Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam

काल भैरव अष्टकम् • कालभैरवाष्टकम्

Stotram Lord Kaal Bhairav

About

Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam is a powerful hymn of eight verses composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Lord Kaal Bhairav, the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva who is the lord of time (Kaal). Bhairav is the guardian deity of Kashi (Varanasi) and is worshipped for protection, removal of fears, and overcoming obstacles. Each verse ends with the refrain 'Kalabhairavam Bhaje' (I worship Kaal Bhairav).

Quick Reference

Author
Adi Shankaracharya
Language
Sanskrit
Verse Count
9
Source
Composed by Adi Shankaracharya

Benefits

  • Removes all fears and phobias
  • Protects from untimely death
  • Destroys enemies and negative forces
  • Grants victory in legal matters
  • Removes effects of past karma
  • Bestows spiritual wisdom
  • Protects during travel
  • Grants control over time and circumstances

When to Recite

Days Sunday, Tuesday, Saturday, Ashtami
Times Midnight, Evening, During Bhairav Puja
Occasions Kaal Bhairav Ashtami, Maha Shivaratri, When facing fear or danger
Recommended Count Once or 8 times with devotion

Verses

Main Verse 1

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम्। नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Devaraja Sevyamana Pavana Anghri Pankajam | Vyala Yajna Sutram Indu Shekharam Kripaakaram | Naradadi Yogi Vrinda Vanditam Digambaram | Kashikapuraadhinatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje ||

Main Verse 2

भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम्। कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Bhanu Koti Bhasvaram Bhavabdhi Tarakam Param | Neelakantham Ipsitartha Dayakam Trilochanam | Kalakalam Ambujaksham Aksha Shoolam Aksharam | Kashikapuraadhinatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje ||

Main Verse 3

श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयं भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियम्। कालमानमानभंगदक्षवक्षपातनं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Shyama Kayam Aadi Devam Aksharam Niramayam | Bhima Vikramam Prabhum Vichitra Tandava Priyam | Kala Maana Mana Bhanga Daksha Vaksha Patanam | Kashikapuraadhinatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje ||

Main Verse 4

भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम्। निक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Bhukti Mukti Dayakam Prashasta Charu Vigraham | Bhakta Vatsalam Sthitam Samasta Loka Vigraham | Nikvanat Manojnya Hema Kinkini Lasat Katim | Kashikapuraadhinatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje ||

Main Verse 5

धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम्। स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Dharma Setu Palakam Tu Adharma Marga Nashakam | Karma Pasha Mochakam Susharma Dayakam Vibhum | Swarna Varna Shesha Pasha Shobhita Anga Mandalam | Kashikapuraadhinatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje ||

Main Verse 6

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरंजनम्। मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Ratna Paduka Prabha Abhirama Pada Yugmakam | Nityam Adviteeyam Ishta Daivatam Niranjanam | Mrityu Darpa Nashanam Karala Damshtra Bhushanam | Kashikapuraadhinatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje ||

Main Verse 7

अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिं दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम्। अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Attahasa Bhinna Padmaja Anda Kosha Santatim | Drishti Pata Nashta Papa Jalam Ugra Shasanam | Ashta Siddhi Dayakam Kapala Malika Dharam | Kashikapuraadhinatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje ||

Main Verse 8

भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम्। नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Bhuta Sangha Nayakam Vishala Kirti Dayakam | Kashi Vasa Loka Punya Papa Shodhakam Vibhum | Neeti Marga Kovidam Puratnam Jagatpatim | Kashikapuraadhinatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje ||

Phala Shruti 9 Closing

कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम्। शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रिसन्निधिं ध्रुवम्॥

Kalabhairavashtakam Pathanti Ye Manoharam | Jnana Mukti Sadhanam Vichitra Punya Vardhanam | Shoka Moha Dainya Lobha Kopa Tapa Nashanam | Prayanti Kalabhairava Anghri Sannidhim Dhruvam ||