Kalabhairava Ashtakam: Lyrics, Meaning, Benefits, Rituals & Significance

What is Kalabhairava Ashtakam?

The Kalabhairava Ashtakam is an ancient Sanskrit hymn comprising eight verses (ashtakam means “eightfold”) dedicated to Sri Kalabhairava, Shiva’s fierce manifestation as the lord of time (kala) and guardian of Kashi. Composed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, it extols Bhairava’s attributes—from his moon-crested head to his skull garland—while invoking his grace for worldly and spiritual fulfillment. Structured in Anustubh meter, it culminates in a phalashruti verse promising liberation. Rooted in Tantric Shaivism, it’s chanted to dissolve fears and align with the divine’s destructive-creative force, making it a cornerstone for Mahashivratri and Kalashtami observances.

Kalabhairava Ashtakam Lyrics (Sanskrit with Transliteration)

Begin recitation with the seed mantra: Om Kalabhairavaya Namah. Here’s the complete hymn for devotional practice.

1. देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
   नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥
   
   Deva-rāja-sevyamāna-pāvana-aṅghri-paṅkajam
   Vyāla-yajña-sūtram-indu-śekharaṁ kṛpā-karam |
   Nārada-ādi-yogi-vṛnda-vanditaṁ digambaram
   Kāśikā-pura-adhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje ||1||

2. भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
   कालकालमंबुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥२॥
   
   Bhānu-koṭi-bhāsvaraṁ bhava-abdhī-tārakaṁ paraṁ
   Nīla-kaṇṭham-īpsita-artha-dāyakaṁ tri-locanam |
   Kāla-kālaṁ-ambuja-akṣaṁ-akṣa-śūlaṁ-akṣaraṁ
   Kāśikā-pura-adhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje ||2||

3. शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
   भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥
   
   Śūla-taṅka-pāśa-daṇḍa-pāṇi-m-ādi-kāraṇaṁ
   Śyāma-kāya-m-ādi-devaṁ-akṣaraṁ nira-amayam |
   Bhīma-vikramaṁ prabhuṁ vicitra-tāṇḍava-priyaṁ
   Kāśikā-pura-adhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje ||3||

4. भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।
   विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥४॥
   
   Bhukti-mukti-dāyakaṁ praśasta-cāru-vigrahaṁ
   Bhakta-vatsalaṁ sthitaṁ samasta-loka-vigraham |
   Vi-nikvaṇan-manojña-hema-kiṅkiṇī-lasat-kaṭiṁ
   Kāśikā-pura-adhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje ||4||

5. धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।
   स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥५॥
   
   Dharma-setu-pālakaṁ tva-adharma-mārga-nāśakaṁ
   Karma-pāśa-mocakaṁ su-śarma-dāyakaṁ vibhum |
   Svarṇa-varṇa-śeṣa-pāśa-śobhitāṅga-maṇḍalaṁ
   Kāśikā-pura-adhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje ||5||

6. रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरंजनम् ।
   मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥६॥
   
   Ratna-pāddukā-prabhābhir-āma-pāda-yugmakam
   Nitya-m-advitīya-miṣṭa-daivataṁ nirañjanam |
   Mṛtyu-darpa-nāśanaṁ karāla-daṁṣṭra-mokṣaṇam
   Kāśikā-pura-adhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje ||6||

7. अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।
   अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥
   
   Aṭṭa-hāsa-bhinna-padma-jāṇḍa-kośa-santatiṁ
   Dṛṣṭi-pāta-naṣṭa-pāpa-jāla-m-ugra-śāsanam |
   Aṣṭa-siddhi-dāyakaṁ kapāla-mālikā-dharam
   Kāśikā-pura-adhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje ||7||

8. भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।
   नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥८॥
   
   Bhūta-saṁgha-nāyakaṁ viśāla-kīrti-dāyakaṁ
   Kāśi-vāsa-loka-puṇya-pāpa-śodhakaṁ vibhum |
   Nīti-mārga-kovidaṁ purātanaṁ jagat-patiṁ
   Kāśikā-pura-adhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje ||8||

9. Phalashruti:
   कालभैरवाष्टकं पठंति ये मनोहरं ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।
   शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥९॥
   
   Kālabhairavāṣṭakaṁ paṭhanti ye manoharaṁ
   Jñāna-mukti-sādhanaṁ vicitra-puṇya-vardhanam |
   Śoka-moha-dainya-lobha-kopa-tāpa-nāśanaṁ
   Prayānti kālabhairavāṅghri-sannidhiṁ narā dhruvam ||9||

Verse-by-Verse Meaning of Kalabhairava Ashtakam

Drawing from Shankaracharya’s vision, each verse unveils Bhairava’s majesty. Below are English translations with spiritual insights.

1. Verse 1: Salutations to Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi, whose purifying lotus feet are served by Indra; with snake-yajnopavita, moon crest, boundless compassion; praised by Narada and yogis, sky-clad in freedom. (Symbolizes transcendence over material bonds.)
2. Verse 2: Radiant as a million suns, ferry across samsara’s ocean, supreme blue-throated granter of desires, three-eyed; death to death, lotus-eyed, world-sustaining trident, eternal. (Evokes liberation from rebirth’s cycle.)
3. Verse 3: Holding trident, axe, noose, staff—the primal cause; dark-bodied primordial god, imperishable, disease-free; of terrific valor, lord delighting in cosmic tandava. (Celebrates creation’s dynamic dance.)
4. Verse 4: Bestower of enjoyment and moksha, of auspicious form; devotee-loving, steadfast embodiment of all worlds; waist adorned with jingling golden bells. (Balances worldly joy with spiritual ascent.)
5. Verse 5: Upholder of dharma’s bridge, destroyer of adharma’s path; frees from karma’s noose, giver of supreme bliss, omnipresent; body encircled by golden serpents. (Guides ethical living and inner freedom.)
6. Verse 6: Feet charming with gem-studded sandals; eternal non-dual ishta devata, pure; slayer of death’s arrogance, fangs liberating from fear. (Dissolves mortality’s terror.)
7. Verse 7: Roar shattering Brahma’s creations; glance annihilating sin-webs, fierce chastiser; granter of eight siddhis, skull-garlanded. (Empowers supernatural mastery.)
8. Verse 8: Leader of spirit hosts, bestower of vast fame; purifier of Kashi’s merits and sins, resplendent; knower of justice’s path, ancient world-lord. (Purifies and elevates the soul.)
9. Phalashruti (Verse 9): Those reciting this enchanting Ashtakam—means to jnana and mukti, increaser of virtues—destroy grief, delusion, poverty, greed, anger, suffering; surely attain Bhairava’s feet. (Promises ultimate divine union.)

Significances of Kalabhairava Ashtakam

This hymn’s Tantric depth lies in portraying Kalabhairava as time’s conqueror, dissolving ego (ahamkara) and fears tied to impermanence. Each verse aligns with chakras—Muladhara for grounding fears, Ajna for insight—facilitating Kundalini rise. In Kashi lore, Bhairava guards the city’s 56 gates, symbolizing life’s thresholds. Esoterically, it bridges bhukti (fulfillment) and mukti (liberation), revered in texts like Shiva Purana for invoking Shiva’s fierce benevolence during Kali Yuga.

Why is Kalabhairava Ashtakam So Important?

In an era of accelerating change and inner turmoil, the Kalabhairava Ashtakam is vital for cultivating fearlessness (abhaya). It counters modern anxieties—career instability, health crises, relational strife—by invoking Bhairava’s dominion over kala (time), mitigating Saturn/Rahu doshas in astrology. Unlike passive prayers, its vibrational potency burns karmic residues, fostering resilience and intuition. Essential for spiritual aspirants, it ensures progression toward samadhi, where worries dissolve into bliss, making it indispensable for holistic empowerment.

Rituals for Chanting Kalabhairava Ashtakam

Infuse your practice with devotion for amplified grace:

• Preparation: Bathe, don black/blue attire, face north/east before a Bhairava lingam or yantra. Offer bilva leaves, mustard oil lamp.
• Timing: Kalashtami (Bhairava Ashtami), Mahashivratri, or Saturdays; dawn/dusk for 108 repetitions via rudraksha mala.
• Procedure: Invoke with Dhyana: Visualize Bhairava’s form. Chant verses melodiously, focusing on meanings. Conclude with aarti and prasad (black gram, jaggery).
• Precautions: Sattvic diet, celibacy during sadhana; chant mentally if impure. 40-day anushthan for siddhi.
• Advanced: Recite at Kashi Vishwanath temple or during eclipses for exponential potency.

Benefits of Chanting Kalabhairava Ashtakam

As per the phalashruti and devotee testimonies, regular chanting yields:

• Fear Dissolution: Eradicates terror of death/time, ghosts, enemies; instills courage.
• Sin Purification: Burns karmic debts, negative energies, black magic.
• Prosperity & Siddhis: Grants wealth, fame, eight yogic powers; career/legal victories.
• Mental Serenity: Alleviates grief, anger, greed, delusion; promotes samadhi bliss.
• Spiritual Liberation: Facilitates jnana-mukti, divine proximity; ideal for moksha seekers.
• Health Harmony: Balances doshas, cures ailments, enhances vitality.

Many witness shifts in 21 days, with profound peace unfolding over time.

FAQs on Kalabhairava Ashtakam

Who composed Kalabhairava Ashtakam?

Adi Shankaracharya, as a profound ode to Shiva’s Bhairava form.

Best time to chant?

Kalashtami or daily at dawn; amplify on full moon nights.

Can beginners recite it?

Yes, with devotion; use audio aids for pronunciation.

How many times for benefits?

108 daily; 40-day cycle for deeper transformation.

Is it suitable for women?

Absolutely; empowers feminine Shakti against fears.

Does it aid non-Hindus?

Its universal vibrations foster inner peace beyond creed.