Maharaja Kala Bhairava Ashtakam (Tikshna Damshtra)
महाकालभैरवाष्टकम् / तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रकालभैरवाष्टकम्
Sanskrit
यं यं यं यक्षरूपं दशदिशिविदितं भूमिकम्पायमानं सं सं संहारमूर्तिं शिरमुकुटजटाशेखरं चन्द्रबिम्बम् । दं दं दं दीर्घकायं विकृतनखमुखं चोर्ध्वरोमं करालं पं पं पं पापनाशं प्रणमत सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥१॥
Transliteration
yaṃ yaṃ yaṃ yakṣarūpaṃ daśa-diśi-viditaṃ bhūmi-kampāyamānaṃ saṃ saṃ saṃhāra-mūrtiṃ śira-mukuṭa-jaṭā-śekharaṃ candra-bimbam | daṃ daṃ daṃ dīrgha-kāyaṃ vikṛta-nakha-mukhaṃ cordhva-romaṃ karālaṃ paṃ paṃ paṃ pāpa-nāśaṃ praṇamata satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||1||
Translation
Yam Yam Yam, to Him who has the form of a Yaksha, known in all ten directions, making the earth tremble! Sam Sam, to the embodiment of destruction, crowned with matted locks and the moon disc! Dam Dam Dam, to the towering one with fierce claws, distorted face, upward-standing hair, terrifying! Pam Pam Pam, destroyer of all sins! Bow always to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field!
Deep Meaning
Each line begins with triple repetition of a bija syllable, creating a effective sonic vibration. The verse describes the cosmic scale of Kshetrapala Bhairava: he shakes the earth (bhumi-kampayamana), his yaksha-form is known in all ten directions, his presence destroys sin. The refrain "pranama satatam bhairavam kshetrapalam" (bow always to Bhairava the field-protector) anchors each verse.
Sanskrit
रं रं रं रक्तवर्णं कटिकटिततनुं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्राकरालं घं घं घं घोषघोषं घ घ घ घ घटितं घर्झरं घोरनादम् । कं कं कं कालपाशं धगधगधगितं ज्वालितं कामदेहं दं दं दं दिव्यदेहं प्रणमत सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥२॥
Transliteration
raṃ raṃ raṃ rakta-varṇaṃ kaṭi-kaṭita-tanuṃ tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭrā-karālaṃ ghaṃ ghaṃ ghaṃ ghoṣa-ghoṣaṃ gha gha gha gha ghaṭitaṃ gharjharaṃ ghora-nādam | kaṃ kaṃ kaṃ kāla-pāśaṃ dhagadhagadhagitaṃ jvālitaṃ kāma-dehaṃ daṃ daṃ daṃ divya-dehaṃ praṇamata satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||2||
Translation
Ram Ram Ram, blood-red in color, with a stout firm body, terrifying with sharp fangs! Gham Gham Gham, with thunderous sound, making gha-gha-gha-gha reverberations, a cascading terrible roar! Kam Kam Kam, holding time's noose, blazing with dhaga-dhaga flames, a body of burning desire! Dam Dam Dam, with divine body! Bow always to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field!
Deep Meaning
The onomatopoeic bija syllables here mimic the actual sounds of Bhairava's manifestation: the gha-gha-gha creates a rumbling, thunderous vibration. Dhagadhaga mimics flames. The "tikshna-damshtra" (sharp fangs) in the title comes from this verse. Bhairava is described in increasingly intense terms, blood-red, fanged, roaring, blazing, yet paradoxically, the final descriptor is "divya-deha" (divine body).
Sanskrit
लं लं लं लम्बदन्तं ल ल ल ल ललितं दीर्घजिह्वाकरालं धूं धूं धूं धूम्रवर्णं स्फुटविकटमुखं भास्वरं भीमरूपम् । रुं रुं रुं रुण्डमालं रवितमनियतं ताम्रनेत्रं करालं नं नं नं नग्नभूषं प्रणमत सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥३॥
Transliteration
laṃ laṃ laṃ lamba-dantaṃ la la la la lalitaṃ dīrgha-jihvā-karālaṃ dhūṃ dhūṃ dhūṃ dhūmra-varṇaṃ sphuṭa-vikaṭa-mukhaṃ bhāsvaraṃ bhīma-rūpam | ruṃ ruṃ ruṃ ruṇḍa-mālaṃ ravitam-aniyataṃ tāmra-netraṃ karālaṃ naṃ naṃ naṃ nagna-bhūṣaṃ praṇamata satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||3||
Translation
Lam Lam Lam, with protruding teeth, la-la-la-la playful, terrifying with an extended tongue! Dhoom Dhoom Dhoom, smoke-colored, with an open distorted face, radiant, of terrible form! Rum Rum Rum, wearing a garland of severed heads, roaring unceasingly, with copper-red eyes, fearsome! Nam Nam Nam, adorned with nakedness! Bow always to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field!
Deep Meaning
The paradox of "la la la lalitam" (playful/graceful) amid horrific descriptions captures Bhairava's nature: his fierce form is a divine play (lila). The smoke-color (dhumra-varna) associates him with the cremation ground. The garland of severed heads (runda-mala) represents conquered egos. Copper-red eyes (tamra-netra) indicate both rage and compassion.
Sanskrit
वं वं वं वायुवेगं नतजनसदयं ब्रह्मसारं परन्तं खं खं खं खड्गहस्तं त्रिभुवननिलयं भास्करं भीमरूपम् । चं चं चं चालयन्तं चलचलचलितं चालितं भूतचक्रं मं मं मं मायिरूपं प्रणमत सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥४॥
Transliteration
vaṃ vaṃ vaṃ vāyu-vegaṃ nata-jana-sadayaṃ brahma-sāraṃ parantaṃ khaṃ khaṃ khaṃ khaḍga-hastaṃ tri-bhuvana-nilayaṃ bhāskaraṃ bhīma-rūpam | caṃ caṃ caṃ cālayantaṃ cala-cala-calitaṃ cālitaṃ bhūta-cakraṃ maṃ maṃ maṃ māyi-rūpaṃ praṇamata satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||4||
Translation
Vam Vam Vam, swift as the wind, compassionate to those who bow, the essence of Brahman, the supreme! Kham Kham Kham, sword in hand, dwelling in all three worlds, radiant as the sun, of terrible form! Cham Cham Cham, shaking, with trembling cha-la-cha-la motion, setting the wheel of beings in motion! Mam Mam Mam, of illusory form! Bow always to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field!
Deep Meaning
Amid the fierce descriptions, "nata-jana-sadayam" (compassionate to those who bow) reveals the secret: Bhairava's ferocity is only for those who resist cosmic law. To the surrendered, he is pure mercy. He is both "brahma-sara" (essence of the absolute) and "mayi-rupa" (form of illusion), the paradox of the absolute manifesting through maya.
Sanskrit
शं शं शं शङ्खहस्तं शशिकरधवलं मोक्षसम्पूर्णतेजं मं मं मं मं महान्तं कुलमकुलकुलं मन्त्रगुप्तं सुनित्यम् । भं भं भं भूतनाथं किलिकिलिकिलितं बालकेलिप्रधानं अं अं अं अन्तरिक्षं प्रणमत सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥५॥
Transliteration
śaṃ śaṃ śaṃ śaṅkha-hastaṃ śaśikara-dhavalaṃ mokṣa-sampūrṇa-tejaṃ maṃ maṃ maṃ maṃ mahāntaṃ kulam-akula-kulaṃ mantra-guptaṃ sunityam | bhaṃ bhaṃ bhaṃ bhūtanāthaṃ kili-kili-kilitaṃ bāla-keli-pradhānaṃ aṃ aṃ aṃ antarikṣaṃ praṇamata satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||5||
Translation
Sham Sham Sham, conch in hand, white as moonbeams, radiant with the fullness of liberation! Mam Mam Mam, the great one, of the clan beyond all clans, concealed within mantras, eternally auspicious! Bham Bham Bham, lord of all beings, making ki-li-ki-li sounds, engaged in childlike play! Am Am Am, pervading all space! Bow always to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field!
Deep Meaning
A stunning transformation: from the terrifying red-black form of earlier verses, Bhairava now appears white as moonlight (shashikara-dhavala), full of liberation's radiance. The "kili-kili-kilita" childlike laughter and "bala-keli" (child's play) reveal his Batuka (child) nature hidden within the fierce exterior. He is simultaneously the cosmic lord of space (antariksha) and a playful divine child.
Sanskrit
खं खं खं खड्गभेदं विषममृतमयं कालकालं करालं क्षं क्षं क्षं क्षिप्रवेगं दहदहदहनं तप्तसन्दीप्यमानम् । हूं हूं हूंकारनादं प्रकटितगहनं गर्जितैर्भूमिकम्पं बं बं बं बाललीलं प्रणमत सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥६॥
Transliteration
khaṃ khaṃ khaṃ khaḍga-bhedaṃ viṣamam-ṛtamayaṃ kālakālaṃ karālaṃ kṣaṃ kṣaṃ kṣaṃ kṣipra-vegaṃ daha-daha-dahanaṃ tapta-sandīpyamānam | hūṃ hūṃ hūṃ-kāra-nādaṃ prakaṭita-gahanaṃ garjitair-bhūmi-kampaṃ baṃ baṃ baṃ bāla-līlaṃ praṇamata satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||6||
Translation
Kham Kham Kham, cleaving with his sword, filled with both poison and nectar, death of death itself, terrifying! Ksham Ksham Ksham, of swift velocity, burning burning burning with fire, blazing with intense heat! Hum Hum, with the resonant Hum-kara sound, revealing the impenetrable, shaking the earth with roars! Bam Bam Bam, yet all this is but a child's play! Bow always to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field!
Deep Meaning
The verse escalates to cosmic destruction: sword-cleaving, fire-burning, earth-shaking roars. "Vishama-amritamaya" (filled with both poison and nectar) captures Bhairava's dual nature as both destroyer and liberator. Yet the final phrase, "bala-lila" (child's play), reminds us that the entire cosmic destruction is effortless sport for the supreme consciousness.
Sanskrit
सं सं सं सिद्धियोगं सकलगुणमयं देवदेवं प्रसन्नं पं पं पं पद्मनाभं हरिहरमयनं चन्द्रसूर्याग्निनेत्रम् । ऐं ऐं ऐश्वर्यनाथं सततभयहरं सर्वदेवस्वरूपं रौं रौं रौं रौद्ररूपं प्रणमत सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥७॥
Transliteration
saṃ saṃ saṃ siddhi-yogaṃ sakala-guṇa-mayaṃ deva-devaṃ prasannaṃ paṃ paṃ paṃ padma-nābhaṃ hari-hara-mayanaṃ candra-sūryāgni-netram | aiṃ aiṃ aiśvarya-nāthaṃ satata-bhaya-haraṃ sarva-deva-svarūpaṃ rauṃ rauṃ rauṃ raudra-rūpaṃ praṇamata satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||7||
Translation
Sam Sam Sam, the yoga of all siddhis, comprising all qualities, god of gods, gracious! Pam Pam Pam, lotus-naveled, containing both Vishnu and Shiva, with moon, sun, and fire as his three eyes! Aim Aim, lord of all sovereignty, perpetual destroyer of fear, the form of all gods! Raum Raum Raum, of fierce Rudra form! Bow always to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field!
Deep Meaning
This verse unifies all divine aspects in Bhairava: he IS Vishnu (padmanabha = lotus-naveled), he IS Shiva (hari-hara-mayana), his three eyes are the cosmic luminaries (moon, sun, fire). The bija "Aim" invokes sovereignty (aishvarya), and he is declared "sarva-deva-svarupa", the form of all gods combined. Yet he remains "raudra-rupa" (fierce), non-dual reality expressing through fierce compassion.
Sanskrit
हं हं हं हंसयानं हसितकलहकं मुक्तयोगाट्टहासं धं धं धं नेत्ररूपं शिरमुकुटजटाबन्धबन्धाग्रहस्तम् । टं टं टंकारनादं त्रिदशलटलटं कामगर्वापहारं भ्रूं भ्रूं भ्रूं भूतनाथं प्रणमत सततं भैरवं क्षेत्रपालम् ॥८॥
Transliteration
haṃ haṃ haṃ haṃsa-yānaṃ hasita-kalaha-kaṃ mukta-yogāṭṭa-hāsaṃ dhaṃ dhaṃ dhaṃ netra-rūpaṃ śira-mukuṭa-jaṭā-bandha-bandhāgra-hastam | ṭaṃ ṭaṃ ṭaṅkāra-nādaṃ tri-daśa-laṭa-laṭaṃ kāma-garvāpa-hāraṃ bhrūṃ bhrūṃ bhrūṃ bhūtanāthaṃ praṇamata satataṃ bhairavaṃ kṣetrapālam ||8||
Translation
Ham Ham Ham, riding the hamsa (divine swan), with playful laughter, roaring the great liberated laugh of yoga! Dham Dham Dham, with eyes of light, with bound matted locks crowned upon his head! Tam Tam, with the resonant tankara sound, making the gods tremble, destroyer of the pride of Kama! Bhrum Bhrum Bhrum, lord of all beings! Bow always to Bhairava, the guardian of the sacred field!
Deep Meaning
The final verse concludes with Bhairava's liberating laugh (mukta-yoga-atta-hasa), the cosmic laughter that shattered Brahma's ego. He rides the hamsa (swan/breath), connecting him to the highest consciousness. He destroys Kama's (desire's) pride, symbolizing freedom from attachment. The bija "Bhrum" is specifically associated with Bhairava practice.
Sanskrit
एवं वै भावयुक्तः प्रपठति मनुजो भैरवस्याष्टकं यो निर्विघ्नं दुःखनाशं भवति भयहरं शाकिनीनां विनाशम् । दस्यूनां व्याघ्रसर्पोद्भवजनितभियां जायते सर्वनाशः सर्वे नश्यन्ति दुष्टा ग्रहगणविषमा लभ्यते चेष्टसिद्धिः ॥९॥
Transliteration
evaṃ vai bhāva-yuktaḥ prapaṭhati manujo bhairavasyāṣṭakaṃ yo nirvighnaṃ duḥkha-nāśaṃ bhavati bhaya-haraṃ śākinīnāṃ vināśam | dasyūnāṃ vyāghra-sarpod-bhava-janita-bhiyāṃ jāyate sarva-nāśaḥ sarve naśyanti duṣṭā graha-gaṇa-viṣamā labhyate ceṣṭa-siddhiḥ ||9||
Translation
Whoever recites this ashtakam of Bhairava with devotion, all obstacles are removed, all suffering destroyed, all fears dispelled, all Shakinis annihilated. The terrors born of robbers, tigers, and serpents are completely destroyed. All wicked ones perish, all malefic planetary influences are neutralized, and the desired siddhis are attained.
Deep Meaning
The phala-shruti (benefit verse) promises full protection: from supernatural threats (shakinis/negative entities), physical dangers (robbers, wild animals, snakes), and astrological afflictions (malefic planets). The key condition is "bhava-yukta", recitation with genuine feeling and devotion, not mere mechanical repetition.
Benefits of Recitation
- ✦Removes all obstacles (nirvighna) from life path
- ✦Destroys all suffering and fear
- ✦Protection from negative entities (Shakinis)
- ✦Protection from physical dangers (robbers, wild animals, snakes)
- ✦Neutralizes malefic planetary influences
- ✦Grants desired spiritual powers (ishta-siddhi)
- ✦Each verse contains effective bija mantras for tantric practice
- ✦Functions as a complete Kshetrapala (territory guardian) protection
Get Your Personalised Sadhana Plan
Your matched Bhairava form, daily mantras, stotras, and a progressive practice path
Find Your Path