Lord Kalabairava is the form of Shiva and he is made responsible for control of time i.e, the growth and management of time. (Kala means time). Lord Shiva has manifested Himself as Adi Moola Kaala Bhairava with many Bhairava avatars. From Adi Moola Kaala Bhairava Ashta (eight) Bairavas manifested and they are:
1. Kala Bhairava,
2. Asitanga Bhairava,
3. Samhara Bhairava,
4. Ruru Bhairava,
5. Krodha Bhairava,
6. Kapala Bhairava,
7. Rudra Bhirava and
8. Unmatta Bhairava.
The Lord Kalabairava wears the tiger skin and human bones and also wears the twisted serpents as his ornaments i.e, earrings, bracelets, anklets, and sacred thread. The celestial vehicle of Lord Bairava is the dog. The number 13 is auspicious for the Lord. The Ashtami (eighth lunar day) thithi of each paksham (moon / lunar phase fortnight), particularly in the waning phase (that is, Krishna Paksha Ashtami), is important for Kalabairava worship. Kala Bhairava Ashtami, which occurs in December/January is an important day for worshipping the Lord. The Siddha secret that the Kuligai time of each day is ideal for worshipping Kala Bhairava.
In Saivite legends and puranas Lord Kalabairava is considered as the Kshetrapalaka or guardian of temples of Lord Shiva. . In honor of this, all Shiva temple management will ceremonially submit the temple keys to Lord Bairava after locking the temple complex at temple closing time and are received from him at opening time. The Lord safeguards the entire temple complex.
The worship of Kala Bhairava is very important for those living in foreign countries. There's nothing more precious than time. Those who are desirous to spend, manage or ration their time in a proper manner should pray the Lord Kalabairava.
Lord Kalabairava is often presented as a folk deity or Grama Devata who safeguards the devotee on all eight directions (ettu tikku) and hi is also considered as the guardian of travelers. Those who venture travel especially during night time should pray for the blessings of the Lord and seek his protection during travel. The Tamil Siddhas used to instruct the travelers to offer the garland of cashew nuts and light ghee lamp before commencing the travel. Lord Bhairava is also known as Vairavar in Tamil.
Kaala Bhairava Gayatri Mantra
Om Kaalakaalaaya vidhmahey
Kaalaatheethaaya dheemahi
Thanno Kaala Bhairava Prachodhayaath.
Chant this Gayatri mantra 108 times at sunrise and request Lord Kala Bhairava to help you use your time effectively throughout the day.
Kalabhairavashtakam with Meaning in English
Kalabhairavaashtakam = Kala + Bhairava + Ashtakam = 8 verses on Kala Bhairava. Kalabhairavashtakam is compiled by Sri Adi Sankara Bhagawath Pada.
Deva raja sevya mana pavangri pankajam,
Vyala yagna suthra mindu shekaram krupakaram,
Naradadhi yogi vrundha vandhitham digambaram,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. (1)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Whose lotus like feet is being served by Devendra,
Who is merciful and wears the moon on his forehead,
Who wears a snake as his sacred thread,
Who wears the different directions as his cloth,
And who is worshipped by sages like Narada.
Bhanu koti bhaswaram, bhavabdhi tharakam param,
Neelakanda meepsidartha dayakam trilochanam,
Kalakala mambujaksha maksha soola maksharam,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. (2)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who shines like billions of suns,
Who helps us cross this miserable ocean of life,
Who is supreme and has a blue neck,
Who has three eyes and grants us our desires,
Who is the death to the God of death*,
Who has lotus flower like eyes,
Who has the undefeatable trident,
And who does not have decay.
Soola tanga pasa danda pani madhi karanam,
Syama kaya madhi devamaksharam niramayam,
Bheema vikramam prabhum vichithra thandava priyam,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. (3)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who has a spear, a chord and a stick as weapons,
Who is black in colour and the primeval cause,
Who is deathless and the first God,
Who is free from decay and ill health,
Who is the Lord who is a great hero,
And who likes the special vigorous thandava*
Bhukthi mukthi dayakam prasashtha charu vigraham,
Bhaktha vatsalam shivam* , samastha loka vigraham,
Vinikwanan manogna hema kinkini lasath kateem,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. (4)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who fulfills desires and also grants salvation,
Who is well known for his pretty mien,
Who is a form of Shiva, who loves his devotees,
Who is the God of the entire world,
Who assumes various forms,
And who has a golden waist thread,
On which jingling bells are tied.
Dharma sethu palakam, thwa dharma marga nasakam,
Karma pasa mochakam , susharma dayakam vibhum,
Swarna varna sesha pasa shobithanga mandalam,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. (5)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who maintains the bridge of dharma in life,
Who destroys paths which are not right,
Who saves us from the ties of Karma,
Who is the lord who makes us ashamed,
When trying to do wrong things,
Who has a shining body because of golden rope,
With bells tied in various places.
Rathna padukha prabhabhirama padayugmakam,
Nithyamadwidheeyamishta daivatham niranjanam,
Mrutyu darpa nasanam karaladamshtra mokshanam,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. (6)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who has feet adorned by the shine of gem studded sandals,
Who is eternal and does not have any one second to him,
Who is our favorite God who bestows everything,
Who takes away the fear of death from humans,
And who grants them salvation by his terrible teeth.
Attahasa binna padma janda kosa santhatheem,
Drushti pada nashta papa jala mugra sasanam,
Ashtasidhi dayakam kapala malikadaram,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. (7)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Whose loud roar is enough to destroy all those created by Brahma,
Whose sight is sufficient to destroy all sins,
Who is crafty and strict ruler,
Who can grant the eight occult powers,
And who wears the garland of skulls.
Bhootha sanga nayakam, vishala keerthi dayakam,
Kasi vasa loka punya papa shodhakam vibum,
Neethi marga kovidham purathanam jagatpathim,
Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. (8)
I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi,
Who is the chief of the society of Bhoothas,
Who grants broad based fame,
Who is the lord who judges good and bad deeds,
Of those who live in Varanasi,
Who is an expert in the way of righteousness,
And who is eternally old and lord of the universe.
Kalabhairavashtakam patanthi yea manoharam,
Jnana mukthi sadhanam , vichithra punya vardhanam,
Soka moha dainya lopa kopa thapa nasanam,
Thea prayanthi Kalabhairavangri saniidhim druvam. (9)
Those who read this enticing octet on Kalabhairava,
Which is the source of eternal knowledge,
Which increases the effect of righteous deeds,
And which destroys grief, passion, poverty, want and anger,
Would surely reach the holy presence of Kalabhairava.
May Lord Kaala Bhairava help us use our time effectively on the spiritual path.
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