Kala Bhairava Ashtakam was written by Adi Shankaracharya. Bhairava OR Maha Kala Bhairava is a Shaivite deity worshiped by Hindus. In Shaivism, he is a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation. In Trika system Bhairava represents Supreme Reality, synonymous with Para Brahman. Generally in Hinduism, Bhairava is also called Dandapani and Swaswa meaning “whose vehicle is a dog”. In Vajrayana Buddhism, he is considered a fierce emanation of boddhisatva Mañjuśrī and also called Heruka, Vajrabhairava and Yamantaka.
He is worshiped throughout India, Nepal and Sri Lanka as well as in Tibetan Buddhism. Tamil Nadu has the largest number of Kala Bhairava temples in India.
Kalabhairava Ashtakam in English:
॥ kaalabhairava aShTakam ॥
Deva raja sevya mana pavangri pankajam
Vyala yagna suthra mindu shekaram krupakaraml
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 l1
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 ||
iti shrimacca~gkaraacaaryaviracitam kaalabhairavaashtakam sampoornam ॥
Kaala Bhairava Ashtakam Meaning:
I sing praise of Kalabhairav, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who is adorned by lotus-feet which is revered and served by Indra (Devaraj), Who has a Yagya-thread made up of snake, Who has the moon on His forehead, Who is the abode of mercy, Who has been sung by Narad and other celestial singers, and Whose clothes are the directions. ॥ 1 ॥
I sing praise of Kalabhairav, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who is resplendent like millions of sun, Who absolves the ocean of cycle of rebirth, Who is supreme, Who has a blue neck, Who bestows us with our desires, Who has three-eyes, Who is the end of Kaal, Who has lotus-like eyes, Who has immortal monodent weapon, and Who is immortal. ॥ 2 ॥
I sing praise of Kalabhairav, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who has monodent, spade, a cord and punishment in His hands, Who is the cause behind the beginning, Who has a grey (smeared) body, Who is the first Deva, Who is imperishable, Who is free from illness and health, Who is immensely mighty, Who is the Lord, and Who loves the special Tandava dance. ॥ 3 ॥
I sing praise of Kalabhairav, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who is the bestower of desires and salvation, Who has an enticing appearance form, Who is endears His devotees, Who is static, Who takes various manifestations and forms the world, and Who has a beautiful golden waist-thread with small melodious bells. ॥ 4 ॥
I sing praise of Kalabhairav, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who is the maintainer of righteousness, Who is the destroyer of unrighteous paths, Who liberates us from the ties of Karma or deeds, Who bestows us with shyness, Who is splendid, and Whose organ-groups are decorated with a beautiful cord of golden color. ॥ 5 ॥
I sing praise of Kalabhairav, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who has feet adorned by two sandals made of gold which is possessing a resplendent shine, Who is eternal, Who is duplicable, Who bestows our desires to us, Who is without desires, Who destroys the pride of death (as in is supreme to death), and Who liberates soul by His teeth. ॥ 6 ॥
I sing praise of Kalabhairav, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Whose loud roar is enough to destroy all the manifestations created by the lotus-born Brahma, Whose (merciful) glance is enough to destroy all the sins, Who is the powerful ruler, Who gives the eight-powers¹, and Who wears a garland of skull-caps. ॥ 7 ॥
I sing praise of Kalabhairav, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who is the leader of the ghosts and spirits, Who showers immense glory, Who absolves people dwelling in Kashi from their sins and righteous deeds, Who is splendor, Who has explained the path of righteousness, Who is eternally old, and Who is the controller of the universe. ॥ 8 ॥
Those who study these eight verses on Kalabhairav — which is enticing, which is a source of knowledge and liberation, which increases righteousness of a person, and which destroys grief, attachment, depression, greed, anger and heat — move towards the proximity of the feet of Shiv (Kalabhairav), necessarily. ॥ 9 ॥
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