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 Sanskrit Lyrics ॥
श्री काल भैरव अष्टकम्
देवराज सेव्यमान पावनाङ्घ्रि पङ्कजं
व्यालयज्ञ सूत्रमिन्दु शेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादि योगिबृन्द वन्दितं दिगम्बरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥ 1 ॥
भानुकोटि भास्वरं भवब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठ मीप्सितार्ध दायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
कालकाल मम्बुजाक्ष मस्तशून्य मक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥ 2 ॥
शूलटङ्क पाशदण्ड पाणिमादि कारणं
श्यामकाय मादिदेव मक्षरं निरामयम् ।
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्र ताण्डव प्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥ 3 ॥
भुक्ति मुक्ति दायकं प्रशस्तचारु विग्रहं
भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोक विग्रहम् ।
निक्वणन्-मनोज्ञ हेम किङ्किणी लसत्कटिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥ 4 ॥
धर्मसेतु पालकं त्वधर्ममार्ग नाशकं
कर्मपाश मोचकं सुशर्म दायकं विभुम् ।
स्वर्णवर्ण केशपाश शोभिताङ्ग निर्मलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥ 5 ॥
रत्न पादुका प्रभाभिराम पादयुग्मकं
नित्य मद्वितीय मिष्ट दैवतं निरञ्जनम् ।
मृत्युदर्प नाशनं करालदंष्ट्र भूषणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥ 6 ॥
अट्टहास भिन्न पद्मजाण्डकोश सन्ततिं
दृष्टिपात नष्टपाप जालमुग्र शासनम् ।
अष्टसिद्धि दायकं कपालमालिका धरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥ 7 ॥
भूतसङ्घ नायकं विशालकीर्ति दायकं
काशिवासि लोक पुण्यपाप शोधकं विभुम् ।
नीतिमार्ग कोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥ 8 ॥
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्ति साधकं विचित्र पुण्य वर्धनम् ।
शोकमोह लोभदैन्य कोपताप नाशनं
ते प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रि सन्निधिं ध्रुवम् ॥
॥ 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 anyone 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 ॥