bhairavshivaashtakamshankaracharya

𑌕𑌾𑌲 𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵 𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Bhairav Ashtami, Saturday evenings, or during Kashi pilgrimage·🎵 Audio included·📜 Composed by Adi Shankaracharya

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · 8th century CE

Shankaracharya composed this ashtakam in Kashi (Varanasi) at the Kaal Bhairav temple, one of the most ancient and powerful temples in the holy city. Kaal Bhairav is considered the fierce guardian deity of Kashi — tradition says no one can live in Kashi without his permission, and he judges the karma of all who die there, determining their fate in the afterlife.

✦ As told in scripture

According to the Shiva Purana, when Shiva manifested as Bhairav and cut off Brahma's fifth head (which had spoken arrogantly), the skull of Brahma stuck to Bhairav's hand as the sin of brahmahatya (killing a brahmin). Bhairav wandered the universe as a terrifying beggar, the skull stuck to his palm. Only when he reached Kashi did the skull fall — at the very spot where the Kaal Bhairav temple stands today. This made Kashi the one place in the universe where even the sin of killing Brahma is absolved. The ashtakam invokes this tremendous purifying power.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌸𑍇𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌲𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌸𑍂𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌶𑍇𑌖𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌿𑌵𑍃𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌦𑌿𑌗𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

Devarajasevyamana Pavananghrpankajam Vyalayagyasutram Indushekharam Kripakaram Naradadi Yogivrinda Vanditam Digambaram Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi — whose purifying lotus feet are served by Indra king of gods, who wears serpents as sacred thread, the moon as crown, who is compassionate, worshipped by Narada and all yogis, who is sky-clad.

Verse 2

𑌭𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌮𑍀𑌪𑍍𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌮𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌮𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

Bhanukotibhasvaram Bhavabdhitarakam Param Neelakantham Eepsitarthadayakam Trilochanam Kalakalam Ambujakshm Akshashulamaksharam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — blazing like a billion suns, who helps cross the ocean of existence, the supreme one, blue-throated, three-eyed, granter of desires, death of death itself, lotus-eyed, imperishable.

Verse 3

𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌟𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌦𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌮𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌯𑌮𑍍। 𑌭𑍀𑌮𑌵𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍁𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌾𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌵𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

Shoolatanka Pashadanda Panimadikaranam Shyamakayam Adidevam Aksharam Niramayam Bheemavikramam Prabhum Vichitratandavapriyam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — holding trident, axe, noose and staff, the primordial cause, dark-bodied, the first god, imperishable, free from disease, of terrifying valor, who loves the wondrous cosmic dance.

Verse 4

𑌭𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌶𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌵𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌂 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌲𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌵𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌮𑍍। 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌵𑌣𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌹𑍇𑌮𑌕𑌿𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌣𑍀𑌲𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌟𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

Bhuktimuktidayakam Prashastachaaruvigrahm Bhaktavatsalam Sthitam Samastalokavigrahm Vinikvanmanojnya Hemakinkini Lasatkantim Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — who grants worldly enjoyment and liberation, whose form is beautiful and praised, who is compassionate to devotees, established in all worlds, whose waist shines with golden bells.

Verse 5

𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍇𑌤𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌮𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌕𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌮𑍋𑌚𑌕𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌶𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌮𑍍। 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌶𑍇𑌷𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

Dharmasetupaalakam Tvadharmamarganashakam Karmapasamochakam Susharmadayakam Vibhum Swarnavarneshesha Pasha Shobhitanga Mandalam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — protector of the bridge of dharma, destroyer of paths of unrighteousness, who frees from the noose of karma, who grants happiness, all-pervading, whose body shines adorned with golden serpents.

Verse 6

𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌯𑍁𑌗𑍍𑌮𑌕𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍀𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌦𑍈𑌵𑌤𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌲𑌦𑌂𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

Ratnapaduka Prabha Abhirama Padayugmakam Nityam Adviteeyam Ishtadaivatam Niranjanam Mrityudarpanashanam Karaladamshtra Mokshanam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — whose pair of feet shine with gem-studded sandals, eternal, unique, the chosen deity, pure, destroyer of death's pride, who liberates with his fierce fangs.

Verse 7

𑌅𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌹𑌾𑌸𑌭𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌾𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌕𑍋𑌶𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌤𑌨𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌜𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍁𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌶𑌾𑌸𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌧𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

Attahasabhinna Padmajanda Kosha Santatim Drishtipata Nashtapapajaalam Ugrashashnam Ashtasiddhidayakam Kapalamalikaadharam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — whose thundering laughter shattered Brahma's cosmic eggs, whose mere glance destroys the web of sins, fierce ruler, granter of eight supernatural powers, who wears a garland of skulls.

Verse 8

𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌘𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌲𑌕𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌶𑍋𑌧𑌕𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌕𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌨𑌂 𑌜𑌗𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

Bhootasanghanayakam Vishalakeertidayakam Kashivasaloka Punyapapa Shodhakam Vibhum Neetimargakovidam Puratnam Jagatpatim Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — leader of the hosts of spirits, bestower of vast fame, who purifies the sins and merits of all who dwell in Kashi, all-pervading, knower of the path of righteousness, ancient lord of the universe.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵🔊KalabhairavaThe terrifying lord of time — fierce form of Shiva

𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥🔊KashikapuradhianathaLord of the city of Kashi (Varanasi)

𑌭𑌜𑍇🔊BhajeI worship

𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂🔊PavananghrpankajamWhose lotus feet are purifying

𑌦𑌿𑌗𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌂🔊DigambaramSky-clad (naked ascetic)

𑌭𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿🔊BhanukotiBrilliance of a million suns

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊TrilochanamThree-eyed

𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌟𑌙𑍍𑌕🔊ShulatankaTrident and axe

𑌭𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊BhuktimuktiWorldly pleasure and liberation

𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍇𑌤𑍁🔊DharmasetuBridge of dharma (righteousness)

𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌮𑍋𑌚𑌕𑌂🔊KarmapasamochakamOne who frees from the noose of karma

𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌂🔊MrityudarpanashanamDestroyer of death's pride

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿🔊AshtasiddhiEight supernatural powers

𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾🔊KapalamalikaGarland of skulls

𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌘𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂🔊BhootasanghanayakamLeader of the ghosts/spirits

Benefits of Chanting Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam

✦

Kaal Bhairav is the kotwal (police chief) of Kashi — he guards the holy city

✦

Destroys fear, removes karmic bondage, and conquers death itself

✦

Grants both bhukti (worldly enjoyment) AND mukti (liberation)

✦

Chanting in Varanasi is considered especially powerful

✦

Removes the most severe sins and obstacles

✦

Grants the eight supernatural powers (ashta siddhi)

How to Chant Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam

Repetitions8times

Best TimeBhairav Ashtami, Saturday evenings, or during Kashi pilgrimage

Face south (Bhairav's direction). Light a mustard oil lamp. Offer black sesame. Chant all 8 verses — each ends with 'Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje' creating a powerful rhythmic affirmation. On Bhairav Ashtami or Kalashtami, chanting 8 times is especially powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Kaal Bhairav is the fierce, fearsome form of Lord Shiva. He is considered the kotwal (guardian/police chief) of Kashi (Varanasi). 'Kaal' means time/death, and 'Bhairav' means terrible — he is the terrible lord of time who conquers death itself.

Adi Shankaracharya composed the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam during his visit to Kashi. Each of the 8 verses ends with the refrain 'Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje' — I worship Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi.

According to legend, when Lord Shiva cut off one of Brahma's five heads, the skull stuck to his hand. He wandered as a beggar until he reached Kashi, where the skull fell — making Kashi the place of liberation from even the greatest sin. Kaal Bhairav has been the guardian of Kashi ever since.

This page gives the complete Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam lyrics in English transliteration alongside the original Sanskrit (Devanagari), verse by verse, with the meaning of every verse in English and Hindi — all eight verses plus the concluding phala-shruti.

Reciting the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam is said to destroy fear — including the fear of death — remove sins, grant protection from negative energies and black magic, and bestow the grace of Kaal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi and the lord of time. It is especially recited on Bhairav Ashtami, on Sundays and on Kala Ashtami days.