Bhairav Chalisa — Lyrics with Meaning

Doha

Shri Ganesh Gurupad namaun, namaun Sharad Maay | Kalbhairav ki mahima, gaaun prem lagaay ||

Bowing at the feet of Ganesh, the Guru and Mother Saraswati, I lovingly sing the glory of Kaal Bhairav.

Doha

Jai Kalbhairav dukhaharta, jai Kashi-kotwal | Bhav-bandhan se mukt karo, namaun tumhein tatkaal ||

Hail to Kaal Bhairav, remover of sorrow, hail to the guardian of Kashi. Free me from the bonds of this world; I bow to you right now.

Chaupai 1

Jai Kalbhairav Shambhu-swarupa | Neel-varan tan raudr-anupa || Char bhujaaein trishul-dhari | Khappar-damaru shatru-sanhari ||

Hail to Kaal Bhairav, the form of Shiva. Your blue-black body is fierce beyond compare. Four-armed, holding trident, skull-cup and drum, you destroy all enemies.

Chaupai 2

Narmund mala gale suhave | Sarp-bhujang tan ko sajaave || Shwan-vahan par karo vihara | Ratri-kal ke ho tum rakhwara ||

A garland of skulls adorns your neck and serpents decorate your body. You roam mounted on a dog and are the keeper of the night.

Chaupai 3

Bhrikuti chadhi nayan lal bhari | Jataajoot par chandra sukhkari || Bhasm-lipt tan divya nirala | Bhoot-pret dal sang tumhara ||

Your brow is furrowed and your eyes are large and red. The moon gleams on your matted hair. Your ash-smeared body radiates unique divine beauty and ghosts and spirits always accompany you.

Chaupai 4

Kashi-puri ke ho kotwala | Jo aave-jaaye tumhin sambhala || Dehant-kal tarak-mantra dete | Yahi moksha ka maarg-anante ||

You are the keeper of the city of Kashi, watching over all who come and go. At the moment of death you give the Taraka mantra — that is the endless path to liberation.

Chaupai 5

Kashi mein jo tan ko tyaage | Shiv-dhyan se uske paap bhaage || Kaan mein tarak-dhwani sunaate | Usko moksha-dham pahunchaate ||

One who leaves the body in Kashi has their wrongs washed away by Shiva's grace. You whisper the Taraka mantra in their ear and deliver them to the realm of liberation.

Chaupai 6

Brahma ke shir pancham kata | Brahm-hatya ka dosh laga ghata || Bhiksha-patra ban kapaal thama | Bhatkat-bhatkat Kashi dhama ||

When Brahma spoke with arrogance, you cut off his fifth head, but the sin of brahmanicide clung to you. Carrying the skull as a begging bowl, you wandered until you reached the holy city of Kashi.

Chaupai 7

Kashi ki pavan bhoomi pag rakha | Kapaal bhoomi par girat wahan || Brahm-hatya se mukt hue tab | Kashi ke tum rakshak bane tab ||

The moment your foot touched the sacred soil of Kashi, the skull fell to the ground. At that very moment you were freed from the sin and became the protector of Kashi.

Chaupai 8

Ashta-Bhairav ke tum ho nayak | Aathon dish ke rakshak-sayak || Asitanga Ruru Chanda-karala | Krodha Unmatta Kapali jwala ||

You are the leader of the eight Bhairavas, guardians of the eight directions. Asitanga, Ruru, Chanda, Krodha, Unmatta, Kapali — these are all your fierce forms.

Chaupai 9

Bhishan aur Sanhar-Bhairava | Aathon mil karen jag-seva || Aathon disha ke hain rakshak ye | Sakal jagat ke palak ye ||

Bhishana and Samhara Bhairava together — these eight serve the world in unity. They guard all eight directions and sustain the entire creation.

Chaupai 10

Ratri mein tum nagar bhraman karte | Bhoot-pishach ko dand dete || Jo ratri-kal mein tumhein sumire | Koi baadha usko na ghere ||

You roam the city at night and punish evil spirits. Whoever remembers you at night is kept safe from every obstacle.

Chaupai 11

Shwan-roop mein tum vicharte | Bhakton ke dware raksha karte || Jo shwan ko bhojan karaaye | Wahi Bhairav-prasad paaye ||

You roam in the form of a dog and guard the doors of your devotees. Whoever feeds a dog receives Bhairav's blessing — so tradition holds.

Chaupai 12

Kale til aur urad arpaṇ | Sarson tel se kare deepan || Nimbu-mithai bhi chadhaaen | Bhairav-kripa ko wah paaen ||

Offer black sesame and urad lentils and light a lamp with mustard oil. Offer a lemon and sweets too — doing this brings Bhairav's grace.

Chaupai 13

Shanivar aur Kalashtami-din | Bhairav-poojan ka hai shubh nidin || Margasheersh Krishna-Ashtami | Yahi tithi hai shubh Bhairav-mahimi ||

Saturday and Kalashtami are especially auspicious days for Bhairav worship. The eighth day of the dark fortnight of Margashirsha is the sacred Bhairav Ashtami.

Chaupai 14

Tantra-mantra ke tum adhipati | Shatru-naash aur baadha-harti || Sankat-mochan bhav-dukh-harta | Bhakton ke sada karaj-karta ||

You are the lord of tantra and mantra, destroyer of enemies and remover of obstacles. You relieve distress and free devotees from worldly suffering, always fulfilling their purposes.

Chaupai 15

Bhay se trast jo sadhak aaye | Bhairav-sharan mein wah mukt paaye || Badi-se-badi vipada bhi harte | Bhairav-kripa se shubh karte ||

A seeker who comes to your refuge in fear finds release. Even the greatest trouble you remove; with Bhairav's grace all becomes well.

Chaupai 16

Sankat mein jo tumhein pukare | Bhairav tatkaal dukh nivare || Raat ko bhi na hoe darna | Jo Bhairav ko hriday mein dharna ||

Whoever calls on you in trouble, Bhairav removes their pain at once. Whoever holds Bhairav in their heart fears nothing even in the dark of night.

Chaupai 17

Rog-shok aur durbhagya tale | Bhairav-smaran se chitta nirmal mile || Uch-neech ka bhed na maane | Bhairav sabki peeda pahchaane ||

Remembering Bhairav drives away illness, grief and misfortune, and purifies the mind. Bhairav makes no distinction between high and low and understands everyone's pain.

Chaupai 18

Pret-baadha aur tantra-baadha | Bhairav-poojan se ho nivaadha || Jo buri nazar se peedit hoe | Bhairav-kripa se wah mukt hoe ||

Spirit troubles and harmful spells are removed by Bhairav's worship. One troubled by an evil eye or dark magic is freed by Bhairav's grace.

Chaupai 19

Yatra mein jo tumhein sumire | Koi baadha usko na ghere || Safar mein Bhairav rakshak bante | Khataron se wah sada bachate ||

One who remembers you while travelling meets no obstacle on the way. Bhairav becomes their protector on the journey, keeping them safe from every danger.

Chaupai 20

Shatru-naash ki jo kamna | Bhairav-poojan se poorn karna || Nyay-devata bhi tumhin ho | Anyay-karm ka dand do ||

A wish to overcome enemies is fulfilled by Bhairav's worship. You are also the deity of justice, punishing all wrongdoing.

Chaupai 21

Shani ki peeda harte Bhairav | Rahu-Ketu bhay harte Bhairav || Navagraha-peeda se jo vyakul | Bhairav-sharan mein paae wah vimal ||

Bhairav removes the troubles caused by Saturn and Rahu-Ketu. Whoever is tormented by planetary afflictions finds purity by taking refuge in Bhairav.

Chaupai 22

Santan-heen ko santan mile | Karz-grast ka karz bhi tale || Jo maange shraddha se aakar | Bhairav pooran karen manorath-saakar ||

Those without children may find their wish fulfilled and those burdened by debt find relief. Whoever asks with true faith, Bhairav fulfils their heart's wish — devotees hold this firmly.

Chaupai 23

Veerta aur bal ke ho data | Bhakton ke sab manorath-pata || Shastr-poojan mein tumhein manayen | Ran mein veer suraksha paayen ||

You give courage and strength and fulfil all the wishes of your devotees. Those who honour you at weapons worship receive protection on the battlefield.

Chaupai 24

Grih-pravesh aur nayi shuruaat | Bhairav-poojan se shubh ho baat || Nayi raah par jo qadam rakhe | Bhairav-kripa se shubh-path lakhe ||

At a house-warming or any new beginning, Bhairav's worship brings auspiciousness. One setting out on a new path sees the right way through Bhairav's grace.

Chaupai 25

Krodh-taap aur dvesh-bhaav | Bhairav-smaran se kare abhaav || Man mein shaanti aur samata aaye | Jo Bhairav-dhyan nitya lagaaye ||

Anger, agitation and enmity fade away through Bhairav's remembrance. Whoever meditates on Bhairav daily finds peace and equanimity in the mind.

Chaupai 26

Vajra-deh aur atal manobal | Bhairav-kripa se milta hai bal || Rog-shok aur durbhagya tale | Bhairav-charanon mein jo man lagaale ||

Bhairav's grace brings a body strong as a thunderbolt and unshakeable resolve. For one who fixes the mind on Bhairav's feet, illness, grief and misfortune fall away.

Chaupai 27

Jhooth-kapat ko kabhi na sahate | Satya-path par bhakt ko rakhate || Dharm-maarg ka paalan karne par | Bhairav dete phal man-bharne par ||

You never tolerate falsehood or deceit and keep your devotees on the path of truth. For one who follows the righteous path, Bhairav gives the fruit that the heart desires.

Chaupai 28

Ujjain ke Kalbhairav-swami | Kshetrapal ho tum antaraayami || Kashi-Vishwanath ke dwarpal | Shiv-leela ke ho tum rakhwaal ||

You are the lord Kaal Bhairav of Ujjain and the all-knowing protector of the region. You are the gatekeeper of Kashi Vishwanath and the guardian of Shiva's divine play.

Chaupai 29

Brahma-Vishnu-Shiv tumhein namaate | Dev aur muni gun-gaan gaate || Koi na jaane tumhari seema | Aparampaar hai tumhari mahima ||

Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva bow to you; gods and sages sing your glory. No one knows your limit; your greatness is boundless.

Chaupai 30

Kalashtami par jo poojan kare | Kalbhairav ki kripa ko vare || Abhishek se kare santusht | Bhairav prasann hon bhakt-jan-shisht ||

Whoever worships on Kalashtami receives Kaal Bhairav's grace. Satisfying Bhairav with an abhishek (sacred bath) pleases him and he blesses the devoted.

Chaupai 31

Pratidin kare jo stuti-paath | Bhairav-kripa se mite abhaav-aath || Varsh-bhar ke sankat door hote | Jeevan mein shubh-mangal hote ||

Whoever reads this praise daily has all shortcomings removed by Bhairav's grace. Year-round troubles are cleared and blessings fill life.

Chaupai 32

Nitya subah-sham deep jalaayen | Bhairav-Chalisa ka paath karen || Shraddha-bhaav se jo naman kare | Uska sankat Bhairav sada hare ||

Light a lamp morning and evening every day and read the Bhairav Chalisa. Whoever bows with sincere faith, Bhairav always removes their troubles.

Chaupai 33

Shwan ko bhojan roz karayen | Garib-asahaay ko bhojan khilayen || Yahi Bhairav-poojan ka saar hai | Yahi bhakti ka uttam dwaar hai ||

Feed a dog and feed the poor and helpless every day. This is the essence of Bhairav's worship and the finest door of devotion.

Chaupai 34

Ikkeees baar jo paath kare | Bhairav-kripa ka varaṇ kare || Sankat mein paath nit karne se | Shaanti mile, dar jaae hatane se ||

Whoever reads this twenty-one times receives Bhairav's grace. Reading it daily in times of trouble brings peace and drives away fear.

Chaupai 35

Shiv ke ansh ho tum Mahakaal | Par bhakton ke ho kripaal || Kaal se dare na jo tumhein bhaje | Bhairav-kripa se mukt-pad saje ||

You are Mahakaal, the part of Shiva, yet always merciful to devotees. One who worships you does not fear death; Bhairav's grace adorns them with the state of liberation.

Chaupai 36

Jo yah paath kare man laai | Ta par hot hai Bhairav sahaai || Riniyaan jo koi paath kare | Bhairav ki kripa ko wah vare ||

Whoever reads this with a focused mind, Bhairav comes to their aid — so devotees believe. Even one burdened by debt may read it and find Bhairav's grace.

Chaupai 37

Jai Bhairav jai Kalbhairav | Jai Kashi-pati jai Mahabharav || Jai Ashtabhairav jai Tribhuvan-pati | Jai Shiv-ansh jai jagat-vidhata-mati ||

Hail Bhairav, hail Kaal Bhairav, hail lord of Kashi, hail Maha Bhairav. Hail the eight Bhairavas, hail lord of three worlds, hail the part of Shiva, the creator of the universe.

Doha

Bhairav-Chalisa yah paath, nit padhe jo laay dhyan | Bhairav-kripa se us jan ko, mile moksha-kalyan ||

Whoever reads this Bhairav Chalisa daily with focused attention receives, through Bhairav's grace, liberation and lasting good — so devotees faithfully believe.