कालभैरवाष्टकम्
देवराज सेव्यमान पावनांघ्रि पङ्कजं
व्याल यज्ञ सूत्रमिन्दु शेखरं कृपाकरम्।
नारदादि योगि वृन्द वन्दितं दिगंबरं
काशिका पुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे
॥ १ ॥
भानुकोटि भास्वरं भवब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठ मीप्सितार्ध दायकं त्रिलोचनम्।
कालकाल मम्बुजाक्ष मक्ष शूल मक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे
॥ 2 ॥
शूल टङ्क पाश दण्ड पाणि मादि कारणं
श्याम कायमादि देव मक्षरं निरामयम्।
भीम विक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्र ताण्डव प्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे
॥ 3 ॥
भुक्ति मुक्ति दायकं प्रशस्त चारु विग्रहं
भक्त वत्सलं स्थितं समस्त लोक विग्रहम्।
विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञ हेम किङ्किणी लसत्कटिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे
॥ 4 ॥
धर्मसेतु पालकं त्वधर्ममार्ग नाशकं
कर्मपाश मोचकं सुशर्म दायकं विभुम्।
स्वर्ण वर्ण शेषपाश शोभिताङ्ग मण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे
॥ 5 ॥
रत्न पादुका प्रभा भिराम पादयुग्मकं
नित्य मद्वितीय मिष्ट दैवतं निरञ्जनम्।
मृत्युदर्प नाशनं करालदंष्ट्र मोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे
॥ 6 ॥
अट्टहास भिन्न पद्म जाण्ड कोश सन्ततिं
दृष्टिपात नष्ट पाप जाल मुग्र शासनम्।
अष्ट सिद्धि दायकं कपाल मालिका धरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे
॥ 7 ॥
भूत सङ्घ नायकं विशालकीर्ति दायकं
काशिवास लोक पुण्य पाप शोधकं विभुम्।
नीतिमार्ग कोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे
॥ 8 ॥
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्ति साधकं विचित्र पुण्य वर्धनम्।
शोक मोह दैन्य लोभ कोप ताप नाशनं प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रि सन्निधिं ध्रुवम्॥
इति श्रीमच्चङ्कराचार्य विरचितं कालभैरवाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ।
Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam Explained
देवराज सेव्यमान पावनांघ्रि पङ्कजं
व्याल यज्ञ सूत्रमिन्दु शेखरं कृपाकरम्।
नारदादि योगि वृन्द वन्दितं दिगंबरं
काशिका पुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे॥
Meaning
“I bow to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi, whose lotus feet are worshipped by the king of gods, Indra. He is adorned with a sacred thread made of serpents, and his head is crowned with the moon. He is full of compassion and is revered by sages like Narada and other yogis. Clad in the sky as his only garment (Digambara), he protects Kashi.”
Explanation
This verse praises Kaal Bhairav as the compassionate protector of Kashi. His divine form is adorned with snakes, symbolizing his connection with Shiva, and he is worshipped by celestial beings, symbolizing his power and authority.
꧁ ༺ ༻ ꧂
भानुकोटि भास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठ मीप्सितार्ध दायकं त्रिलोचनम्।
कालकाल मम्बुजाक्ष मक्ष शूल मक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे॥
Meaning
“I bow to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi, who shines like millions of suns, is the savior from the ocean of existence, and is the supreme being. He is Neelkanth (blue-throated), has three eyes, and fulfills the desires of his devotees. He is the end of time (death of death) and wields the trident.”
Explanation
This verse describes Kaal Bhairav’s powerful attributes—his radiance, his role as the destroyer of time, and his compassion for devotees. He is depicted as a being with three eyes, symbolizing his knowledge of past, present, and future.
꧁ ༺ ༻ ꧂
शूल टङ्क पाश दण्ड पाणि मादि कारणं
श्याम कायमादि देव मक्षरं निरामयम्।
भीम विक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्र ताण्डव प्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे॥
Meaning
“I bow to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi, who holds a trident, axe, noose, and club. He is the prime cause of the universe, dark in complexion, free from decay, and beyond all ailments. He is immensely powerful, enjoys the cosmic dance, and is the supreme lord.”
Explanation
This verse highlights Kaal Bhairav’s role as a fierce cosmic dancer and his formidable weaponry, which signify his power to destroy ignorance, obstacles, and attachments.
꧁ ༺ ༻ ꧂
भुक्ति मुक्ति दायकं प्रशस्त चारु विग्रहं
भक्त वत्सलं स्थितं समस्त लोक विग्रहम्।
विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञ हेम किङ्किणी लसत्कटिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे॥
Meaning
“I bow to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi, who bestows both worldly pleasures and liberation. He has a charming form and is compassionate towards his devotees. He embodies the entire universe and wears a golden waist chain adorned with melodious bells.”
Explanation
This verse describes Kaal Bhairav as a kind benefactor who grants material success and spiritual liberation. His beautiful form and affectionate nature are depicted here, showing his appeal to devotees.
꧁ ༺ ༻ ꧂
धर्मसेतु पालकं त्वधर्ममार्ग नाशकं
कर्मपाश मोचकं सुशर्म दायकं विभुम्।
स्वर्ण वर्ण शेषपाश शोभिताङ्ग मण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे॥
Meaning
“I bow to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi, who protects righteousness, destroys unrighteous paths, liberates from the bondage of karma, and bestows supreme bliss. His body is adorned with golden ornaments.”
Explanation
This verse praises Kaal Bhairav as the upholder of dharma (righteousness) and the destroyer of adharma (unrighteousness). His power to liberate devotees from the cycle of karma and lead them to eternal joy is emphasized.
꧁ ༺ ༻ ꧂
रत्न पादुका प्रभा भिराम पादयुग्मकं
नित्य मद्वितीय मिष्ट दैवतं निरञ्जनम्।
मृत्युदर्प नाशनं करालदंष्ट्र मोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे॥
Meaning
“I bow to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi, who wears gem-studded sandals and whose feet shine beautifully. He is eternal, incomparable, pure, and beloved. He destroys the pride of death with his fierce fangs and grants liberation.”
Explanation
This verse highlights Kaal Bhairav’s role as the vanquisher of death and his divine purity. His powerful appearance is described, symbolizing his ability to free devotees from fear and ego.
꧁ ༺ ༻ ꧂
अट्टहास भिन्न पद्म जाण्ड कोश सन्ततिं
दृष्टिपात नष्ट पाप जाल मुग्र शासनम्।
अष्ट सिद्धि दायकं कपाल मालिका धरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे॥
Meaning
“I bow to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi, whose laughter shatters the cosmos and destroys sins with his mere glance. He bestows the eight siddhis and wears a garland of skulls.”
Explanation
This verse describes Kaal Bhairav’s terrifying laughter that symbolizes his supreme power over creation and destruction. His ability to grant supernatural powers (siddhis) and his garland of skulls show his transcendence over life and death.
꧁ ༺ ༻ ꧂
भूत सङ्घ नायकं विशालकीर्ति दायकं
काशिवास लोक पुण्य पाप शोधकं विभुम्।
नीतिमार्ग कोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे॥
Meaning
“I bow to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi, who is the leader of the celestial beings and bestows vast fame. He purifies the virtues and sins of the residents of Kashi and is well-versed in righteous conduct. He is eternal and the lord of the universe.”
Explanation
In this final verse, Kaal Bhairav is depicted as the purifier of sins and virtues, emphasizing his role as the eternal protector of Kashi and the lord of all beings. His guidance leads devotees on the path of righteousness.
꧁ ༺ ༻ ꧂
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्ति साधकं विचित्र पुण्य वर्धनम्।
शोक मोह दैन्य लोभ कोप ताप नाशनं
प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रि सन्निधिं ध्रुवम्॥
Meaning
“Those who recite this beautiful Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam, which bestows knowledge and liberation, increases merit, and removes grief, delusion, poverty, greed, anger, and sorrow, will attain the proximity of Kaal Bhairav’s feet.”
Explanation
This verse promises that regular recitation of the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam will free devotees from suffering, material desires, and illusions, ultimately leading them to liberation and closeness to Kaal Bhairav.
Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam