread! Mam Mam Mam, the embodiment of mantra syllables, praised by all people, subtle as a mantra, eternally auspicious! Bham Bham Bham, lord of all beings, making ki-li-ki-li sounds, wandering from house to house! Am Am Am, the foremost deity! Prostration here always to Bhairava, guardian of the field!
Deep Meaning
The detail "geha-gehe-ratantam" (wandering from house to house) reveals Bhairava as the divine guardian who patrols neighborhoods, the Kshetrapala walking his beat. His kili-kili-kilita childlike sounds and house-to-house wandering connect to the folk tradition of Bhairava as the village/city protector who personally watches over every home.
Sanskrit
खं खं खं खड्गभेदं विषममृतमयं कालकालं सुकालं क्षं क्षं क्षं क्षिप्रवेगं दहदहदहनं तप्तसन्तप्तमानम् । हं हं हं कारनादं प्रकटितदपातं गर्जितां भोपिभूमिं बं बं बं बाललीलं नतिरिह सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥८॥
Transliteration
khaṃ khaṃ khaṃ khaḍga-bhedaṃ viṣamam-ṛtamayaṃ kāla-kālaṃ sukālaṃ kṣaṃ kṣaṃ kṣaṃ kṣipra-vegaṃ daha-daha-dahanaṃ tapta-santaptamānam | haṃ haṃ haṃ kāra-nādaṃ prakaṭita-dapātaṃ garjitāṃ bhopi-bhūmiṃ baṃ baṃ baṃ bāla-līlaṃ natir-iha satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||8||
Translation
Kham Kham Kham, cleaving with his sword, filled with both poison and nectar, death of death, auspicious time! Ksham Ksham Ksham, of instant velocity, burning-burning-burning with fire, blazing with scorching heat! Ham Ham Ham, with the resonant Ha-kara sound, revealing his power, making the earth roar! Bam Bam Bam, all this is but a child's play! Prostration here always to Bhairava, guardian of the field!
Deep Meaning
The final main verse reaches its climax: "vishama-amritamaya", simultaneously containing poison and nectar (destruction and liberation). He is kala-kala (death of death) and su-kala (auspicious time). The earth itself roars (garjitam bhopibhumim) from his power. Yet again, "bala-lila", all cosmic terror is merely a child's game for the absolute consciousness.
Sanskrit
भैरवस्याष्टकं स्तोत्रं पवित्रं पापनाशनम् । महाभयहरं दिव्यं सिद्धिदं रोगनाशनम् ॥
Transliteration
bhairavasya-aṣṭakaṃ stotraṃ pavitraṃ pāpa-nāśanam | mahā-bhaya-haraṃ divyaṃ siddhi-daṃ roga-nāśanam ||
Translation
This eight-verse hymn of Bhairava is sacred and destroys all sins. It is divine, removes great fear, grants spiritual powers, and destroys all diseases.
Deep Meaning
The phala-shruti succinctly promises five benefits: purity (pavitram), sin-destruction (papa-nashanam), fear-removal (maha-bhaya-haram), siddhi-granting (siddhi-dam), and disease-destruction (roga-nashanam). This version's special power comes from the directional invocations of all eight Bhairavas preceding the verses.
Benefits of Recitation
- ✦Protection from all eight directions through the Ashta Bhairavas
- ✦Destroys all sins and great fears
- ✦Grants spiritual powers (siddhis)
- ✦Cures diseases and removes suffering
- ✦Combines bija mantra power with directional protection
- ✦Activates the protective energy of Kshetrapala Bhairava
- ✦Sacred purification from negative influences
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