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Kalabhairav Ashtakam

कालभैरवाष्टकम्

8 min read8 versesSource: Composed by Adi Shankaracharya

About Kalabhairav Ashtakam

Kalabhairav Ashtakam (कालभैरवाष्टकम्) is an eight-verse devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Bhairava. Attributed to Composed by Adi Shankaracharya, this prayer holds a special place in Hindu devotional literature. Regular recitation is believed to remove sorrow, delusion, poverty, greed, anger, and suffering, grant both worldly enjoyment (bhukti) and liberation (mukti), and bestow Ashta Siddhis (eight supernatural powers). It is especially recommended on Monday (Somvar), Tuesday (Mangalvar), and Saturday (Shanivar) and during Maha Shivaratri, Bhairav Ashtami, and Kalashtami for maximum spiritual benefit. Comprising 8 verses, it can be completed in approximately 8 minutes, making it suitable for daily devotional practice. On this page, you can read the complete Kalabhairav Ashtakam in Devanagari Sanskrit with English transliteration, Hindi meaning (arth), and free PDF download for offline recitation.

Reviewed & translated by Acharya Pushyadant Mishra

Stotra Path (स्तोत्र पाठ)

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपंकजं

व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम्।

नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं

काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥१॥

भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं

नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम्।

कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं

काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥२॥

शूलटंकपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं

श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम्।

भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं

काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥३॥

भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं

भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम्।

विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिंकिणीलसत्कटिं

काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥४॥

धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं

कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम्।

स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं

काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥५॥

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं

नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम्।

मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं

काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥६॥

अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिं

दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम्।

अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं

काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥७॥

भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं

काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम्।

नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं

काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥८॥

कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं

ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम्।

शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं

प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम्॥

॥ इति श्रीमच्छंकराचार्यविरचितं कालभैरवाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Benefits (फल)

  • Grants the protection of Kala Bhairava, the fierce form of Shiva
  • Destroys fear of death and all forms of negativity
  • Bestows Ashta Siddhis (eight supernatural powers)
  • Removes sorrow, delusion, poverty, greed, anger, and suffering
  • Especially powerful for residents and pilgrims of Kashi (Varanasi)
  • Purifies karmic debts and releases from bondage of karma
  • Grants both worldly enjoyment (bhukti) and liberation (mukti)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Kalabhairav Ashtakam

Read Kalabhairav Ashtakam by Shankaracharya in Sanskrit with Hindi meaning. Eight verses praising Kala Bhairava of Kashi for protection and liberation. It is dedicated to Shree Bhairava (श्री भैरव), the fierce manifestation of lord shiva associated with annihilation. guardian deity of kashi and protector from evil. This sacred hymn contains 8 verses and is sourced from Composed by Adi Shankaracharya.