Kalabhairava Ashtakam

This powerful stotra is believed to provide protection, liberation, and blessings to those who recite it with devotion.

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजम् व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।

नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरम् काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ १॥

भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परम् नीलकण्ठमिप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।

कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरम् काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ २॥

शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणम् श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।

भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियम् काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ३॥

भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहम् भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।

विनिक्वणन्मणियश्वरक्तकङ्कणायुधम् काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ४॥

धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकम् कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।

स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलम् काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ५॥

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकम् नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम् ।

मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणम् काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ६॥

अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिम् दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।

अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरम् काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ७॥

भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकम् काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।

नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुराणशास्त्रपारगम् काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ८॥

फलश्रुतिः

कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरम् ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।

शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनम् प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥ ९॥

Meaning of Kalabhairava Ashtakam

1. I sing the praise of Kalabhairava, the ruler of the city of Kashi, whose lotus feet are served by Indra, the king of the gods. He wears a garland of skulls and has a moon on his head. He is compassionate and worshipped by sage Narada and other yogis. He is digambara (clothed with the directions).

2. I sing the praise of Kalabhairava, who shines like countless suns, who saves from the ocean of worldly existence, who has a blue throat, who fulfills desires, who has three eyes, who is the death of death, who has lotus eyes, who holds a trident, and who is imperishable.

3. I sing the praise of Kalabhairava, who holds a trident, a drum, a noose, and a club in his hands, who is the primeval cause, who has a dark complexion, who is the original god, who is free from decay, who is fearless, who is the lord of all beings, and who loves the dance of strange rhythms.

4. I sing the praise of Kalabhairava, who grants both enjoyment and liberation, who has an auspicious and charming form, who is affectionate towards his devotees, who sustains all the worlds, who is adorned with jeweled anklets that tinkle, and who is the ruler of the city of Kashi.

5. I sing the praise of Kalabhairava, who protects the path of righteousness, who destroys the path of unrighteousness, who liberates from the bondage of karma, who grants great happiness, who has a golden complexion, and who is adorned with a snake.

6. I sing the praise of Kalabhairava, whose lotus feet are adorned with the radiance of jewels, who is unique and eternal, who grants the highest joy, who is stainless, who destroys the pride of death, and whose terrible teeth are capable of destroying.

7. I sing the praise of Kalabhairava, who with his loud laughter split the universe created by Brahma, whose mere glance destroys the net of sin, who is ferocious, who grants the eight siddhis (supernatural powers), and who wears a garland of skulls.

8. I sing the praise of Kalabhairava, who is the leader of the hosts of bhutas (spirits), who grants widespread fame, who purifies those who reside in the city of Kashi from sins and merits, who is an expert in the path of righteousness, and who is skilled in the knowledge of the Vedas and scriptures.

Phalashruti (Result of Recitation):

Those who recite this Kalabhairava Ashtakam, which is beautiful and a means of attaining knowledge and liberation, and which increases extraordinary merits, will destroy the sorrows, delusions, poverty, greed, anger, and heat, and will attain the proximity of Kalabhairava's feet.