Sri Kala Bhairava Stotra
श्रीकालभैरवस्तोत्रम्
Sanskrit
नमो भैरवदेवाय नित्ययानन्दमूर्तये । विधिशास्त्रान्तमार्गाय वेदशास्त्रार्थदर्शिने ॥१॥
Transliteration
namo bhairava-devāya nitya-ānanda-mūrtaye | vidhi-śāstrānta-mārgāya veda-śāstrārtha-darśine ||1||
Translation
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.
Deep Meaning
The gods themselves compose this hymn, establishing Bhairava as the ultimate interpreter of all scripture (veda-shastra-artha-darshine) and the goal of all spiritual paths (vidhi-shastranta-marga).
Sanskrit
दिगम्बराय कालाय नमः खट्वाङ्गधारिणे । विभूतिविलसद्भालनेत्रायार्धेन्दुमालने ॥२॥
Transliteration
digambarāya kālāya namaḥ khaṭvāṅga-dhāriṇe | vibhūti-vilasad-bhāla-netrāyārdhendu-mālane ||2||
Translation
Salutations to the sky-clad one, to Kala (Time), to the bearer of the khatvanga staff, whose forehead eye blazes with sacred ash, and who wears the crescent moon.
Deep Meaning
Digambara (sky-clad) represents freedom from all material coverings. Khatvanga (skull-topped staff) symbolizes mastery over death. The vibhuti-adorned third eye indicates the burning away of karma. The crescent moon shows control over the mind.
Sanskrit
कुमारप्रभवे तुभ्यं बटुकायमहात्मने । नमोऽचिन्त्यप्रभावाय त्रिशूलायुधधारिणे ॥३॥
Transliteration
kumāra-prabhave tubhyaṃ baṭukāya-mahātmane | namo'cintya-prabhāvāya triśūlāyudha-dhāriṇe ||3||
Translation
To you who manifests as the divine youth, to the great-souled Batuka, salutations to the one of inconceivable power, the bearer of the trident weapon.
Deep Meaning
Kala Bhairava is connected to Batuka (the child form), kumara-prabhava means he manifests through the youthful aspect. His power is acintya (beyond thought/imagination), wielding the trident that represents the three gunas, three worlds, and three states of consciousness.
Sanskrit
नमः खड्गमहाधारहृत त्रैलोक्यभीतये । पूरितविश्वविश्वाय विश्वपालाय ते नमः ॥४॥
Transliteration
namaḥ khaḍga-mahā-dhāra-hṛta trailokya-bhītaye | pūrita-viśva-viśvāya viśva-pālāya te namaḥ ||4||
Translation
Salutations to the one whose great sword removes the fear of the three worlds, who fills the entire universe, and who is the protector of all creation.
Deep Meaning
The sword (khadga) of Bhairava cuts through the fear pervading all three realms. He simultaneously fills the universe (purita-vishva) and protects it (vishva-pala), the immanent and guardian aspects of the divine.
Sanskrit
भूतावासाय भूताय भूतानां पतये नम । अष्टमूर्ते नमस्तुभ्यं कालकालाय ते नमः ॥५॥
Transliteration
bhūtāvāsāya bhūtāya bhūtānāṃ pataye nama | aṣṭa-mūrte namas-tubhyaṃ kāla-kālāya te namaḥ ||5||
Translation
Salutations to the dwelling of all beings, to existence itself, to the lord of all elements and spirits. Salutations to the eight-formed one, to the death of death itself.
Deep Meaning
Bhairava is bhutavasa (dwelling of all beings), bhuta (existence itself), and bhutanam-pati (lord of elements). Ashta-murti refers to Shiva's eight cosmic forms (earth, water, fire, air, space, sun, moon, soul). Kala-kala means "death of death", the ultimate conquerer of time.
Sanskrit
कं कालायातिघोराय क्षेत्रपालाय कामिने । कलाकाष्टादिरूपाय कालाय क्षेत्रवासिने ॥६॥
Transliteration
kaṃ kālāyātighorāya kṣetrapālāya kāmine | kalā-kāṣṭhādi-rūpāya kālāya kṣetra-vāsine ||6||
Translation
To the terrifying form of Time, to the guardian of sacred fields, to the desire-fulfiller. To the one whose form is the divisions of time, kala, kashtha, and beyond, to Time itself, dwelling in the sacred field.
Deep Meaning
This verse focuses on Bhairava's connection to time (kala): he is time in all its divisions, kala (the smallest unit), kashtha (a measure of time), and all subdivisions. As Kshetrapala, he guards sacred spaces, and as Kamina, he fulfills legitimate desires.
Sanskrit
नमः क्षेत्रजिते तुभ्यं विराजे ज्ञानशालने । विद्यानां गुरवे तुभ्यं विधिनां पतये नमः ॥७॥
Transliteration
namaḥ kṣetrajite tubhyaṃ virāje jñāna-śālane | vidyānāṃ gurave tubhyaṃ vidhināṃ pataye namaḥ ||7||
Translation
Salutations to the conqueror of the field (of karma), to the radiant one, to the abode of knowledge. Salutations to the guru of all learning, to the lord of all sacred rites.
Deep Meaning
Bhairava is kshetrajit (conqueror of the field of karma), establishing his role in liberation. He is the ultimate guru (vidyanam-gurave = teacher of all knowledge) and the lord of all ritual (vidhinam-pataye). This connects to the guru teaching that Bhairava IS the guru-tattva within Shiva.
Sanskrit
नमः प्रपञ्चदोर्दण्ड दैत्यदर्पविनाशने । निजभक्त जनोद्दाम हर्षप्रवरदायिने ॥८॥
Transliteration
namaḥ prapañca-dor-daṇḍa daitya-darpa-vināśane | nija-bhakta janod-dāma harṣa-pravara-dāyine ||8||
Translation
Salutations to the one whose mighty arms destroy the pride of demons throughout the cosmos. To the one who bestows supreme, unbounded joy upon His own devoted people.
Deep Meaning
The dual nature: fierce destroyer of demonic pride (daitya-darpa-vinashana) yet bestower of supreme joy (harsha-pravara-dayini) upon devotees. The "nija-bhakta" (own devotees) specifies that this joy is reserved for those who have taken refuge.
Sanskrit
नमो जम्भारिमुख्याय नामैश्वर्याष्टदायिने । अनन्तदुःखसंसारपारावारान्तदर्शिने ॥९॥
Transliteration
namo jambhāri-mukhyāya nāmaiśvarya-aṣṭa-dāyine | ananta-duḥkha-saṃsāra-pārāvārānta-darśine ||9||
Translation
Salutations to the chief among the slayers of Jambha, the bestower of the eight forms of sovereignty through His name alone. To the one who reveals the farther shore beyond the endless ocean of suffering and worldly existence.
Deep Meaning
Bhairava grants ashta-aishvarya (eight forms of divine sovereignty/prosperity) through his name alone, reinforcing the power of nama-japa (name recitation). He shows the way across the infinite ocean of samsaric suffering to the farther shore of liberation.
Sanskrit
नमो जम्भाय मोहाय द्वेषायोच्याटकारिणे । वशङ्कराय राजन्यमौलन्यस्त निजान्ध्रये ॥१०॥
Transliteration
namo jambhāya mohāya dveṣāyoccyāṭa-kāriṇe | vaśaṅkarāya rājanya-mauly-anyasta nijāndhri-ye ||10||
Translation
Salutations to the stupefier, to the deluder, to the one who removes hatred and performs banishment. To the one who controls all, at whose feet the crowns of kings are placed.
Deep Meaning
This verse acknowledges Bhairava's tantric powers: jambha (paralyzing enemies), mohana (deluding obstacles), and ucchatana (banishing negativity). Yet these powers serve dharma, even kings place their crowns at his feet, recognizing the supremacy of spiritual authority over temporal power.
Sanskrit
नमो भक्तापदां हन्त्रे स्मृतिमात्रार्थदर्शिने । आनन्दमूर्तये तुभ्यं श्मशाननिलयाय ते ॥११॥
Transliteration
namo bhaktāpadāṃ hantre smṛti-mātrārtha-darśine | ānanda-mūrtaye tubhyaṃ śmaśāna-nilayāya te ||11||
Translation
Salutations to the destroyer of devotees' calamities, who grants the vision of truth through mere remembrance. To the embodiment of bliss, to you who dwells in the cremation ground.
Deep Meaning
A effective promise: smriti-matra-artha-darshine, mere remembrance (smriti) of Bhairava is enough to receive truth's vision. He simultaneously embodies bliss (ananda-murti) while dwelling in the cremation ground (shamashana), the ultimate non-dual paradox of joy within death.
Sanskrit
वेतालभूतकूष्माण्ड ग्रहसेवाविलासिने । दिगम्बराय महते पिशाचाकृतिशालने ॥१२॥
Transliteration
vetāla-bhūta-kūṣmāṇḍa graha-sevā-vilāsine | digambarāya mahate piśācākṛti-śālane ||12||
Translation
To the one served with delight by Vetalas, Bhutas, Kushmandas, and Grahas. To the great sky-clad one who adorns the form of a Pishacha (spirit).
Deep Meaning
Bhairava's retinue includes all spirit classes: vetala (vampiric spirits), bhuta (ghosts), kushmanda (a type of demon), and graha (seizing spirits). Rather than being feared, they serve him with pleasure (vilasine). He adorns (shalane = is adorned with) even the form of a pishacha, indicating mastery over all astral beings.
Sanskrit
नमोब्रह्मादिभिर्वन्द्य पदरेणुवरायुषे । ब्रह्मादिग्रासदक्षाय निःफलाय नमो नमः ॥१३॥
Transliteration
namo brahmādibhir-vandya pada-reṇu-varāyuṣe | brahmādi-grāsa-dakṣāya niḥphalāya namo namaḥ ||13||
Translation
Salutations to the one worshipped by Brahma and other gods, whose foot-dust bestows long life. To the one capable of devouring even Brahma and the other gods, to the desireless one, salutations, salutations!
Deep Meaning
The supreme paradox: Brahma and other gods worship his feet, yet he is capable of devouring (grasa-daksha) even them. He is "nihphala", free from all desire for results. This establishes Bhairava's position above the entire Hindu pantheon as the absolute reality.
Sanskrit
नमः काशीनिवासाय नमो दण्डकवासिने । नमोऽनन्त प्रबोधाय भैरवाय नमोनमः ॥१४॥
Transliteration
namaḥ kāśī-nivāsāya namo daṇḍaka-vāsine | namo'nanta-prabodhāya bhairavāya namo-namaḥ ||14||
Translation
Salutations to the one who dwells in Kashi, salutations to the one who resides in the Dandaka forest. Salutations to the one of infinite awakening, to Bhairava, salutations again and again!
Deep Meaning
The closing verse grounds Bhairava in sacred geography: Kashi (Varanasi, his primary abode) and Dandaka forest (where Rama wandered, connecting Bhairava to the Ramayana tradition). "Ananta-prabodha" (infinite awakening) is the final attribute, Bhairava's nature is limitless, ever-expanding consciousness.
Benefits of Recitation
- ✦Composed by the Devas (gods) themselves, carries divine potency
- ✦Grants the eight forms of divine sovereignty
- ✦Destroys all calamities of devotees
- ✦Truth-vision through mere remembrance
- ✦Protection from negative entities and spirits
- ✦Bestows infinite awakening (ananta-prabodha)
- ✦Connection to the sacred energy of Kashi (Varanasi)
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