Kalabhairava Ashtakam
कालभैरव अष्टकम्
Sanskrit
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम्। नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥१॥
Transliteration
deva rāja sevyamāna pāvanāṅghri paṅkajaṃ vyāla yajña sūtramindu śekharaṃ kṛpākaram | nāradādi yogi vṛnda vanditaṃ digambaraṃ kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||1||
Translation
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.
Deep Meaning
This opening verse establishes Kala Bhairava as the supreme lord of Varanasi (Kashi), worshipped even by the gods. The serpent-thread and moon represent mastery over time and poison (ego). Being digambara (sky-clad/naked) symbolizes freedom from all coverings of maya.
Sanskrit
भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम्। कालकालमंबुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥२॥
Transliteration
bhānu koṭi bhāsvaraṃ bhavābdhitārakaṃ paraṃ nīla kaṇṭhamīpsitārtha dāyakaṃ trilocanam | kālakālamambujākṣamakṣaśūlamakṣaraṃ kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||2||
Translation
I worship He who shines like millions of suns, who helps cross the ocean of worldly existence, who is supreme, who is blue-throated, who bestows desired wishes, who is three-eyed, who is the death of death itself, whose eyes are lotus-like, who holds the trident, and who is imperishable.
Deep Meaning
Bhairava's brilliance surpasses millions of suns - he is pure consciousness all. As "death of death" (kālakāla), he conquers even time itself. The blue throat recalls the poison-drinking episode, showing his power to transform negativity.
Sanskrit
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम्। भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥३॥
Transliteration
śūla ṭaṅka pāśa daṇḍa pāṇimādi kāraṇaṃ śyāma kāyamādi devamakṣaraṃ nirāmayam | bhīmavikramaṃ prabhuṃ vicitra tāṇḍava priyaṃ kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||3||
Translation
I worship He who holds trident, spade, noose and rod in his hands, who is the primordial cause, whose body is dark-complexioned, who is the first deity, who is imperishable, who is free from disease, whose valor is terrifying, who is the supreme lord, and who delights in the cosmic dance of Tandava.
Deep Meaning
The four implements represent his powers: trident (destruction of three gunas), spade (digging out karma), noose (binding ignorance), rod (disciplining the mind). His dark body symbolizes the void beyond all manifestation. The Tandava dance is the pulsation of creation-destruction.
Sanskrit
भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम्। विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥४॥
Transliteration
bhukti mukti dāyakaṃ praśasta cāru vigrahaṃ bhakta vatsalaṃ sthitaṃ samasta loka vigraham | vinikvaṇanmanojña hemakiṅkiṇī lasatkaṭiṃ kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||4||
Translation
I worship He who grants both worldly pleasures and spiritual liberation, who possesses a beautiful and enticing form, who loves his devotees like a mother cow loves her calf, who pervades and manifests as all worlds, and whose waist is adorned with melodious golden bells.
Deep Meaning
Bhairava grants both bhukti (enjoyment) and mukti (liberation) - the tantric teaching that pleasure and freedom are not opposed. His love for devotees is compared to a cow for her calf - protective, nourishing, unconditional. The tinkling bells announce his presence.
Sanskrit
धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम्। स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥५॥
Transliteration
dharma setu pālakaṃ tvadharma mārga nāśakaṃ karma pāśa mocakaṃ su śarma dāyakaṃ vibhum | svarṇa varṇa śeṣa pāśa śobhitāṅga maṇḍalaṃ kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||5||
Translation
I worship He who is the protector and maintainer of the bridge of righteousness, who is the destroyer of unrighteous paths, who liberates beings from the bonds of karma, who bestows supreme blessings and happiness, who is all-pervading, and whose body is beautifully adorned with the golden serpent Shesha as a sacred cord.
Deep Meaning
As dharma-protector, Bhairava maintains cosmic order while destroying adharma. He cuts the karmic bonds that keep us in samsara. The golden serpent Shesha represents infinite time coiled around him - he is both within time and beyond it.
Sanskrit
रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरंजनम्। मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥६॥
Transliteration
ratna pādukā prabhābhi rāma pāda yugmakaṃ nityamadvitīyamiṣṭa daivataṃ nirañjanam | mṛtyu darpa nāśanaṃ karāla daṃṣṭra mokṣaṇaṃ kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||6||
Translation
I worship He whose divine feet shine with the radiance of gem-studded sandals, who is eternal and non-dual, who is the beloved chosen deity, who is spotless and desire-free, who destroys the pride of death itself, and who grants liberation through his fierce fangs.
Deep Meaning
The gem-studded sandals symbolize his feet as the ultimate refuge. "Non-dual" (advitīya) points to the Kashmir Shaivism teaching that Bhairava is consciousness itself. His fierce fangs destroy death's arrogance - for the enlightened, death has no power.
Sanskrit
अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम्। अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥७॥
Transliteration
aṭṭa hāsa bhinna padmajāṇḍa kośa santatiṃ dṛṣṭi pāta naṣṭa pāpajālamugra śāsanam | aṣṭa siddhi dāyakaṃ kapāla mālikā dharaṃ kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||7||
Translation
I worship He whose loud roar of laughter shattered the cosmic egg (Brahma's creation), whose mere merciful glance annihilates the entire web of sins, who is the effective ruler and enforcer of cosmic law, who grants the eight mystical siddhis, and who wears a garland of skulls.
Deep Meaning
Bhairava's laughter shattered Brahma's ego (symbolized by cutting off his fifth head). His glance alone burns karma. The skull garland represents transcendence of death and ego. He grants the eight siddhis (supernatural powers) to qualified practitioners.
Sanskrit
भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम्। नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥८॥
Transliteration
bhūta saṅgha nāyakaṃ viśāla kīrti dāyakaṃ kāśi vāsa loka puṇya pāpa śodhakaṃ vibhum | nīti mārga kovidaṃ purātanaṃ jagatpatiṃ kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||8||
Translation
I worship He who is the leader and commander of all bhūtas (spirits and elements), who bestows vast fame and glory, who purifies the residents of Kashi from both merit and sin, who is all-pervading, who is expert in the path of righteousness and justice, who is eternal and primordial, and who is the Lord of the entire universe.
Deep Meaning
As lord of bhūtas, Bhairava commands all elemental and spiritual forces. In Kashi, he grants liberation by dissolving both puṇya (merit) and pāpa (sin) - the final non-dual teaching that even good karma must be transcended for moksha.
Sanskrit
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठंति ये मनोहरं ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम्। शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम्॥९॥
Transliteration
kālabhairavāṣṭakaṃ paṭhanti ye manoharaṃ jñāna mukti sādhanaṃ vicitra puṇya vardhanam | śoka moha dainya lobha kopa tāpa nāśanaṃ prayānti kālabhairavāṅghri sannidhiṃ narā dhruvam ||9||
Translation
Those who study and recite these eight enticing verses, which are the means to knowledge and liberation, which enhance manifold spiritual merit, and which destroy sorrow, delusion, depression, greed, anger, and suffering, such persons surely and reach the divine feet of Shiva Kalabhairava.
Deep Meaning
This phala shruti (fruit/benefit verse) promises that reciting this ashtakam with devotion leads to jñāna (knowledge), mukti (liberation), and freedom from the six inner enemies: grief, delusion, poverty-consciousness, greed, anger, and suffering. The final goal is reaching Bhairava's feet - complete surrender and realization.
Benefits of Recitation
- ✦Protection from negative energies and evil spirits
- ✦Removal of fear of death
- ✦Liberation from the cycle of birth and death
- ✦Fulfillment of righteous desires
- ✦Grace of Kala Bhairava for spiritual progress
- ✦Special protection for those in Varanasi
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