bhairavshivaashtakamshankaracharya

काल भैरव अष्टकम् in Malayalam

മലയാളം

🕉️ 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 தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતી 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

ദേവരാജസേവ്യമാനപാവനാങ്ഘ്രിപങ്കജം വ്യാലയജ്ഞസൂത്രമിന്ദുശേഖരം കൃപാകരമ്। നാരദാദിയോഗിവൃന്ദവന്ദിതം ദിഗമ്ബരം കാശികാപുരാധിനാഥകാലഭൈരവം ഭജേ॥

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

ഭാനുകോടിഭാസ്വരം ഭവാബ്ധിതാരകം പരം നീലകണ്ഠമീപ്സിതാര്ഥദായകം ത്രിലോചനമ്। കാലകാലമമ്ബുജാക്ഷമക്ഷശൂലമക്ഷരം കാശികാപുരാധിനാഥകാലഭൈരവം ഭജേ॥

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

ശൂലടങ്കപാശദണ്ഡപാണിമാദികാരണം ശ്യാമകായമാദിദേവമക്ഷരം നിരാമയമ്। ഭീമവിക്രമം പ്രഭും വിചിത്രതാണ്ഡവപ്രിയം കാശികാപുരാധിനാഥകാലഭൈരവം ഭജേ॥

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

ഭുക്തിമുക്തിദായകം പ്രശസ്തചാരുവിഗ്രഹം ഭക്തവത്സലം സ്ഥിതം സമസ്തലോകവിഗ്രഹമ്। വിനിക്വണന്മനോജ്ഞഹേമകിങ്കിണീലസത്കടിം കാശികാപുരാധിനാഥകാലഭൈരവം ഭജേ॥

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

ധര്മസേതുപാലകം ത്വധര്മമാര്ഗനാശകം കര്മപാശമോചകം സുശര്മദായകം വിഭുമ്। സ്വര്ണവര്ണശേഷപാശശോഭിതാങ്ഗമണ്ഡലം കാശികാപുരാധിനാഥകാലഭൈരവം ഭജേ॥

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

രത്നപാദുകാപ്രഭാഭിരാമപാദയുഗ്മകം നിത്യമദ്വിതീയമിഷ്ടദൈവതം നിരഞ്ജനമ്। മൃത്യുദര്പനാശനം കരാലദംഷ്ട്രമോക്ഷണം കാശികാപുരാധിനാഥകാലഭൈരവം ഭജേ॥

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

അട്ടഹാസഭിന്നപദ്മജാണ്ഡകോശസന്തതിം ദൃഷ്ടിപാതനഷ്ടപാപജാലമുഗ്രശാസനമ്। അഷ്ടസിദ്ധിദായകം കപാലമാലികാധരം കാശികാപുരാധിനാഥകാലഭൈരവം ഭജേ॥

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

ഭൂതസങ്ഘനായകം വിശാലകീര്തിദായകം കാശിവാസലോകപുണ്യപാപശോധകം വിഭുമ്। നീതിമാര്ഗകോവിദം പുരാതനം ജഗത്പതിം കാശികാപുരാധിനാഥകാലഭൈരവം ഭജേ॥

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

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

കാശികാപുരാധിനാഥ🔊KashikapuradhianathaLord of the city of Kashi (Varanasi)

ഭജേ🔊BhajeI worship

പാവനാങ്ഘ്രിപങ്കജം🔊PavananghrpankajamWhose lotus feet are purifying

ദിഗമ്ബരം🔊DigambaramSky-clad (naked ascetic)

ഭാനുകോടി🔊BhanukotiBrilliance of a million suns

ത്രിലോചനമ്🔊TrilochanamThree-eyed

ശൂലടങ്ക🔊ShulatankaTrident and axe

ഭുക്തിമുക്തി🔊BhuktimuktiWorldly pleasure and liberation

ധര്മസേതു🔊DharmasetuBridge of dharma (righteousness)

കര്മപാശമോചകം🔊KarmapasamochakamOne who frees from the noose of karma

മൃത്യുദര്പനാശനം🔊MrityudarpanashanamDestroyer of death's pride

അഷ്ടസിദ്ധി🔊AshtasiddhiEight supernatural powers

കപാലമാലികാ🔊KapalamalikaGarland of skulls

ഭൂതസങ്ഘനായകം🔊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 Malayalam script (മലയാളം) — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character into Malayalam so Kerala 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.