Kalabhairava Ashtakam

Kalabhairavashtakam or Kalabhairava Ashtakam is an eight-verse prayer dedicated to Lord Kalabhairava or Mahakaal bhairo. Kalabhairavashtakam is compiled by Sri Adi Sankara Bhagawath Pada. It is recited daily by the priests of Kalabhairava temple in Benaras (Varanasi) before blessing devotees.

Devaraajasevyamaanapaavanaanghripankajam
Vyaalayagyasuutramindushekharam Krupaakaram
Naaradaadiyogivrundavanditam Digambaram
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje 1

Bhaanukotibhaasvaram Bhavaabdhitaarakam
Param Niilakanthamiipsitaarthadaayakam Trilochanam
Kaalakaalamambujaakshamakshashuulamaksharam
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje 2

Shuulatankapaashadandapaanimaadikaaranam
Shyaamakaayamaadidevamaksharam Niraamayam
Bhiimavikramam Prabhum Vichitrataandavapriyam
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje 3

Bhuktimuktidaayakam Prashastachaaruvigraham
Bhaktavatsalam Sthitam Samastalokavigraham
Vinikvananmanogyahemakinkiniilasatkatim
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje 4

Dharmasetupaalakam Svadharmamaarganaashanam
Karmapaashamochakam Susharmadhaayakam Vibhum
Svarnavarnasheshhapaashashobhitaangamandalam
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje 5

Ratnapaadukaaprabhaabhiraamapaadayugmakam
Nityamadvitiiyamishhtadaivatam Nira.Njanam.
Mrutyudarpanaashanam Karaaladamshhtramokshanam
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje 6

Attahaasabhinnapadmajaandakoshasamtatim Drushhtipaattanashhtapaapajaalamugrashaasanam
Ashhtasiddhidaayakam Kapaalamaalikaadharam
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje 7

Bhuutasa.Nghanaayakam Vishaalakiirtidaayakam
Kaashivaasalokapunyapaapashodhakam Vibhum
Niitimaargakovidam Puraatanam Jagatpatim
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje 8

Phalastuti:

Kaalabhairavaashhtakam Pathanti Ye Manoharam
Gyaanamuktisaadhanam Vichitrapunyavardhanam
Shokamohadainyalobhakopataapanaashanam
Prayaanti Kaalabhairavaamghrisannidhim Naraa Dhruvam