Kalabhairava Ashtakam of Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Kalabhairava is an incarnation of Maha Shiva and Devatha of Lord Rahu (Planet Navagraha). Kalabhairava is also considered the guardian of the temples of Lord Shiva. Sri Kalabhairava Ashtakam is a very musical prayer of Lord Kalabhairava. Kalabhairava Astakam is recited by the priests of the temples of Kalabhairava.
Kaal Bhairav is Shiva’s Rudra avatar, the ubiquitous time or Kaal. Kaal or time is the scary face of Shiva, since time does not stop for anyone. Each living being is afraid of time because it does not spare. Kaal is therefore feared by all.
The Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam was composed by the great philosopher saint of the eighth century AD, Adi Shankara.
The Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam is recited so that your journey in time or in life is free of problems and dangers.
॥ Benefits of Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam Stotram ॥
Regular recitation of Kaal Bhairava Ashtakam Stotram gives peace of mind and keeps away all the evil from your life and makes you healthy, wealthy and prosperous.
॥ Kalabhairava Ashtakam English Lyrics ॥
Deva raja sevya mana pavangri pankajam, ।
Vyala yagna suthra mindu shekaram krupakaram, ॥
Naradadhi yogi vrundha vandhitham digambaram,।
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ॥ 1 ॥
Bhanu koti bhaswaram, bhavabdhi tharakam param, ।
Neelakanda meepsidartha dayakam trilochanam ॥
Kalakala mambujaksha maksha soola maksharam, ।
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ॥ 2 ॥
Soola tanga pasa danda pani madhi karanam, ।
Syama kaya madhi devamaksharam niramayam ॥
Bheema vikramam prabhum vichithra thandava priyam, ।
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ॥ 3 ॥
Bhukthi mukthi dayakam prasashtha charu vigraham, ।
Bhaktha vatsalam sthitam,samastha loka vigraham ॥
Vinikwanan manogna hema kinkini lasath kateem, ।
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ॥ 4 ॥
Dharma sethu palakam, thwa dharma marga nasakam, ।
Karma pasa mochakam,susharma dayakam vibhum ॥
Swarna varna sesha pasa shobithanga mandalam, ।
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ॥ 5 ॥
Rathna padukha prabhabhirama padayugmakam, ।
Nithyamadwidheeyamishta daivatham niranjanam ॥
Mrutyu darpa nasanam karaladamshtra mokshanam, ।
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ॥ 6 ॥
Attahasa binna padma janda kosa santhatheem, ।
Drushti pada nashta papa jala mugra sasanam ॥
Ashtasidhi dayakam kapala malikadaram, ।
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ॥ 7 ॥
Bhootha sanga nayakam, vishala keerthi dayakam, ।
Kasi vasa loka punya papa shodhakam vibum ॥
Neethi marga kovidham purathanam jagatpathim, ।
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ॥ 8 ॥
Kalabhairavashtakam patanthi yea manoharam, ।
Jnana mukthi sadhanam,vichithra punya vardhanam ॥
Soka moha dainya lopa kopa thapa nasanam, ।
Thea prayanthi Kalabhairavangri saniidhim druvam ॥ 9 ॥
॥ Kalabhairava Ashtakam Meaning ॥
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Whose lotus like feet is being served by Devendra,
Who is merciful and wears the moon on his forehead,
Who wears a snake as his sacred thread,
Who wears the different directions as his cloth,
And who is worshipped by sages like Narada. ॥ 1 ॥
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who shines like billions of suns,
Who helps us cross this miserable ocean of life,
Who is supreme and has a blue neck,
Who has three eyes and grants us our desires,
Who is the death to the God of death,
Who has lotus flower like eyes,
Who has the undefeatable trident,
And who does not have decay. ॥ 2 ॥
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who has a spear, a chord and a stick as weapons,
Who is black in colour and the primeval cause,
Who is deathless and the first God,
Who is free from decay and ill health,
Who is the Lord who is a great hero,
And who likes the special vigorous thandava. ॥ 3 ॥
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who fulfills desires and also grants salvation,
Who is well known for his pretty mien,
Who is a form of Shiva,who loves his devotees,
Who is the God of the entire world,
Who assumes various forms,
And who has a golden waist thread,
On which jingling bells are tied. ॥ 4 ॥
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who maintains the bridge of dharma in life,
Who destroys paths which are not right,
Who saves us from the ties of Karma,
Who is the lord who makes us ashamed,
When trying to do wrong things,
Who has a shining body because of golden rope,
With bells tied in various places. ॥ 5 ॥
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who has feet adorned by the shine of gem studded sandals,
Who is eternal and does not have any one second to him,
Who is our favorite God who bestows everything,
Who takes away the fear of death from humans,
And who grants them salvation by his terrible teeth. ॥ 6 ॥
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Whose loud roar is enough to destroy all those created by Brahma,
Whose sight is sufficient to destroy all sins,
Who is crafty and strict ruler,
Who can grant the eight occult powers,
And who wears the garland of skulls.
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who is the chief of the society of Bhoothas,
Who grants broad based fame,
Who is the lord who judges good and bad deeds,
Of those who live in Varanasi,
Who is an expert in the way of righteousness,
And who is eternally old and lord of the universe. ॥ 7 ॥
Those who read this enticing octet on Kalabhairava,
Which is the source of eternal knowledge,
Which increases the effect of righteous deeds,
And which destroys grief, passion, poverty, want and anger,
Would surely reach the holy presence of Kalabhairava. ॥ 8 ॥