Bhairav Chalisa
श्री भैरव चालीसा
Origin & Story
Traditional Hindi devotional chalisa · Sundardas · Devotional era
When Brahma grew proud, Lord Shiva manifested as Kaal Bhairav — Time and death personified — and humbled him, then took up residence in Kashi as its eternal Kotwal, the fierce guardian who rides a dog and bears the trident. Fearsome in form yet tender to the devout (worshipped also as the boy Batuk Bhairav), he is the swift destroyer of fear, sin and evil. This Chalisa, composed by the poet Sundardas, praises him in forty verses.
✦ As told in scripture
It is said that no pilgrimage to Kashi is complete without the darshan of Kaal Bhairav, its Kotwal, who keeps the ledger of every soul — and that when he brings down his staff, even the greatest sins are destroyed. Devotees facing fear, enemies, legal trouble or black magic light his four-faced lamp on Kalashtami, recite this Chalisa, and feed a dog in his name.
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Complete Text with Meaning
श्री गणपति गुरु गौरी पद, प्रेम सहित धरि माथ । चालीसा वन्दन करों, श्री शिव भैरवनाथ ॥
Shri ganapati guru gauri pada, prema sahita dhari matha Chalisa vandana karom, shri shiva bhairavanatha
Meaning:Placing on my head, with love, the feet of Shri Ganapati, the Guru and Gauri, I offer this Chalisa in salutation to Shri Shiva-Bhairavnath.
श्री भैरव संकट हरण, मंगल करण कृपाल । श्याम वरण विकराल वपु, लोचन लाल विशाल ॥
Shri bhairava samkata harana, mamgala karana kripala Shyama varana vikarala vapu, lochana lala vishala
Meaning:Shri Bhairav, remover of distress, doer of good, the compassionate; of dark complexion and fearsome body, with large red eyes.
जय जय श्री काली के लाला । जयति जयति काशी कुतवाला ॥
Jaya jaya shri kali ke lala Jayati jayati kashi kutavala
Meaning:Victory, victory to the darling of Kali; victory, victory to the Kotwal (guardian) of Kashi.
जयति बटुक भैरव भयहारी । जयति काल भैरव बलकारी ॥
Jayati batuka bhairava bhayahari Jayati kala bhairava balakari
Meaning:Victory to Batuk Bhairav, remover of fear; victory to Kaal Bhairav, the mighty.
जयति नाथ भैरव विख्याता । जयति सर्व भैरव सुखदाता ॥
Jayati natha bhairava vikhyata Jayati sarva bhairava sukhadata
Meaning:Victory to the renowned Bhairavnath; victory to all the Bhairavas, the givers of joy.
भैरव रूप कियो शिव धारण । भव के भार उतारण कारण ॥
Bhairava rupa kiyo shiva dharana Bhava ke bhara utarana karana
Meaning:Shiva took on the form of Bhairav for the sake of lifting the burden of worldly existence.
भैरव रव सुनि हवै भय दूरी । सब विधि होय कामना पूरी ॥
Bhairava rava suni havai bhaya duri Saba vidhi hoya kamana puri
Meaning:Hearing Bhairav's roar, fear flees; in every way one's wishes are fulfilled.
शेष महेश आदि गुण गायो । काशी कोतवाल कहलायो ॥
Shesha mahesha adi guna gayo Kashi kotavala kahalayo
Meaning:Shesha, Mahesha and the rest have sung his virtues; he is called the Kotwal of Kashi.
जटाजूट शिर चन्द्र विराजत । बाला मुकुट बिजायठ साजत ॥
Jatajuta shira chandra virajata Bala mukuta bijayatha sajata
Meaning:Matted locks upon his head with the moon shining there; a small crown and ornaments adorn him.
कटि करधनी घुंघरू बाजत । दर्शन करत सकल भय भाजत ॥
Kati karadhani ghumgharu bajata Darshana karata sakala bhaya bhajata
Meaning:A girdle of bells rings at his waist; at his darshan all fear flees.
जीवन दान दास को दीन्ह्यो । कीन्ह्यो कृपा नाथ तब चीन्ह्यो ॥
Jivana dana dasa ko dinhyo Kinhyo kripa natha taba chinhyo
Meaning:He granted the gift of life to his servant; he showed his grace and then recognized (the devotee) as his own.
बसि रसना बनि सारद काली । दीन्ह्यो वर राख्यो मम लाली ॥
Basi rasana bani sarada kali Dinhyo vara rakhyo mama lali
Meaning:He dwells upon the tongue as Sharada (Saraswati) and Kali; he gave a boon and kept my honour.
धन्य धन्य भैरव भयभंजन । जय मनरंजन खलदल भंजन ॥
Dhanya dhanya bhairava bhayabhamjana Jaya manaramjana khaladala bhamjana
Meaning:Blessed, blessed is Bhairav, destroyer of fear; victory, delighter of hearts, crusher of the wicked horde.
कर त्रिशूल डमरू शुचि कोड़ा । कृपा कटाक्ष सुयश नहिं थोड़ा ॥
Kara trishula damaru shuchi koda़a Kripa kataksha suyasha nahim thoda़a
Meaning:In his hands the trident, the damaru and the sacred whip; not small is the glory of his gracious sidelong glance.
जो भैरव निर्भय गुण गावत । अष्ट सिद्धि नव निधि फल पावत ॥
Jo bhairava nirbhaya guna gavata Ashta siddhi nava nidhi phala pavata
Meaning:Whoever fearlessly sings Bhairav's virtues gains the eight siddhis and the nine treasures.
रूप विशाल कठिन दुख मोचन । क्रोध कराल लाल दुहुं लोचन ॥
Rupa vishala kathina dukha mochana Krodha karala lala duhum lochana
Meaning:Of vast form, reliever of hard sorrow; of fierce wrath, both his eyes red.
अगणित भूत प्रेत संग डोलत । बम बम बम शिव बम बम बोलत ॥
Aganita bhuta preta samga dolata Bama bama bama shiva bama bama bolata
Meaning:Countless ghosts and spirits roam at his side; 'Bam Bam Bam, Shiva, Bam Bam' he calls.
रुद्रकाय काली के लाला । महाकालहू के हो काला ॥
Rudrakaya kali ke lala Mahakalahu ke ho kala
Meaning:Of fierce (Rudra) body, the darling of Kali; he is the death even of Mahakala.
बटुक नाथ हो काल गंभीरा । श्वेत रक्त अरु श्याम शरीरा ॥
Batuka natha ho kala gambhira Shveta rakta aru shyama sharira
Meaning:Batuk Nath, grave as Time itself; of white, red and dark body.
करत तीनहुं रूप प्रकाशा । भरत सुभक्तन कहं शुभ आशा ॥
Karata tinahum rupa prakasha Bharata subhaktana kaham shubha asha
Meaning:Manifesting his three forms, he fills his good devotees with auspicious hope.
रत्न जड़ित कंचन सिंहासन । व्याघ्र चर्म शुचि नर्म सुआसन ॥
Ratna jada़ita kamchana simhasana Vyaghra charma shuchi narma suasana
Meaning:On a jewel-studded golden throne, a tiger-skin for his soft and sacred seat.
तुम्हहि जाइ काशिहिं जन ध्यावहिं । विश्वनाथ कहं दर्शन पावहिं ॥
Tumhahi jai kashihim jana dhyavahim Vishvanatha kaham darshana pavahim
Meaning:Whoever goes to Kashi and meditates upon you gains the darshan of Vishwanath.
जय प्रभु संहारक सुनन्द जय । जय उन्नत हर उमानन्द जय ॥
Jaya prabhu samharaka sunanda jaya Jaya unnata hara umananda jaya
Meaning:Victory, O Lord, destroyer and giver of bliss; victory, exalted one, joy of Hara and Uma.
भीम त्रिलोचन स्वान साथ जय । वैजनाथ श्री जगतनाथ जय ॥
Bhima trilochana svana satha jaya Vaijanatha shri jagatanatha jaya
Meaning:Bhima, three-eyed, with the dog at his side — victory; Vaijanath, Shri Jagatnath — victory.
महा भीम भीषण शरीर जय । रुद्र त्र्यम्बक धीर वीर जय ॥
Maha bhima bhishana sharira jaya Rudra tryambaka dhira vira jaya
Meaning:Of mighty, terrible, dreadful body — victory; Rudra, three-eyed, steadfast and brave — victory.
वननाथ जय प्रेतनाथ जय । श्वानारूढ़ शशिचन्द्रनाथ जय ॥
Vananatha jaya pretanatha jaya Shvanarudha़ shashichandranatha jaya
Meaning:Lord of the forest — victory; lord of the ghosts — victory; dog-mounted, moon-crested lord — victory.
निमिष दिगम्बर चक्रनाथ जय । गहत अनाथन नाथ हाथ जय ॥
Nimisha digambara chakranatha jaya Gahata anathana natha hatha jaya
Meaning:In an instant, the sky-clad lord of the discus — victory; who takes the helpless by the hand, O lord of the orphaned — victory.
त्रिशूलेश भूतेश चन्द्र जय । क्रोध वत्स अमरेश नन्द जय ॥
Trishulesha bhutesha chandra jaya Krodha vatsa amaresha nanda jaya
Meaning:Lord of the trident, lord of beings, moon-crested — victory; master of wrath, beloved one, lord of the immortals — victory.
श्री वामन नकुलेश चण्ड जय । कृत्याऊ कीरति प्रचण्ड जय ॥
Shri vamana nakulesha chanda jaya Krityau kirati prachanda jaya
Meaning:Shri Vamana, lord of the mongoose, the fierce — victory; of mighty deeds and blazing fame — victory.
रुद्र बटुक क्रोधेश कालधर । चक्र तुण्ड दश पाणि व्याल धर ॥
Rudra batuka krodhesha kaladhara Chakra tunda dasha pani vyala dhara
Meaning:Rudra Batuk, lord of wrath, bearer of Time; bearing the discus and club in his ten arms, and the serpent.
करि मद पान शम्भु गुणगावत । चौंसठ योगिन संग नचावत ॥
Kari mada pana shambhu gunagavata Chaumsatha yogina samga nachavata
Meaning:Drinking the intoxicating draught, he sings Shambhu's praise; he makes the sixty-four yoginis dance with him.
करत कृपा जन पर बहु ढंगा । काशी कोतवाल अड़बंगा ॥
Karata kripa jana para bahu dhamga Kashi kotavala ada़bamga
Meaning:He shows grace to his devotees in countless ways — the unyielding Kotwal of Kashi.
देयं काल भैरव जब सोटा । नसै पाप मोटा सें मोटा ॥
Deyam kala bhairava jaba sota Nasai papa mota sem mota
Meaning:When Kaal Bhairav brings down his staff, the greatest of the great sins are destroyed.
जनकर निर्मल होय शरीरा । मिटै सकल संकट भव पीरा ॥
Janakara nirmala hoya sharira Mitai sakala samkata bhava pira
Meaning:The body of the devotee becomes pure, and every distress and the pain of existence is wiped away.
श्री भैरव भूतों के राजा । बाधा हरत करत शुभ काजा ॥
Shri bhairava bhutom ke raja Badha harata karata shubha kaja
Meaning:Shri Bhairav, king of the spirits, removes obstacles and accomplishes auspicious works.
ऐलादी के दुख निवारयो । सदा कृपाकरि काज सम्हारयो ॥
Ailadi ke dukha nivarayo Sada kripakari kaja samharayo
Meaning:He removed the sorrows of Ailadi; ever showing grace, he set her affairs in order.
सुन्दर दास सहित अनुरागा । श्री दुर्वासा निकट प्रयागा ॥
Sundara dasa sahita anuraga Shri durvasa nikata prayaga
Meaning:Sundardas, with deep devotion, near the hermitage of Shri Durvasa at Prayag —
श्री भैरव जी की जय लेख्यो । सकल कामना पूरण देख्यो ॥
Shri bhairava ji ki jaya lekhyo Sakala kamana purana dekhyo
Meaning:— has written this in praise of Shri Bhairav Ji; (whoever reads it) finds all his wishes fulfilled.
जय जय जय भैरव बटुक स्वामी, संकट टार । कृपा दास पर कीजिए, शंकर के अवतार ॥
Jaya jaya jaya bhairava batuka svami, samkata tara Kripa dasa para kijie, shamkara ke avatara
Meaning:Victory, victory, victory to Bhairav, Lord Batuk, remover of distress; show your grace upon your servant, O incarnation of Shankara.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Bhairav Chalisa
Recited to invoke Kaal Bhairav, the fierce protective form of Shiva and Kotwal (guardian) of Kashi, for protection from fear, enemies, accidents and negative forces.
Believed to remove obstacles, black magic, evil spirits, untimely death and the troubles of an afflicted Rahu, Ketu and Saturn.
Grants courage, fearlessness, swift justice and the fulfilment of sincere wishes; said to wipe away even the greatest sins when chanted with devotion.
Most powerful on Kalashtami (the eighth lunar day), Bhairav Ashtami, and on Sundays and Tuesdays — recited with the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam and aarti.
Traditionally chanted before a four-faced lamp; feeding a dog (Bhairav's mount) is considered especially pleasing to him.
How to Chant Bhairav Chalisa
In the evening, light a lamp (ideally a chaumukha, four-faced lamp) of mustard or sesame oil before an image of Kaal Bhairav. Offer vermilion, and traditionally a portion of food to a dog. Recite the Bhairav Chalisa with devotion, ideally with the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam and aarti. Kalashtami and Bhairav Ashtami are the most auspicious days; daily recitation is recommended in times of fear or danger.
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