Kalabhairav Ashtakam: Meaning
Kalabhairava is Shiva's fierce form, honoured as the guardian of Kashi (Varanasi). The Puranic story says Bhairava cut off Brahma's fifth head, and the skull stuck to his hand until he reached Kashi, where it fell away; he is worshipped there as the city's lord. This ashtakam, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, describes his fierce form and his grace in eight verses that share one refrain. The notes explain the images and the long compounds.
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् । नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥
devarājasevyamānapāvanāṅghripaṅkajaṃ vyālayajñasūtraminduśekharaṃ kṛpākaram । nāradādiyogivṛndavanditaṃ digambaraṃ kāśikāpurādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ॥
देवराज devarāja king of the gods, Indra व्यालयज्ञसूत्रम् vyālayajñasūtram with a snake as his sacred thread इन्दुशेखरम् induśekharam with the moon on his head काशिकापुराधिनाथ kāśikāpurādhinātha lord of the city of Kashi जिनके पवित्र चरण-कमलों की सेवा देवराज इंद्र करते हैं, जो सर्प का यज्ञोपवीत और सिर पर चंद्रमा धारण करते हैं, कृपा के सागर, नारद आदि योगियों के समूह द्वारा वंदित, दिगंबर: काशी नगरी के स्वामी कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
He whose holy lotus feet are served by Indra, king of the gods, who wears a serpent as his sacred thread and the moon on his head, the compassionate one, worshipped by Narada and hosts of yogis, clothed by the sky: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
Indra (Devaraja, king of the gods) serves his feet; he wears a snake as his sacred thread (yajnopavita) and the moon on his head; Narada and the yogis bow to him; and he is digambara, clothed only by the sky. The refrain: "I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi".
भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् । कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥
bhānukoṭibhāsvaraṃ bhavābdhitārakaṃ paraṃ nīlakaṇṭhamīpsitārthadāyakaṃ trilocanam । kālakālamambujākṣamakṣaśūlamakṣaraṃ kāśikāpurādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ॥
भानुकोटि bhānukoṭi ten million suns भवाब्धितारकम् bhavābdhitārakam who carries across the ocean of birth कालकालम् kālakālam death to Death अक्षशूलम् akṣaśūlam with rosary and trident करोड़ों सूर्यों के समान दीप्तिमान, संसार-सागर से तारने वाले परम, नीले कंठ वाले, मनचाहा फल देने वाले, तीन नेत्रों वाले; काल के भी काल, कमल-नयन, अक्षमाला और त्रिशूल धारण करने वाले, अविनाशी: काशी नगरी के स्वामी कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Shining like a crore of suns, the supreme one who carries us across the ocean of birth, blue-throated, giver of all we desire, three-eyed; death to Death himself, lotus-eyed, holding the trident and the rosary, the imperishable: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
He shines like ten million suns and carries us across the ocean of birth (bhava). He is Kala-kala, "death to Death" (kala means both time and death), and holds a trident and a rosary (aksha). The refrain: "I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi".
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् । भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
śūlaṭaṅkapāśadaṇḍapāṇimādikāraṇaṃ śyāmakāyamādidevamakṣaraṃ nirāmayam । bhīmavikramaṃ prabhuṃ vicitratāṇḍavapriyaṃ kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ॥
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्ड śūlaṭaṅkapāśadaṇḍa trident, axe, noose and staff श्यामकायम् śyāmakāyam dark of body ताण्डवप्रियम् tāṇḍavapriyam who loves the tandava हाथों में शूल, टंक, पाश और दंड लिए, आदि कारण, श्याम शरीर वाले, आदिदेव, अविनाशी और निरोग; भीम पराक्रम वाले प्रभु, अद्भुत तांडव के प्रेमी: काशी नगरी के स्वामी कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
With trident, axe, noose and staff in his hands, the first cause, dark of body, the first god, imperishable and untouched by disease; the lord of terrible valour, who loves the wondrous tandava dance: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
He holds the trident, axe, noose and staff (danda, with which he punishes wrongdoers). He is dark of body, the first cause and the first god, and he loves the tandava, Shiva's cosmic dance. The refrain: "I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi".
भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् । विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
bhuktimuktidāyakaṃ praśastacāruvigrahaṃ bhaktavatsalaṃ sthitaṃ samastalokavigraham । vinikvaṇanmanojñahemakiṅkiṇīlasatkaṭiṃ kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ॥
भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकम् bhuktimuktidāyakam giver of enjoyment and liberation भक्तवत्सलम् bhaktavatsalam loving to his devotees किङ्किणी kiṅkiṇī small bells भोग और मोक्ष देने वाले, सुंदर और प्रशंसनीय शरीर वाले, भक्तों पर स्नेह करने वाले, समस्त लोक जिनका शरीर है, जिनकी कमर पर मधुर बजती सोने की घुँघरू शोभा पाती हैं: काशी नगरी के स्वामी कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Giver of enjoyment and liberation, of lovely and praised form, loving to his devotees, whose body is all the worlds, whose waist gleams with sweetly jingling golden bells: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
He gives both enjoyment in this world (bhukti) and liberation (mukti). He is loving to his devotees, his body is all the worlds, and small golden bells jingle at his waist. The refrain: "I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi".
धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् । स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
dharmasetupālakaṃ tvadharmamārganāśakaṃ karmapāśamocakaṃ suśarmadāyakaṃ vibhum । svarṇavarṇaśeṣapāśaśobhitāṅgamaṇḍalaṃ kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ॥
धर्मसेतुपालकम् dharmasetupālakam keeper of the bridge of dharma कर्मपाशमोचकम् karmapāśamocakam who frees from the noose of karma विभुम् vibhum the all-pervading धर्म के सेतु के रक्षक, अधर्म के मार्गों का नाश करने वाले, कर्म के पाश से छुड़ाने वाले, सच्चा सुख देने वाले, सर्वव्यापक, सुनहरे शेषनाग के घेरों से सुशोभित शरीर वाले: काशी नगरी के स्वामी कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Keeper of the bridge of dharma, destroyer of the paths of adharma, who frees us from the noose of karma and gives true happiness, the all-pervading, whose body is adorned with golden serpent coils: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
He guards the bridge (setu) of dharma and destroys the paths of adharma. He frees us from the noose of karma, the bonds of past actions, and his body is adorned with golden serpent coils. The refrain: "I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi".
रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम् । मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
ratnapādukāprabhābhirāmapādayugmakaṃ nityamadvitīyamiṣṭadaivataṃ nirañjanam । mṛtyudarpanāśanaṃ karāladaṃṣṭramokṣaṇaṃ kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ॥
रत्नपादुका ratnapādukā jewelled sandals अद्वितीयम् advitīyam one without a second इष्टदैवतम् iṣṭadaivatam the chosen deity मृत्युदर्पनाशनम् mṛtyudarpanāśanam who crushes the pride of Death जिनके दोनों चरण रत्नों की पादुकाओं की कांति से सुंदर हैं, नित्य, अद्वितीय, इष्टदेव, निरंजन; मृत्यु के घमंड को नष्ट करने वाले और उसके भयानक दाँतों से छुड़ाने वाले: काशी नगरी के स्वामी कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Whose two feet are lovely with the light of jewelled sandals, the eternal, the one without a second, the beloved deity, the stainless; who crushes the pride of Death and frees us from his terrible fangs: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
His feet shine in jewelled sandals. He is one without a second, the ishta devata, the chosen deity, of his devotees, and stainless. He crushes the pride of Death and frees us from Death's terrible fangs. The refrain: "I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi".
अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिं दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् । अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
aṭṭahāsabhinnapadmajāṇḍakośasantatiṃ dṛṣṭipātanaṣṭapāpajālamugraśāsanam । aṣṭasiddhidāyakaṃ kapālamālikādharaṃ kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ॥
अट्टहास aṭṭahāsa loud laughter पद्मजाण्ड padmajāṇḍa the cosmic egg born of Brahma अष्टसिद्धि aṣṭasiddhi the eight powers कपालमालिका kapālamālikā garland of skulls जिनके अट्टहास से ब्रह्मा से उत्पन्न ब्रह्मांडों के कोश फट जाते हैं, जिनकी दृष्टि पड़ते ही पापों का जाल नष्ट हो जाता है, कठोर शासक, आठ सिद्धियाँ देने वाले, मुंडमाला धारण करने वाले: काशी नगरी के स्वामी कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Whose laughter splits the shells of the cosmic eggs born of Brahma, whose glance destroys the web of sin, the stern ruler, giver of the eight powers, wearing a garland of skulls: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
His loud laughter (attahasa) splits the shells of the cosmic eggs born of Brahma, the lotus-born; his glance destroys the web of sin. He grants the eight siddhis, the eight yogic powers, and wears a garland of skulls. The refrain: "I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi".
भूतसङ्घनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् । नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥
bhūtasaṅghanāyakaṃ viśālakīrtidāyakaṃ kāśivāsalokapuṇyapāpaśodhakaṃ vibhum । nītimārgakovidaṃ purātanaṃ jagatpatiṃ kāśikāpurādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ॥
भूतसङ्घनायकम् bhūtasaṅghanāyakam leader of the hosts of spirits काशिवासलोक kāśivāsaloka the people who live in Kashi नीतिमार्गकोविदम् nītimārgakovidam wise in right conduct भूतगणों के नायक, विशाल कीर्ति देने वाले, काशीवासियों के पुण्य-पाप को शुद्ध करने वाले सर्वव्यापक प्रभु, नीति के मार्ग के ज्ञाता, पुरातन जगत्पति: काशी नगरी के स्वामी कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Leader of the hosts of spirits, giver of wide fame, the all-pervading lord who purifies the merit and sin of those who live in Kashi, wise in the ways of right conduct, the ancient lord of the world: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
He leads the hosts of bhutas (spirits), Shiva's attendants. As lord of Kashi he purifies the merit and sin of those who live there. He is wise in the ways of right conduct (niti), the ancient lord of the world. The refrain: "I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi".
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् । शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं ते प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रिसन्निधिं ध्रुवम् ॥
kālabhairavāṣṭakaṃ paṭhanti ye manoharaṃ jñānamuktisādhanaṃ vicitrapuṇyavardhanam । śokamohadainyalobhakopatāpanāśanaṃ te prayānti kālabhairavāṅghrisannidhiṃ dhruvam ॥
ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनम् jñānamuktisādhanam a means to knowledge and liberation शोकमोहदैन्य śokamohadainya grief, delusion and poverty ध्रुवम् dhruvam surely जो ज्ञान और मुक्ति के साधन, अनेक प्रकार से पुण्य बढ़ाने वाले, शोक, मोह, दीनता, लोभ, क्रोध और ताप का नाश करने वाले इस मनोहर कालभैरव अष्टक का पाठ करते हैं, वे निश्चय ही कालभैरव के चरणों के समीप पहुँचते हैं।
Those who recite this lovely Kalabhairava Ashtakam, a means to knowledge and liberation that increases merit in many ways and destroys grief, delusion, poverty, greed, anger and distress, surely reach the feet of Kalabhairava.
The phalashruti: those who recite this hymn, which leads to knowledge and liberation and destroys grief, delusion, poverty, greed, anger and distress, surely reach Kalabhairava's feet. It is often recited on Kalashtami and on Kalabhairava Jayanti.
Sources & checks
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- Sources
- Bhairava, Wikipedia (2026)
- Siddhi, Wikipedia (2026)
- Tandava, Wikipedia (2026)