THE SPIRITUAL SYMBOLISM BEHIND KALABHAIRAVA

So, Kalabhairava is someone who is neither yesterday nor tomorrow. He is ever-

present in the now. Also, Lord Kalabhairava is the lord of the city of Kashi. This also
has a symbolic meaning. In tantra, Kashi is recognized as Agya Chakra, which is
located between the eyebrows..

The depiction of Kalabhairava is vikraala (large and fearsome). It signifies that time
eats away everything. Anything that is present in this world will dissolve and perish
with time. The kings and empires that were here thousands of years ago, the
wonders that are present now, and anything that will come in the future - they will all
perish as time passes.

And where is time? It is not in the past or the future. It is now. And when this
realization of time and the present moment comes, our Agya Chakra (the seat of
knowledge in our body) gets heightened, signifying the presence of Lord
Kalabhairava in us. This leads us to the deepest state of samadhi (meditation) which
is also called a state of bhairava.

In the Kalabhairava Ashtakam, where Adi Shankaracharya praised Lord

Kalabhairava as the Lord of Kashi, he actually means the Agya Chakra – signifying
total awareness of the present moment. This is also coveted by all the devatas
(divine energies). Adi Shankaracharya says that even the lords, those divine
energies, bow down at the feet of Kalabhairava, yearning for that state of bliss and
samadhi.

BENEFITS OF CHANTING KALABHAIRAVA ASHTAKAM

Just remembering the state of Kalabhairava, by chanting the Kalabhairava Ashtakam

every day gives us knowledge of life and leads us to liberation. We are provided with
merits that are unknown, incomprehensible, and intangible. Chanting this ashtakam
frees us from shoka (grief), moha (attachment and delusion, the causes of misery),
dainya (poverty or the feeling of lack), lobha (greed), kopa (irritability and anger), and
tapa (sufferings).

Lord Kalabhairava is described as bhoot sangha nayaka - the lord of the pancha
bhootas - which are earth, fire, water, air, and ether. He is the granter of all kinds of
coveted excellence in life, all the knowledge that we desire. There is a difference
between learning and excellence and this state of bliss gives a person all the
coveted excellence. By remembering Kalabhairava, a person attains the bliss that is
in the deepest state of Samadhi, where you are devoid of all worries - not bothered
by nothing.

KALABHAIRAVA ASHTAKAM LYRICS IN SANSKRIT & ENGLISH

दे वराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं

व्यालयज्ञसूत्रममन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।

नारदामदयोमिवृन्दवमन्दतं मदिंबरं

काशशकापुराघ्रिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥

Deva-Raaja-Sevyamaana-Paavana-Angghri-Pankajam
Vyaala-Yajnya-Suutram-Indu-Shekharam Krpaakaram |
Naarada-[A]adi-Yogi-Vrnda-Vanditam Digambaram
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||1||

Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, whose lotus feet are
revered by Lord Indra, king of the devas; who has a snake as his sacrificial thread, a
moon on his head and is very compassionate; who is praised by Narada, sage of the
gods, and other yogis; who is a Digambara, wearing the sky as his dress,
symbolizing his free being.

भानुकोमिभास्वरं भवामितारक
ं परं

नीलकण्ठमीमिताथथदायक
ं मत्रलोचनम् ।
 कालकालमंबुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं

काशशकापुराघ्रिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥२॥

Bhaanu-Kotti-Bhaasvaram Bhavaabdhi-Taarakam Param

Niila-Kannttham-Iipsita-Artha-Daayakam Trilocanam |
Kaala-Kaalam-Ambuja-Akssam-Akssa-Shuulam-Akssaram
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||2||

Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, who has the brilliance
of a million suns, who saves devotees from the cycle of rebirths, and who is
supreme; who has a blue throat, who grants us our desires, and who has three eyes;
who is death unto death itself and whose eyes look like a lotus; whose trident
supports the world and who is immortal.

शूलिङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमामदकारि
ं

श्यामकायमामददे वमक्षरं मनरामयम् ।

भीममवक्रमं प्रभुं मवघ्रचत्रताण्डवमप्रयं

काशशकापुराघ्रिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥

Shuula-Tanka-Paasha-Danndda-Paannim-Aadi-Kaarannam
Shyaama-Kaayam-Aadi-Devam-Akssaram Nir-Aamayam |
Bhiimavikramam Prabhum Vichitra-Taannddava-Priyam
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||3||

Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, who holds the trident,
mattock, noose, and club in his hands; whose body is dark, who is the primordial
Lord, who is immortal, and free from the diseases of the world; who is immensely
mighty and who loves the wonderful tandava dance.

भुमिमुमिदायक
ं प्रशस्तचारुमवग्रहं

भिवत्सल
ं शथथतं समस्तलोकमवग्रहम् ।
 मवमनक्विन्मनोज्ञहेममकङ्मकिीलसत्कटिं

काशशकापुराघ्रिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥४॥

Bhukti-Mukti-Daayakam Prashasta-Caaru-Vigraham
Bhakta-Vatsalam Sthitam Samasta-Loka-Vigraham |
Vi-Nikvannan-Manojnya-Hema-Kinkinnii-Lasat-Kattim
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||4||

Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, the one who bestows
both desires and salvation, who has a pleasing appearance; who is loving to his
devotees, who is stable as the god of all the worlds; who wears a golden belt around
his waist with bells that make a melodious sound when he moves.

िमथसेतुपालक
ं त्विमथमािथनाशक
ं

कमथपाशमोचक
ं सुशमथदायक
ं मवभुम ् ।

स्विथविथशष
े पाशशोघ्रभताङ्िमण्डलं

काशशकापुराघ्रिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥५॥

Dharma-Setu-Paalakam Tva-Adharma-Maarga-Naashakam Karma-Paasha-

Mocakam Su-Sharma-Daayakam Vibhum |
Svarnna-Varnna-Shessa-Paasha-Shobhitaangga-Mannddalam
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||5||

Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, who ensures that
dharma (righteousness) prevails, who destroys the path of adharma
(unrighteousness); who saves us from the bonds of karma, thereby freeing our soul;
and who has golden-hued snakes entwined around his body.

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाघ्रभरामपादयुग्मक
ं

मनत्यममितीयममष्टदै वतं मनरंजनम् ।

 मृत्युदपथनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षि
ं

काशशकापुराघ्रिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥६॥

Ratna-Paadukaa-Prabhaabhi-Raama-Paada-Yugmakam
Nityam-Advitiiyam-Isstta-Daivatam Niramjanam |
Mrtyu-Darpa-Naashanam Karaala-Damssttra-Mokssannam
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||6||

Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, whose feet are adorned
with two golden sandals with gems; who is the eternal, non-dual Ishta devata (god
who grants our desires); who destroys the pride of Yama (God of Death); whose
terrible teeth liberate us.

अट्टहासघ्रभन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंतततं

दृमष्टपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।

अष्टशसद्घ्रिदायक
ं कपालमाणलकािरं

काशशकापुराघ्रिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥

Atttta-Haasa-Bhinna-Padmaja-Anndda-Kosha-Samtatim
Drsstti-Paata-Nasstta-Paapa-Jaalam-Ugra-Shaasanam |
Asstta-Siddhi-Daayakam Kapaala-Maalikaa-Dharam
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||7||

Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, whose loud roar
destroys the sheaths of creations (meaning the delusions of our mind) of the lotus-
born Brahma; whose very glance is enough to destroy all our sins; who gives us the
eight siddhis (accomplishments); and who wears a garland of skulls.

भूतसंघनायक
ं मवशालकीर्तथदायक
ं

काशशवासलोकपुण्यपापशोिक
ं मवभुम ् ।
 नीघ्रतमािथकोमवदं पुरातनं जित्पततं

काशशकापुराघ्रिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥८॥

Bhuuta-Samgha-Naayakam Vishaala-Kiirti-Daayakam
Kaashi-Vaasa-Loka-Punnya-Paapa-Shodhakam Vibhum |
Niiti-Maarga-Kovidam Puraatanam Jagatpatim
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje ||8||

Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi, who is the leader of
ghosts and goblins, who bestows glory; who frees the people of Kashi from their
sinful and righteous deeds; who guides us on the path of righteousness, who is the
most ancient (eternal) lord of the universe.

कालभैरवाष्टक
ं पठंघ्रत ये मनोहरं

ज्ञानमुमिसािनं मवघ्रचत्रपुण्यविथनम् ।

शोकमोहदै न्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं

प्रयामि कालभैरवांघ्रिसमन्नतिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥९॥

Kaalabhairavaassttakam Patthamti Ye Manoharam

Jnyaana-Mukti-Saadhanam Vicitra-Punnya-Vardhanam |
Shoka-Moha-Dainya-Lobha-Kopa-Taapa-Naashanam
Prayaanti Kaalabhairava-Amghri-Sannidhim Naraa Dhruvam ||9||

Salutations to Lord Kalabhairava, the supreme lord of Kashi. Those who read these
eight verses of the Kalabhairava Ashtakam, which is beautiful, which is a source of
knowledge and liberation, which increases the various forms of righteousness in a
person, which destroys grief, attachment, poverty, greed, anger, and heat - will attain
(after death) the feet of Lord Kalabhairava (Lord Shiva).