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Bhairava Tandava Stotram (Kashtahara Bhairava Ashtakam)

श्रीभैरवताण्डवस्तोत्रम् / कष्टहरं श्रीभैरवाष्टकस्तोत्रम्

8 versesintermediateby Traditional

Verse 1

Sanskrit

ॐ चण्डं प्रतिचण्डं करधृतदण्डं कृतरिपुखण्डं सौख्यकरं लोकं सुखयन्तं विलसितसन्तं प्रकटितदन्तं नृत्यकरम् । डमरुध्वनिशङ्खं तरलवतंसं मधुरहसन्तं लोकभरं भज भज भूतेशं प्रकटमहेशं भैरववेषं कष्टहरम् ॥१॥

Transliteration

oṃ caṇḍaṃ praticaṇḍaṃ karadhṛtadaṇḍaṃ kṛtaripukhaṇḍaṃ saukhyakaraṃ lokaṃ sukhayantaṃ vilasitasantaṃ prakaṭitadantaṃ nṛtyakaram | ḍamarudhvaniśaṅkhaṃ taralavataṃsaṃ madhurahasantaṃ lokabharaṃ bhaja bhaja bhūteśaṃ prakaṭamaheśaṃ bhairavaveṣaṃ kaṣṭaharam ||1||

Translation

Fierce and fiercer than fierce, holding the staff in his hand, who has cut the enemies to pieces, giver of happiness; delighting the world, radiantly serene, showing his teeth, ever-dancing; with the sound of the damaru and conch, with swaying earrings, sweetly smiling, bearing the burden of the world, worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheśa in Bhairava-form, the remover of suffering.

Deep Meaning

The opening verse establishes Bhairava as Kaṣṭahara, the remover of all difficulty. Though caṇḍa-praticaṇḍa (fierce beyond fierce) and staff-wielding destroyer of enemies, he is saukhya-kara (giver of joy) and the delight of the world. The damaru and conch are the primal sound; the sweet smile amid fierce fangs is the paradox of Bhairava, terror and tenderness together.

Verse 2

Sanskrit

चर्चितसिन्दूरं रणभूविदूरं दुष्टविदूरं श्रीनिकरं किङ्किणिगणरावं त्रिभुवनपावं खर्प्परसावं पुण्यभरम् । करुणामयवेषं सकलसुरेशं मुक्तसुकेशं पापहरं भज भज भूतेशं प्रकटमहेशं भैरववेषं कष्टहरम् ॥२॥

Transliteration

carcitasindūraṃ raṇabhūvidūraṃ duṣṭavidūraṃ śrīnikaraṃ kiṅkiṇigaṇarāvaṃ tribhuvanapāvaṃ kharpparasāvaṃ puṇyabharam | karuṇāmayaveṣaṃ sakalasureśaṃ muktasukeśaṃ pāpaharaṃ bhaja bhaja bhūteśaṃ prakaṭamaheśaṃ bhairavaveṣaṃ kaṣṭaharam ||2||

Translation

Smeared with vermilion, far from the battlefield yet keeping the wicked far away, a mass of splendour; with the ringing of a cluster of tiny bells, purifier of the three worlds, holding the skull-bowl, laden with merit; of compassion-filled form, lord of all the gods, with loosened beautiful locks, remover of sin, worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheśa in Bhairava-form, the remover of suffering.

Deep Meaning

Bhairava adorned with sindūra (vermilion) and ringing anklet-bells purifies the three worlds (tribhuvana-pāva). Holding the kharpara (skull-bowl), he is puṇya-bhara (laden with merit) and pāpa-hara (remover of sin), fierce to the wicked, compassionate (karuṇāmaya) to devotees.

Verse 3

Sanskrit

कलिमलसंहारं मदनविहारं फणिपतिहारं शीघ्रकरं कलुषं शमयन्तं परिभृतसन्तं मत्तदृगन्तं शुद्धतरम् । गतिनिन्दितकेशं नर्तनदेशं स्वच्छकशं सन्मुण्डकरं भज भज भूतेशं प्रकटमहेशं भैरववेषं कष्टहरम् ॥३॥

Transliteration

kalimalasaṃhāraṃ madanavihāraṃ phaṇipatihāraṃ śīghrakaraṃ kaluṣaṃ śamayantaṃ paribhṛtasantaṃ mattadṛgantaṃ śuddhataram | gatininditakeśaṃ nartanadeśaṃ svacchakaśaṃ sanmuṇḍakaraṃ bhaja bhaja bhūteśaṃ prakaṭamaheśaṃ bhairavaveṣaṃ kaṣṭaharam ||3||

Translation

Destroyer of the impurity of the Kali age, sporting like the god of love, wearing the lord of serpents as a garland, swift to act; quelling all defilement, sustaining the good, with intoxicated glances, utterly pure; whose flowing hair shames all motion, at home in the dance, pure-bodied, bearing an auspicious skull, worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheśa in Bhairava-form, the remover of suffering.

Deep Meaning

Bhairava is kali-mala-saṃhāra, destroyer of the moral filth of the dark age, swift (śīghra-kara) to answer devotees. Serpent-garlanded, dancing, intoxicated yet supremely pure (śuddhatara), he sustains the good (paribhṛta-santa) and quells all defilement.

Verse 4

Sanskrit

कठिनस्तनकुम्भं सुकृतसुलम्भं कालीडिम्भं खड्गधरं वृतभूतपिशाचं स्फुटमृदुवाचं स्निग्धसुकाचं भक्तभरम् । तनुभाजितशेषं विलमसुदेशं सर्वसुरेशं प्रीतिनरं भज भज भूतेशं प्रकटमहेशं भैरववेषं कष्टहरम् ॥४॥

Transliteration

kaṭhinastanakumbhaṃ sukṛtasulambhaṃ kālīḍimbhaṃ khaḍgadharaṃ vṛtabhūtapiśācaṃ sphuṭamṛduvācaṃ snigdhasukācaṃ bhaktabharam | tanubhājitaśeṣaṃ vilamasudeśaṃ sarvasureśaṃ prītinaraṃ bhaja bhaja bhūteśaṃ prakaṭamaheśaṃ bhairavaveṣaṃ kaṣṭaharam ||4||

Translation

Firm-breasted like pots (his Shakti aspect), easily won by good deeds, joined with Kali, sword-bearer; surrounded by ghosts and goblins, of clearly gentle speech, of smooth radiance, sustainer of devotees; adorned with the Shesha serpent on his body, of a lovely realm, lord of all the gods, delighting in men, worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheśa in Bhairava-form, the remover of suffering.

Deep Meaning

This verse reveals Bhairava's inseparable union with Kali (kālī-ḍimbha). Fierce to the ghosts and goblins that attend him, his speech to devotees is sphuṭa-mṛdu (clearly gentle). He is easily attained by sukṛta (good deeds), not complex ritual, and delights in his human devotees (prīti-nara).

Verse 5

Sanskrit

ललिताननचन्द्रं सुमनवितन्द्रं बोधितमन्द्रं श्रेष्ठवरं सुखिताखिललोकं परिहृतशोकं शुद्धविलोकं पुष्टिकरं । वरदाभयहारं तरलिततारं क्षुद्रविदारं तुष्टिकरं भज भज भूतेशं प्रकटमहेशं भैरववेषं कष्टहरम् ॥५॥

Transliteration

lalitānanacandraṃ sumanavitandraṃ bodhitamandraṃ śreṣṭhavaraṃ sukhitākhilalokaṃ parihṛtaśokaṃ śuddhavilokaṃ puṣṭikaraṃ | varadābhayahāraṃ taralitatāraṃ kṣudravidāraṃ tuṣṭikaraṃ bhaja bhaja bhūteśaṃ prakaṭamaheśaṃ bhairavaveṣaṃ kaṣṭaharam ||5||

Translation

Whose lovely face is like the moon, free of dullness with a bright mind, awakening with his deep sound, supreme boon-giver; who makes all worlds happy, removes sorrow, whose gaze is pure, who nourishes; wearing boons and fearlessness as a garland, swiftly ferrying across, tearing apart the petty, giving contentment, worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheśa in Bhairava-form, the remover of suffering.

Deep Meaning

The mood turns serene: Bhairava's moon-like face (lalitānana-candra) cools the fever of saṃsāra. Wearing varada (boons) and abhaya (fearlessness) as ornaments, he swiftly ferries devotees across (taralita-tāra), tears apart the petty (kṣudra-vidāra), and grants deep contentment (tuṣṭikara).

Verse 6

Sanskrit

सकलायुधभारं विजनविहारं सुश्रविशारं भ्रष्टमलं शरणागतपालं मृगमदभालं सञ्जितकालं स्वेष्टबलम् । पदनूपूरशिञ्जं त्रिनयनकञ्जं गुणिजनरञ्जं कुष्ठहरं भज भज भूतेशं प्रकटमहेशं भैरववेषं कष्टहरम् ॥६॥

Transliteration

sakalāyudhabhāraṃ vijanavihāraṃ suśraviśāraṃ bhraṣṭamalaṃ śaraṇāgatapālaṃ mṛgamadabhālaṃ sañjitakālaṃ sveṣṭabalam | padanūpūraśiñjaṃ trinayanakañjaṃ guṇijanarañjaṃ kuṣṭhaharaṃ bhaja bhaja bhūteśaṃ prakaṭamaheśaṃ bhairavaveṣaṃ kaṣṭaharam ||6||

Translation

Bearing the load of all weapons, wandering in solitary places, of wide fame, free of all impurity; protector of those who take refuge, with musk upon his brow, conqueror of Time, the strength of the beloved; with tinkling anklets on his feet, lotus-like three eyes, delighting the virtuous, remover of leprosy and disease, worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheśa in Bhairava-form, the remover of suffering.

Deep Meaning

Armed with all weapons yet wandering the solitary cremation-places, Bhairava is śaraṇāgata-pāla (protector of the surrendered) and sañjita-kāla (conqueror of Time itself). He delights the virtuous (guṇijana-rañja) and removes even disease (kuṣṭha-hara).

Verse 7

Sanskrit

मदयुतसंरावं प्रकटितभावं विश्वसुभावं ज्ञानपदं रक्तांशुकजोषं परिकृततोषं नाशितदोषं सन्मतिदम् । कुटिलभ्रुकुटीकं ज्वरधननीकं विसरन्ध्रीकं प्रेमभरं भज भज भूतेशं प्रकटमहेशं भैरववेषं कष्टहरम् ॥७॥

Transliteration

madayutasaṃrāvaṃ prakaṭitabhāvaṃ viśvasubhāvaṃ jñānapadaṃ raktāṃśukajoṣaṃ parikṛtatoṣaṃ nāśitadoṣaṃ sanmatidam | kuṭilabhrukuṭīkaṃ jvaradhananīkaṃ visarandhrīkaṃ premabharaṃ bhaja bhaja bhūteśaṃ prakaṭamaheśaṃ bhairavaveṣaṃ kaṣṭaharam ||7||

Translation

Roaring with intoxication, of manifest feeling, of universal good-nature, the seat of knowledge; fond of red garments, fully contented, destroyer of all faults, giver of right understanding; with curved, knitted brows, an army that routs fever and disease, all-pervading, laden with love, worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheśa in Bhairava-form, the remover of suffering.

Deep Meaning

Ecstatic and roaring (mada-yuta-saṃrāva), yet the very seat of knowledge (jñāna-pada), Bhairava destroys all faults (nāśita-doṣa) and grants right discernment (sanmati-da). His knitted brow routs disease like an army; underneath, he is premabhara, laden with love.

Verse 8

Sanskrit

परिनिर्जितकामं विलसितवामं योगिजनाभं योगेशं बहुमद्यपनाथं गीतसुगाथं कृष्टसुनाथं वीरेशम् । कलयन्तमशेषं भृतजनदेशं नृत्यसुरेशं दत्तवरं भज भज भूतेशं प्रकटमहेशं भैरववेषं कष्टहरम् ॥८॥

Transliteration

parinirjitakāmaṃ vilasitavāmaṃ yogijanābhaṃ yogeśaṃ bahumadyapanāthaṃ gītasugāthaṃ kṛṣṭasunāthaṃ vīreśam | kalayantamaśeṣaṃ bhṛtajanadeśaṃ nṛtyasureśaṃ dattavaraṃ bhaja bhaja bhūteśaṃ prakaṭamaheśaṃ bhairavaveṣaṃ kaṣṭaharam ||8||

Translation

Who has wholly conquered desire, sporting with his consort on the left, the radiance of yogis, lord of yoga; lord of many who partake of the sacred draught, sweetly sung in song, the noble lord drawn near, lord of heroes; measuring out all things, sustaining the realm of his people, lord of the dancing gods, giver of boons, worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheśa in Bhairava-form, the remover of suffering.

Deep Meaning

The closing verse: having conquered desire (parinirjita-kāma), Bhairava is yogeśa (lord of yoga) and vīreśa (lord of the heroic vīra-sādhakas). As nṛtya-sureśa, lord of the dancing gods, and datta-vara (boon-giver), the Tāṇḍava reaches its resolution: the fierce cosmic dance is itself the outpouring of grace.

Benefits of Recitation

✦Complete removal of all difficulties and suffering (kashtahara)
✦The powerful "Bhaja bhaja bhuteśam" refrain builds devotional momentum
✦Union with Shakti (Kali), awakening of the divine feminine
✦Protection from inner enemies and worldly obstacles
✦Purification of sins and the impurities of the Kali age
✦Contentment, nourishment, and fearlessness (varada-abhaya)
✦Even disease and fever are said to be removed

🕉️ How to Recite

The Bhairava Tandava Stotram (Kashtahara Bhairava Ashtakam) is recited especially in times of distress and obstacles. Each of the eight verses is a dense garland of internally-rhyming epithets; recite them with rhythm, letting the refrain "Bhaja bhaja bhuteśam prakaṭamaheśam bhairavaveṣam kaṣṭaharam" fall like a drumbeat. Best in the early morning (brahma-muhurta) facing north or east. Visualize Bhairava dancing, fierce yet compassionate, united with Kali, staff and sword in hand. Recite 1, 8, or 108 times during personal crisis. Tuesday and Saturday, Ashtami, and the new moon are especially auspicious.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of reciting Bhairava Tandava Stotram (Kashtahara Bhairava Ashtakam)?

Complete removal of all difficulties and suffering (kashtahara). The powerful "Bhaja bhaja bhuteśam" refrain builds devotional momentum. Union with Shakti (Kali), awakening of the divine feminine. Protection from inner enemies and worldly obstacles. Purification of sins and the impurities of the Kali age. Contentment, nourishment, and fearlessness (varada-abhaya). Even disease and fever are said to be removed.

How do you recite Bhairava Tandava Stotram (Kashtahara Bhairava Ashtakam)?

What is Bhairava Tandava Stotram (Kashtahara Bhairava Ashtakam)?

The Bhairava Tandava Stotram, also known as the Kashtahara Bhairava Ashtakam (the eight-verse hymn that removes suffering). Each verse is a torrent of internally-rhyming epithets describing the dancing Bhairava, and ends with the refrain "Bhaja bhaja bhuteśam prakaṭamaheśam bhairavaveṣam kaṣṭaharam", "Worship, worship the Lord of beings, the manifest Maheśa in Bhairava-form, the remover of suffering."

What is the source of Bhairava Tandava Stotram (Kashtahara Bhairava Ashtakam)?

Bhairava Tandava Stotram (Kashtahara Bhairava Ashtakam) comes from Traditional. It has 8 verses.