The Kalabhairava Ashtakam: Lyrics and English Translation

      The Kalabhairava Ashtakam is a powerful hymn dedicated to Lord Kalabhairava, a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva. The hymn consists of eight verses and is attributed to the great sage Adi Shankaracharya.

       The hymn describes Lord Kalabhairava as the lord of time, death, and destruction, who is beyond human comprehension. It praises his cosmic dance, which symbolizes the cycle of creation and destruction.

Kaal Bhairava

      Each verse highlights a different aspect of Lord Kalabhairava's powers and attributes, such as his ability to destroy evil, grant liberation, and bestow wisdom.

      The hymn also seeks blessings and protection from Lord Kalabhairava, asking for freedom from the cycle of birth and death, and ultimate liberation.

      The Kalabhairava Ashtakam is considered a powerful tool for spiritual growth, protection, and self-realization, and is often recited by devotees and spiritual seekers.

काल भैरव अष्टक

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।

नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ १॥

भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।

कालकालमंबुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ २॥

शूलटंकपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।

भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ३॥

भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।

विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥ ४॥

धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशनं कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मधायकं विभुम् ।

स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभितांगमण्डलं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ५॥

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरंजनम् ।

मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ६॥

अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं दृष्टिपात्तनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।

अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ७॥

भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।

नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ८॥

॥ फल श्रुति॥

कालभैरवाष्टकं पठंति ये मनोहरं ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।

शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥

॥इति कालभैरवाष्टकम् संपूर्णम् ॥

Here is the English Translation of the Kaal Bhairava Ashtakam:

1. Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, whose lotus feet are revered by Lord Indra; who has a snake as his sacrificial thread, a moon on his head, and is very compassionate.

2. Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, who has the brilliance of a million suns, saves devotees from rebirth, and has a blue throat, three eyes, and a trident that supports the world.

3. Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, who holds various weapons, has a dark body, is the primordial Lord, immortal, and free from diseases; who is mighty and loves the tandava dance.

4. Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, who bestows desires and salvation, has a pleasing appearance, is loving to devotees, and stable as the god of all worlds; who wears a golden belt with bells.

5. Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, who ensures righteousness prevails, destroys unrighteousness, saves from karma bonds, and has golden-hued snakes entwined around his body.

6. Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, whose feet are adorned with gemstone sandals; who is the eternal, non-dual Ishta devata; destroys Yama's pride, and liberates with his terrible teeth.

7. Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, whose roar destroys creation's delusions; whose glance destroys sins; who grants eight siddhis and wears a skull garland.

8. Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, leader of ghosts and goblins, bestows glory, frees from sinful and righteous deeds, guides on the path of righteousness, and is the eternal lord of the universe.

9. Those who read these eight verses will attain Lord Kalabhairava's feet, destroying grief, attachment, poverty, greed, anger, and heat, and increasing righteousness.