bhairavshivaashtakamshankaracharya

काल भैरव अष्टकम् in Kannada

ಕನ್ನಡ

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

अपनी भाषा/लिपि में पढ़ें

देवनागरी / Hindi తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ

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

किसी भी पंक्ति या ▶ बटन पर टैप कर सुनें

Verse 1

ದೇವರಾಜಸೇವ್ಯಮಾನಪಾವನಾಙ್ಘ್ರಿಪಙ್ಕಜಂ ವ್ಯಾಲಯಜ್ಞಸೂತ್ರಮಿನ್ದುಶೇಖರಂ ಕೃಪಾಕರಮ್। ನಾರದಾದಿಯೋಗಿವೃನ್ದವನ್ದಿತಂ ದಿಗಮ್ಬರಂ ಕಾಶಿಕಾಪುರಾಧಿನಾಥಕಾಲಭೈರವಂ ಭಜೇ॥

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

Meaning:जिनके पावन चरणकमल देवराज इन्द्र द्वारा सेवित हैं, जो सर्प का यज्ञोपवीत और चन्द्र का शेखर धारण किए हैं — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 2

ಭಾನುಕೋಟಿಭಾಸ್ವರಂ ಭವಾಬ್ಧಿತಾರಕಂ ಪರಂ ನೀಲಕಣ್ಠಮೀಪ್ಸಿತಾರ್ಥದಾಯಕಂ ತ್ರಿಲೋಚನಮ್। ಕಾಲಕಾಲಮಮ್ಬುಜಾಕ್ಷಮಕ್ಷಶೂಲಮಕ್ಷರಂ ಕಾಶಿಕಾಪುರಾಧಿನಾಥಕಾಲಭೈರವಂ ಭಜೇ॥

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

Meaning:करोड़ों सूर्यों-से देदीप्यमान, संसार-सागर से पार उतारने वाले परम, नीलकण्ठ, इच्छित अर्थ देने वाले — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 3

ಶೂಲಟಙ್ಕಪಾಶದಣ್ಡಪಾಣಿಮಾದಿಕಾರಣಂ ಶ್ಯಾಮಕಾಯಮಾದಿದೇವಮಕ್ಷರಂ ನಿರಾಮಯಮ್। ಭೀಮವಿಕ್ರಮಂ ಪ್ರಭುಂ ವಿಚಿತ್ರತಾಣ್ಡವಪ್ರಿಯಂ ಕಾಶಿಕಾಪುರಾಧಿನಾಥಕಾಲಭೈರವಂ ಭಜೇ॥

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

Meaning:हाथों में शूल, टंक (कुल्हाड़ी), पाश और दण्ड धारण किए, आदिकारण, श्यामवर्ण, आदिदेव, अक्षर, निरामय — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 4

ಭುಕ್ತಿಮುಕ್ತಿದಾಯಕಂ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಚಾರುವಿಗ್ರಹಂ ಭಕ್ತವತ್ಸಲಂ ಸ್ಥಿತಂ ಸಮಸ್ತಲೋಕವಿಗ್ರಹಮ್। ವಿನಿಕ್ವಣನ್ಮನೋಜ್ಞಹೇಮಕಿಙ್ಕಿಣೀಲಸತ್ಕಟಿಂ ಕಾಶಿಕಾಪುರಾಧಿನಾಥಕಾಲಭೈರವಂ ಭಜೇ॥

Bhuktimuktidayakam Prashastachaaruvigrahm Bhaktavatsalam Sthitam Samastalokavigrahm Vinikvanmanojnya Hemakinkini Lasatkantim Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:भुक्ति और मुक्ति देने वाले, प्रशस्त एवं सुन्दर विग्रह वाले, भक्तवत्सल, समस्त लोकों में स्थित — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 5

ಧರ್ಮಸೇತುಪಾಲಕಂ ತ್ವಧರ್ಮಮಾರ್ಗನಾಶಕಂ ಕರ್ಮಪಾಶಮೋಚಕಂ ಸುಶರ್ಮದಾಯಕಂ ವಿಭುಮ್। ಸ್ವರ್ಣವರ್ಣಶೇಷಪಾಶಶೋಭಿತಾಙ್ಗಮಣ್ಡಲಂ ಕಾಶಿಕಾಪುರಾಧಿನಾಥಕಾಲಭೈರವಂ ಭಜೇ॥

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

Meaning:धर्म के सेतु की रक्षा करने वाले, अधर्म के मार्ग का नाश करने वाले, कर्म के पाश से मुक्त करने वाले, सुख देने वाले — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 6

ರತ್ನಪಾದುಕಾಪ್ರಭಾಭಿರಾಮಪಾದಯುಗ್ಮಕಂ ನಿತ್ಯಮದ್ವಿತೀಯಮಿಷ್ಟದೈವತಂ ನಿರಞ್ಜನಮ್। ಮೃತ್ಯುದರ್ಪನಾಶನಂ ಕರಾಲದಂಷ್ಟ್ರಮೋಕ್ಷಣಂ ಕಾಶಿಕಾಪುರಾಧಿನಾಥಕಾಲಭೈರವಂ ಭಜೇ॥

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

Meaning:रत्नजड़ित पादुकाओं की प्रभा से सुशोभित चरणयुगल वाले, नित्य, अद्वितीय, इष्टदेव, निर्गुण — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 7

ಅಟ್ಟಹಾಸಭಿನ್ನಪದ್ಮಜಾಣ್ಡಕೋಶಸನ್ತತಿಂ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಪಾತನಷ್ಟಪಾಪಜಾಲಮುಗ್ರಶಾಸನಮ್। ಅಷ್ಟಸಿದ್ಧಿದಾಯಕಂ ಕಪಾಲಮಾಲಿಕಾಧರಂ ಕಾಶಿಕಾಪುರಾಧಿನಾಥಕಾಲಭೈರವಂ ಭಜೇ॥

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

Meaning:जिनके अट्टहास से ब्रह्मा के अण्डकोशों की पंक्ति विदीर्ण हुई, जिनकी दृष्टिमात्र से पापसमूह नष्ट हो जाता है, उग्रशासन वाले — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 8

ಭೂತಸಙ್ಘನಾಯಕಂ ವಿಶಾಲಕೀರ್ತಿದಾಯಕಂ ಕಾಶಿವಾಸಲೋಕಪುಣ್ಯಪಾಪಶೋಧಕಂ ವಿಭುಮ್। ನೀತಿಮಾರ್ಗಕೋವಿದಂ ಪುರಾತನಂ ಜಗತ್ಪತಿಂ ಕಾಶಿಕಾಪುರಾಧಿನಾಥಕಾಲಭೈರವಂ ಭಜೇ॥

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

Meaning:भूतगणों के नायक, विशाल कीर्ति प्रदान करने वाले, काशीवासियों के पुण्य-पाप का शोधन करने वाले विभु — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

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

ಕಾಶಿಕಾಪುರಾಧಿನಾಥ🔊KashikapuradhianathaLord of the city of Kashi (Varanasi)

ಭಜೇ🔊BhajeI worship

ಪಾವನಾಙ್ಘ್ರಿಪಙ್ಕಜಂ🔊PavananghrpankajamWhose lotus feet are purifying

ದಿಗಮ್ಬರಂ🔊DigambaramSky-clad (naked ascetic)

ಭಾನುಕೋಟಿ🔊BhanukotiBrilliance of a million suns

ತ್ರಿಲೋಚನಮ್🔊TrilochanamThree-eyed

ಶೂಲಟಙ್ಕ🔊ShulatankaTrident and axe

ಭುಕ್ತಿಮುಕ್ತಿ🔊BhuktimuktiWorldly pleasure and liberation

ಧರ್ಮಸೇತು🔊DharmasetuBridge of dharma (righteousness)

ಕರ್ಮಪಾಶಮೋಚಕಂ🔊KarmapasamochakamOne who frees from the noose of karma

ಮೃತ್ಯುದರ್ಪನಾಶನಂ🔊MrityudarpanashanamDestroyer of death's pride

ಅಷ್ಟಸಿದ್ಧಿ🔊AshtasiddhiEight supernatural powers

ಕಪಾಲಮಾಲಿಕಾ🔊KapalamalikaGarland of skulls

ಭೂತಸಙ್ಘನಾಯಕಂ🔊BhootasanghanayakamLeader of the ghosts/spirits

Benefits of Chanting काल भैरव अष्टकम्

✦

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 काल भैरव अष्टकम्

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 काल भैरव अष्टकम् written in the Kannada script (ಕನ್ನಡ) — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character into Kannada so Karnataka devotees can read and chant it comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud, and the Roman (IAST) transliteration is shown beneath each verse for pronunciation.

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.