Mantras & Stotras · Adi Shankaracharya
Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam
The Kalabhairava Ashtakam was composed by Adi Shankaracharya. It is through Bhairava that we attain Maa Adya Kali. Reciting these eight verses is a doorway to his grace.
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् । नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥
Deva-Raaja-Sevyamaana-Paavana-Angghri-Pankajam Vyaala-Yajnya-Suutram-Indu-Shekharam Krpaakaram | Naarada-Aadi-Yogi-Vrnda-Vanditam Digambaram Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||1||
Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, whose lotus feet are revered by Lord Indra, king of the devas; who has a snake as his sacrificial thread, a moon on his head and is very compassionate; who is praised by Narada, sage of the gods, and other yogis; who is a Digambara, wearing the sky as his dress, symbolizing his free being.
भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् । कालकालमंबुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥२॥
Bhaanu-Kotti-Bhaasvaram Bhavaabdhi-Taarakam Param Niila-Kannttham-Iipsita-Artha-Daayakam Trilocanam | Kaala-Kaalam-Ambuja-Akssam-Akssa-Shuulam-Akssaram Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||2||
Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, who has the brilliance of a million suns, who saves devotees from the cycle of rebirths, and who is supreme; who has a blue throat, who grants us our desires, and who has three eyes; who is death unto death itself and whose eyes look like a lotus; whose trident supports the world and who is immortal.
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् । भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥
Shuula-Tanka-Paasha-Danndda-Paannim-Aadi-Kaarannam Shyaama-Kaayam-Aadi-Devam-Akssaram Nir-Aamayam | Bhiimavikramam Prabhum Vichitra-Taannddava-Priyam Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||3||
Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, who holds the trident, mattock, noose, and club in his hands; whose body is dark, who is the primordial Lord, who is immortal, and free from the diseases of the world; who is immensely mighty and who loves the wonderful tandava dance.
भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् । विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥४॥
Bhukti-Mukti-Daayakam Prashasta-Caaru-Vigraham Bhakta-Vatsalam Sthitam Samasta-Loka-Vigraham | Vi-Nikvannan-Manojnya-Hema-Kinkinnii-Lasat-Kattim Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||4||
Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, the one who bestows both desires and salvation, who has a pleasing appearance; who is loving to his devotees, who is stable as the god of all the worlds; who wears a golden belt around his waist with bells that make a melodious sound when he moves.
धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् । स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥५॥
Dharma-Setu-Paalakam Tva-Adharma-Maarga-Naashakam Karma-Paasha-Mocakam Su-Sharma-Daayakam Vibhum | Svarnna-Varnna-Shessa-Paasha-Shobhitaangga-Mannddalam Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||5||
Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, who ensures that dharma (righteousness) prevails, who destroys the path of adharma (unrighteousness); who saves us from the bonds of karma, thereby freeing our soul; and who has golden-hued snakes entwined around his body.
रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरंजनम् । मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥६॥
Ratna-Paadukaa-Prabhaabhi-Raama-Paada-Yugmakam Nityam-Advitiiyam-Isstta-Daivatam Niramjanam | Mrtyu-Darpa-Naashanam Karaala-Damssttra-Mokssannam Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||6||
Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, whose feet are adorned with two golden sandals with gems; who is the eternal, non-dual Ishta devata (god who grants our desires); who destroys the pride of Yama (God of Death); whose terrible teeth liberate us.
अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् । अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥
Atttta-Haasa-Bhinna-Padmaja-Anndda-Kosha-Samtatim Drsstti-Paata-Nasstta-Paapa-Jaalam-Ugra-Shaasanam | Asstta-Siddhi-Daayakam Kapaala-Maalikaa-Dharam Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||7||
Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, whose loud roar destroys the sheaths of creations (the delusions of our mind) of the lotus-born Brahma; whose very glance is enough to destroy all our sins; who gives us the eight siddhis (accomplishments); and who wears a garland of skulls.
भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् । नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥८॥
Bhuuta-Samgha-Naayakam Vishaala-Kiirti-Daayakam Kaashi-Vaasa-Loka-Punnya-Paapa-Shodhakam Vibhum | Niiti-Maarga-Kovidam Puraatanam Jagatpatim Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||8||
Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, who is the leader of ghosts and goblins, who bestows glory; who frees the people of Kashi from their sinful and righteous deeds; who guides us on the path of righteousness, who is the most ancient (eternal) lord of the universe.
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठंति ये मनोहरं ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् । शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥९॥
Kaalabhairavaassttakam Patthamti Ye Manoharam Jnyaana-Mukti-Saadhanam Vicitra-Punnya-Vardhanam | Shoka-Moha-Dainya-Lobha-Kopa-Taapa-Naashanam Prayaanti Kaalabhairava-Amghri-Sannidhim Naraa Dhruvam ||9||
Those who read these eight verses of the Kalabhairava Ashtakam, which is beautiful, which is a source of knowledge and liberation, which increases the various forms of righteousness in a person, which destroys grief, attachment, poverty, greed, anger, and heat — will attain (after death) the feet of Lord Kalabhairava (Lord Shiva).