Kalabhairava

Kalabhairava is Veerabhadra who cut off the head of Daksha the father of Sathi Devi, when he insulted Lord Shiva. Sathi’s body was cut into pieces and strewn all over India giving rise to Shakthi Peetas.

Outside every Shakthi Peeta is the temple for Bhairava. Kalabhairava was made as the Kotwal of Benares. Kalabhairava rides on a dog. A pilgrimage to Kasi is not supposed to be complete without visiting the temple of Kalabhairava.


The ashtaka stotra was written by Adi Shankaracharya in 2000 BC.

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं
व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥

1.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Whose Lotus-Feet is Served by Indra, the King of the Devas.
1.2: Who has a Snake as His Sacrificial Thread, Moon on His Head and Who is Extremely Compassionate.
1.3: Who is Praised by sage Narada and other Yogis, and Who is Digambara (Clothed by Sky, signifying that He is Ever-Free).

1.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kasi.

भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
कालकालमंबुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥२॥

2.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who has the Brilliance of a Million Suns, Who Rescues us from the Ocean of Worldly Existence and Who is Supreme.
2.2: Who has a Blue Throat, Who Bestows us with Worldly Prosperity which we Wish for and Who has Three Eyes.
2.3: Who is the Death of the Death [i.e. beyond death], Who is Lotus-Eyed, Whose Trident Supports the Three Worlds and Who is Imperishable.

2.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kasi.

शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं
श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥

3.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who has Trident, Hatchet, Noose and Club in His Hands and Who is the Primordial Cause of the Universe.
3.2: Whose Body is Dark, Who is the Primordial Lord, Who is Imperishable and Who is beyond Diseases [of the World],
3.3: Who is the Lord with Terrific Prowess and Who Loves the Strange, Vigorous Tandava Dance.

3.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kasi.

भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं
भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।
विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥४॥

4.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who is the Giver of Worldly Prosperity and Liberation and Who has an Auspicious Pleasing Form.
4.2: Who is Kind and Loving to His Devotees and Who Stands Firm as the Deity of All the Lokas.
4.3: Who has Shining Golden Bells around His Waist which Jingles Creating a Variety of Pleasing Sounds.

4.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kasi.

धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं
कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।
स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥५॥

5.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who Guards the Established Institution of the Eternal Dharma and Destroy the Paths of Adharma which are averse to the Eternal Dharma (by leading the devotee towards the Eternal Dharma).
5.2: Who is the Lord who Frees us from the Fetters of Karma (binding impressions of work on our minds accumulated during several births) thereby Giving us [by Revealing] the Great Joy [of the Soul].
5.3: Who is Adorned with Golden-Coloured Serpents encircling His Body.

5.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kasi.

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं
नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरंजनम् ।
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥६॥

6.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Whose Charming Beautiful Pair of Feet Shine with Sandals Studded with Gems.
6.2: Who is the Eternal, Non-Dual, Ishtha Devata and Who is Stainless and Pure.
6.3: Who Destroys the Pride of Death (manifested as Fear within us) and Whose Large Terrible Fangs Liberate us (from the Fear of Death).

6.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kasi.

अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं
दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥

7.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Whose Loud Terrific Laughter Shatters the Continuity of the Sheath of Creation (delusion of our mind) of the Lotus-Born Brahma from the Primeval Egg.
7.2: Whose Terrific Glance Destroys the Net of the Powerful and Mighty Rule of Sins (in our mind).
7.3: Who Bestows the Eight Siddhis and Who Wear a Garland of Skulls.

7.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kasi.

भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं
काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥८॥

8.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who is the Ruler of Ghosts and Goblins and Who Bestows Great Glory to us (by revealing the Glory of the Self).
8.2: Who is the Lord who Purges both the Merits and the Sins of the Persons Dwelling in Kasi (thus revealing the Self in its pristine beauty).
8.3: Who is Skilled in Guiding us in the Path of Righteousness and Who is the most Ancient (i.e. Eternal) Lord of the Universe.

8.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kasi.

कालभैरवाष्टकं पठंति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।
शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं
प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥९॥

9.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Those who Read the Eight Verses on Sri Kalabhairava with Devotion which is Heart-Stealing and Charming,
9.2: Will be Lead straight to the Goal of Knowledge and Liberation and Will result in the Rise of Various Auspicious Qualities.
9.3: And Which Destroys (mental) Sorrows and Afflictions, Delusions and Infatuations, Wretchedness and Depressions, Passions and Anger and (mental) Heat and Burns.
9.4: And after Death the Devotee will Surely Attain the Feet of Sri Kalabhairava.

Deva raja sevya mana pavangri pankajam,
Vyala yagna suthra mindu shekaram krupakaram,
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 shivam* , 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,
Neethi marga kovidham purathanam jagatpathim,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 8

Phalastuti
Kalabhairavashtakam patanthi yea manoharam,
Jnana mukthi sadhanam , vichithra punya vardhanam,
Soka moha dainya lopa kopa thapa nasanam,

Thea prayanthi Kalabhairavangri saniidhim druvam. 9