Adi Shankaracharya
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं
व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥
deva-raaja-sevyamana-pavana-anghri-pankajam
vyala-yagya-sutram-indu-shekharam-krpaakaram |
narada-adi-yogi-vrnda-vanditam-digambaram
kashika-pura-dhinatha-kaal-bhairavam-bhaje ||1|
(Salutations to the Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi)
whose lotus feet is served by Indra who is King of Devas,
who wears snake as a sacrificial thread
and moon as crown of the head, who is compassionate.
(Salutations to the Kaal Bhairav) who is praised by Narada and other yogi
and who is Diagambar(omnipresent)
Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi
||1||
भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
कालकालमंबुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥२॥
bhanu-koti-bhasvaram-bhavabdhi-taarakam-param
nila-kantham-Iipsita-artha-dayakam-trilochanam |
kala-kalam-ambuja-aksham-aksha-shulam-aksharam
kashika-pura-dhinatha-Kaal-bhairavam-bhaje ||2||
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi)
whose radiance is as of millions suns,
who frees devotees from cycle of birth and death,
and who is supreme, who has blue neck,
who fulfill our desires, and who is three-eyed one.
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav) who is death of deaths, who has lotus eyes,
whose trident supports three protects the three world
and who is impresishable.
Salutations to the Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi
||2||
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं
श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥
shula-tanka-pasha-danda-panim-aadi-karanam
shyama-kayam-aadi-devam-aksharam nir-aamayam |
bhima-vikramam-prabhum-vichitra-tandava-priyam
kashika-pura-dhinatha-kaal-bhairavam-bhaje ||3||
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi)
who holds Trident, Hatchet, Noose and club in his hands
and who is primeval cause of the universe.
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav) who has dark body,
who is primeval cause, and immortal and free from bond of the world,
who is powerful and loves tandav.
Salutations to the Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi
||3||
भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं
भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।
विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥४॥
bhukti-mukti-dayakam-prashasta-charu-vigraham
bhakta-vatsalam-sthitam-samasta-loka-vigraham |
vi-nikvannan-manogya-hema-kinkini-lasat-katim
kashika-pura-dhinatha-kaal-bhairavam-bhaje ||4||
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi)
who is giver of both worldy pleasures and salvation and who has pleasant form,
who loves his devotees and who stands firm as god of all the lokas.
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav) who wears belt of bells around his waist
which makes pleasant sound.
Salutations to the Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi
||4||
धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं
कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।
स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥५॥
dharma-setu-palakam-tu-adharma-marga-nashakam
karma-pasha-mochakam-su-sharma-dayakam-vibhum |
svarna-varna-shesa-pasha-shobhitanga-mandalam
kashika-pura-dhinatha-kaal-bhairavam Bhaje ||5||
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi)
who is protector of dharma and destroyer of adharmik paths
who destroys bonds of karma who wears golden
colour serpent on his body.
Salutations to the Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi
||5||
रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं
नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरंजनम् ।
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥६॥
ratna-paduka-prabhabhi-rama-pada-yugmakam
nityam-advitiyam-ishta-daivatam-niramjanam |
mrtyu-darpa-nashanam-karala-damshtra-mokshanam
kashika-pura-dhinatha-kaal-bhairavam-bhaje ||6||
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi)
whose feat are adorned with wooden sandal with gems,
who is eternal, one without second, lord of all and who is pure
who destroys pride of death and
whose large teeth frees us from cycle of birth and death
Salutations to the Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi
||6||
अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं
दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥
attta-hasa-bhinna-padmaja-anda-kosha-samtatim
drishti-pata-nashta-papa-jalam-ugra-shasanam |
ashta-siddhi-dayakam-kapala-malika-dharam
kashika-pura-dhinatha-kaal-bhairavam-bhaje ||7||
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi)
Whose laughs stops the continuity of creation done by lotus born Brahma
whose glance destroys the sins,
who gives eight siddhis, who wears garland of skulls
Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi
||7||
भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं
काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥८॥
bhuta-sangha-nayakam-vishala-kirti-dayakam
kaashi-vasa-loka-punya-papa-shodhakam-vibhum |
niti-marga-kovidam-puratanam-jagatpatim
kashika-pura-dhinatha-kaal-bhairavam-bhaje ||8||
(Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi)
who rules ghosts, who is giver of great glory
who liberates people of kashi from their good and bad deeds
who guides (devotees) in righteous path, who is primordial and
lord of the universe
Salutations to Kaal Bhairav- The lord of Kashi
||8||
[फलश्रुति]
[Concluding Verse]
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठंति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।
शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं
प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥९॥
kaal-bhairav-ashtakam-pathanti-ye-manoharam
gyana-mukti-sadhanam-vichitra-punya-vardhanam |
shoka-moha-dainya-lobha-kopa-tapa-nashanam
prayanti-kaal-bhairav-amghri-sanidhim-nara-dhruvam ||9||
Those who read eight verses of Kaal bhairav ashtakam
which is (heart) and mind stealing,
will get knowledge, liberation and various auspicious qualities.
(And) destroys sorrows, attachment, suffering, greed, anger and rage
and after death devotee will surely attain feet of Kaal Bhairav.
||9||
Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam, composed by Adi Shankaracharya, is a sacred hymn consisting of nine verses dedicated to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the divine protector of Kashi. These verses extol the virtues and attributes of Lord Kaal Bhairav, who is revered for his compassion, radiance, and his role in granting salvation to his devotees.
Verse 1: The hymn begins with salutations to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi, whose lotus feet are served by Devas. He is described as the one who wears a snake as a sacrificial thread and the moon as a crown, radiating compassion and omnipresence.
Verse 2: In this verse, Lord Kaal Bhairav's radiance, which is as bright as millions of suns, is highlighted. He is the liberator from the cycle of birth and death, the one with a blue neck, three eyes, and the trident that supports and protects the three worlds.
Verse 3: Lord Kaal Bhairav is praised for holding divine weapons such as the trident, hatchet, noose, and club. He is recognized as the primeval cause of the universe, powerful, immortal, and free from worldly bonds.
Verse 4: The hymn portrays Lord Kaal Bhairav as the giver of both worldly pleasures and salvation, who loves his devotees and stands as the god of all realms. His belt of bells around his waist creates a pleasant sound.
Verse 5: Here, Lord Kaal Bhairav is acknowledged as the protector of dharma and the destroyer of adharmik paths. He wears a golden serpent and ensures liberation from the bondage of karma.
Verse 6: Lord Kaal Bhairav's feet adorned with wooden sandals and gems are described. He is recognized as eternal, pure, and the liberator from the cycle of birth and death.
Verse 7: The laughter of Lord Kaal Bhairav stops Brahma's act of creation, while his glance absolves sins and grants the eight siddhis. He wears a garland of skulls.
Verse 8: Lord Kaal Bhairav is the ruler of ghosts, the bestower of glory, and the guide on the righteous path. He is the primordial lord of the universe.
Verse 9: The final verse emphasizes the transformative power of reciting these verses. Devotees who read these verses will attain knowledge, liberation, and auspicious qualities. They will be freed from sorrows, attachments, suffering, greed, anger, and rage and will ultimately attain the divine presence of Lord Kaal Bhairav.
Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam is a powerful hymn that invites devotees to seek refuge in the divine Lord of Kashi, who grants blessings, knowledge, and liberation to those who sincerely invoke his name. Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam, a hymn composed by the great Adi Shankaracharya, is a profound expression of devotion to Lord Kaal Bhairav, the presiding deity of Kashi. Through its nine verses, this hymn offers a spiritual journey into the realm of divinity, celebrating the multifaceted aspects and attributes of Lord Kaal Bhairav.
Each verse of this hymn contributes to the majestic tapestry of Lord Kaal Bhairav's divine persona. It begins with salutations to the Lord, recognizing his omnipresence and compassion. The verses go on to describe his radiance, his role as the liberator from the cycle of birth and death, and his significance as the primeval cause of the universe.
Lord Kaal Bhairav is portrayed as the protector of dharma, the giver of worldly pleasures and salvation, and the ruler of the universe. His divine form, adorned with bells, reflects the pleasant sound of his presence.
In these verses, Lord Kaal Bhairav emerges as the one who guides his devotees on the righteous path, grants liberation, and bestows blessings, including knowledge and the destruction of sorrows, attachments, suffering, greed, anger, and rage.
Overall, Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam is a powerful invocation that encourages devotees to seek refuge in the divine Lord of Kashi. It is a spiritual journey that reminds us of the transformative power of devotion, the blessings that come with surrender, and the ultimate goal of attaining the divine presence of Lord Kaal Bhairav.
When one immerses oneself in the recitation and contemplation of these verses, they experience the profound connection with the lord of Kashi and are guided towards spiritual enlightenment, liberation, and the bliss of divine grace. Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam is a timeless hymn that resonates with the hearts of devotees, inviting them to embrace the divine and find solace in the sanctuary of Lord Kaal Bhairav.
Read Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam in Sanskrit
Read Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam in English Transcription
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