He is the form of Shiva who controls
the growth and management of time. (Kala
means time). Whoever wants to spend,
manage or ration their time in a proper
manner should pray to him.
He is also considered as the guardian of
temples of Lord Shiva. After locking the
doors of the temple of Lord Shiva, the
keys are ceremonially offered to
Bhairava and taken back in most of the
Shiva temples.
This very musical stotra of Lord
Kalabhairava is supposed to be written
by Adi Sankara Bhagawath Pada. Even
today this ashtakam is recited by the
priests of the temple of Kalabhairava in
Benares before blessing the devotee with
a tap by the cane of Lord Kalabhairava.
Deva raja sevya mana pavangri pankajam,
Vyala yagna suthra mindu shekaram
krupakaram,
Naradadhi yogi vrundha vandhitham
digambaram,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje.
(1)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the
city of Kasi,
Whose lotus like feet is being served by
Devendra,
Who is merciful and wears the moon on
his forehead,
Who wears a snake as his sacred thread,
Who wears the different directions as
his cloth,
And who is worshipped by sages like
Narada.
Bhanu koti bhaswaram, bhavabdhi tharakam
param,
Neelakanda meepsidartha dayakam
trilochanam,
Kalakala mambujaksha maksha soola
maksharam,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam
bhaje. (2)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the
city of Kasi,
Who shines like billions of suns,
Who helps us cross this miserable ocean
of life,
Who is supreme and has a blue neck,
Who has three eyes and grants us our
desires,
Who is the death to the God of death*,
Who has lotus flower like eyes,
Who has the undefeatable trident,
And who does not have decay.
Soola tanga pasa danda pani madhi
karanam,
Syama kaya madhi devamaksharam
niramayam,
Bheema vikramam prabhum vichithra
thandava priyam,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam
bhaje. (3)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the
city of Kasi,
Who has a spear, a chord and a stick as
weapons,
Who is black in colour and the primeval
cause,
Who is deathless and the first God,
Who is free from decay and ill health,
Who is the Lord who is a great hero,
And who likes the special vigorous
thandava*
Bhukthi mukthi dayakam prasashtha charu
vigraham,
Bhaktha vatsalam shivam* , samastha loka
vigraham,
Vinikwanan manogna hema kinkini lasath
kateem,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam
bhaje. (4)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the
city of Kasi,
Who fulfills desires and also grants
salvation,
Who is well known for his pretty mien,
Who is a form of Shiva, who loves his
devotees,
Who is the God of the entire world,
Who assumes various forms,
And who has a golden waist thread,
On which jingling bells are tied.
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)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the
city of Kasi,
Who maintains the bridge of dharma in
life,
Who destroys paths which are not right,
Who saves us from the ties of Karma,
Who is the lord who makes us ashamed,
When trying to do wrong things,
Who has a shining body because of golden
rope,
With bells tied in various places.
Rathna padukha prabhabhirama
padayugmakam,
Nithyamadwidheeyamishta daivatham
niranjanam,
Mrutyu darpa nasanam karaladamshtra
mokshanam,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam
bhaje. (6)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the
city of Kasi,
Who has feet adorned by the shine of gem
studded sandals,
Who is eternal and does not have any one
second to him,
Who is our favorite God who bestows
everything,
Who takes away the fear of death from
humans,
And who grants them salvation by his
terrible teeth.
Attahasa binna padma janda kosa
santhatheem,
Drushti pada nashta papa jala mugra
sasanam,
Ashtasidhi dayakam kapala malikadaram,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje.
(7)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the
city of Kasi,
Whose loud roar is enough to destroy all
those created by Brahma,
Whose sight is sufficient to destroy all
sins,
Who is crafty and strict ruler,
Who can grant the eight occult powers,
And who wears the garland of skulls.
Bhootha sanga nayakam, vishala keerthi
dayakam,
Kasi vasa loka punya papa shodhakam
vibum,
Neethi marga kovidham purathanam
jagatpathim,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje.
(8)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the
city of Kasi,
Who is the chief of the society of
Bhoothas,
Who grants broad based fame,
Who is the lord who judges good and bad
deeds,
Of those who live in Varanasi,
Who is an expert in the way of
righteousness,
And who is eternally old and lord of the
universe.
Kalabhairavashtakam patanthi yea
manoharam,
Jnana mukthi sadhanam , vichithra punya
vardhanam,
Soka moha dainya lopa kopa thapa nasanam,
Thea prayanthi Kalabhairavangri
saniidhim druvam. (9)
Those who read this enticing octet on
Kalabhairava,
Which is the source of eternal
knowledge,
Which increases the effect of righteous
deeds,
And which destroys grief, passion,
poverty, want and anger,
Would surely reach the holy presence of
Kalabhairava.
