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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Bhairav Chalisa – two opening dohas, forty chaupais, and a closing doha. A short English meaning sits below every verse. Toggle the script to read in Devanagari, romanized, or both side-by-side.
प्रेम सहित धरि माथ। श्री शिव भैरवनाथ॥
Prem sahit dhari math. Shri Shiv Bhairavnath.
With love, placing hands at the head. To Shri Shiv Bhairavnath.
श्री भैरव संकट हरण, मंगल करण कृपाल। लोचन लाल विशाल॥
Shri Bhairav sankat haran, mangal karan kripal. Lochan lal vishal.
Shri Bhairav, destroyer of trouble, doer of welfare, compassionate one. With great red eyes.
जय जय श्री काली के लाला। जयति जयति काशी-कुतवाला॥
Jai jai Shri Kali ke lala. Jayati jayati Kashi-kutwala.
Hail, hail, beloved son of Kali. Hail, hail, kotwal (chief-guardian) of Kashi.
जयति बटुक-भैरव भय हारी। जयति काल-भैरव बलकारी॥
Jayati Batuk-Bhairav bhay hari. Jayati Kaal-Bhairav balkari.
Hail Batuk-Bhairav, destroyer of fear. Hail Kaal-Bhairav, the mighty one.
जयति नाथ-भैरव विख्याता। जयति सर्व-भैरव सुखदाता॥
Jayati Nath-Bhairav vikhyata. Jayati Sarv-Bhairav sukh-data.
Hail Nath-Bhairav, the renowned one. Hail Sarv-Bhairav, giver of joy. (The four classic forms of Bhairav: Batuk, Kaal, Nath, Sarv.)
भैरव रूप कियो शिव धारण। भव के भार उतारण कारण॥
Bhairav roop kiyo Shiv dharan. Bhav ke bhar utaran karan.
Shiva took on the Bhairav form. To lift the burden of existence.
भैरव रव सुनि हवै भय दूरी। सब विधि होय कामना पूरी॥
Bhairav rav suni havai bhay duri. Sab vidhi hoy kamna puri.
Hearing the cry of Bhairav, fear flees away. In every way, every wish is fulfilled.
शेष महेश आदि गुण गायो। काशी-कोतवाल कहलायो॥
Shesh Mahesh aadi gun gayo. Kashi-kotwal kehlayo.
Sheshnaag, Mahesh, and the great gods sing your virtues. You are called the kotwal of Kashi.
जटा जूट शिर चंद्र विराजत। बाला मुकुट बिजायठ साजत॥
Jata jut shir chandra virajat. Bala mukut bijayath sajat.
Matted locks on the head, the moon shines there. A young crown adorns you.
कटि करधनी घुंघरू बाजत। दर्शन करत सकल भय भाजत॥
Kati kardhani ghunghru bajat. Darshan karat sakal bhay bhajat.
On the waist, a girdle with bells. Taking your darshan, all fear flees.
जीवन दान दास को दीन्ह्यो। कीन्ह्यो कृपा नाथ तब चीन्ह्यो॥
Jivan daan das ko dinhyo. Kinhyo kripa Nath tab chinhyo.
You gave the gift of life to your servant. The Lord showed grace and recognised them.
वसि रसना बनि सारद-काली। दीन्ह्यो वर राख्यो मम लाली॥
Vasi rasana bani Sarad-Kali. Dinhyo var rakhyo mam lali.
Becoming Saraswati-Kali, you reside on the tongue. You gave the boon, preserving my redness (life-blood).
धन्य धन्य भैरव भय भंजन। जय मनरंजन खल दल भंजन॥
Dhanya dhanya Bhairav bhay bhanjan. Jai man-ranjan khal dal bhanjan.
Blessed, blessed Bhairav, breaker of fear. Hail to the heart-delighter, breaker of the wicked army.
कर त्रिशूल डमरू शुचि कोड़ा। कृपा कटाक्ष सुयश नहिं थोडा॥
Kar trishul damru shuchi koda. Kripa kataksh suyash nahin thoda.
Trident, damaru, and pure whip in hand. Your glance of grace, your auspicious fame – not little.
जो भैरव निर्भय गुण गावत। अष्टसिद्धि नव निधि फल पावत॥
Jo Bhairav nirbhay gun gavat. Ashtsiddhi nav nidhi phal pavat.
Whoever fearlessly sings Bhairav's virtues. Receives the fruit of the eight siddhis and nine treasures.
रूप विशाल कठिन दुख मोचन। क्रोध कराल लाल दुहुं लोचन॥
Roop vishal kathin dukh mochan. Krodh karal lal duhun lochan.
Vast form, lifter of difficult sorrow. Fierce in anger, with both eyes red.
अगणित भूत प्रेत संग डोलत। बम बम बम शिव बम बम बोलत॥
Aganit bhoot pret sang dolat. Bum bum bum Shiv bum bum bolat.
Countless ghosts and spirits move with you. Bum bum bum, Shiv, bum bum bum – they speak.
रुद्रकाय काली के लाला। महा कालहू के हो काला॥
Rudra-kaay Kali ke lala. Maha-kaalhu ke ho kaala.
Rudra-bodied, beloved son of Kali. You are the time of Mahakaal himself.
बटुक नाथ हो काल गंभीरा। श्वेत रक्त अरु श्याम शरीरा॥
Batuk Nath ho kaal gambhira. Shvet rakt aru shyam sharira.
You are Batuk-Nath, deep as time. With white, red, and dark forms.
करत नीनहूं रूप प्रकाशा। भरत सुभक्तन कहं शुभ आशा॥
Karat ninhun roop prakasha. Bharat subhaktan kahan shubh asha.
You make all three forms manifest. You fill the auspicious hopes of devotees.
रत्न जड़ित कंचन सिंहासन। व्याघ्र चर्म शुचि नर्म सुआनन॥
Ratn jadit kanchan sinhasan. Vyaghra charm shuchi narm su-anan.
On a jewelled golden throne. With pure tiger-skin, soft and beautiful-faced.
तुमहि जाइ काशिहिं जन ध्यावहिं। विश्वनाथ कहं दर्शन पावहिं॥
Tumhi jai Kashihin jan dhyavahin. Vishvanath kahan darshan pavahin.
Going to Kashi, devotees meditate upon you. They receive the darshan of Vishwanath.
जय प्रभु संहारक सुनन्द जय। जय उन्नत हर उमा नन्द जय॥
Jai Prabhu sanharak Sunand jai. Jai unnat har Uma-nand jai.
Hail Lord, destroyer Sunand, hail. Hail to the rising, the lifter, son of Uma, hail.
भीम त्रिलोचन स्वान साथ जय। वैजनाथ श्री जगतनाथ जय॥
Bhim trilochan svan saath jai. Vaijanath Shri Jagatnath jai.
Bhima, three-eyed, with the dog-companion, hail. Vaijanath, Shri Jagatnath, hail.
महा भीम भीषण शरीर जय। रुद्र त्रयम्बक धीर वीर जय॥
Maha bhim bhishan sharir jai. Rudra Trayambak dhir vir jai.
Hail to the great-fearsome body. Hail to Rudra Trayambaka, steady and brave.
अश्वनाथ जय प्रेतनाथ जय। स्वानारुढ़ सयचंद्र नाथ जय॥
Ashvanath jai Pretanath jai. Svanarudh saychandra Nath jai.
Ashvanath, hail; Pretanath, hail. Hail to the dog-mounted, with-the-moon Nath.
निमिष दिगंबर चक्रनाथ जय। गहत अनाथन नाथ हाथ जय॥
Nimish digambar Chakranath jai. Gahat anathan Nath hath jai.
Hail to the moment-clad-in-space Chakranath. Hail to the Lord whose hand grasps the helpless.
त्रेशलेश भूतेश चंद्र जय। क्रोध वत्स अमरेश नन्द जय॥
Treshlesh Bhutesh Chandra jai. Krodh vats Amaresh Nand jai.
Hail to Treshlesh, Bhutesh, Chandra. Hail to the wrathful son, Amaresh-Nand.
श्री वामन नकुलेश चण्ड जय। कृत्याऊ कीरति प्रचण्ड जय॥
Shri Vaman Nakulesh Chand jai. Krityau kirat prachand jai.
Hail Shri Vaman, Nakulesh, Chand. Hail to your vehement deeds and powerful fame.
रुद्र बटुक क्रोधेश कालधर। चक्र तुण्ड दश पाणिव्याल धर॥
Rudra Batuk Krodhesh kaal-dhar. Chakra tund dash paan-vyaal dhar.
Rudra, Batuk, Krodhesh, time-bearer. With chakra-mouth and ten serpent-hands.
करि मद पान शम्भु गुणगावत। चौंसठ योगिन संग नचावत॥
Kari mad paan Shambhu gun-gavat. Chaunsath yogin sang nachavat.
Drinking madhu, you sing Shambhu's virtues. You make the sixty-four yoginis dance with you.
करत कृपा जन पर बहु ढंगा। काशी कोतवाल अड़बंगा॥
Karat kripa jan par bahu dhanga. Kashi kotwal adabanga.
You show grace to devotees in many ways. The kotwal of Kashi, the unique one.
देयं काल भैरव जब सोटा। नसै पाप मोटा से मोटा॥
Deyan Kaal Bhairav jab sota. Nasai paap mota se mota.
When Kaal Bhairav strikes with his staff. Even the heaviest sins are destroyed.
जनकर निर्मल होय शरीरा। मिटै सकल संकट भव पीरा॥
Jankar nirmal hoy sharira. Mitai sakal sankat bhav pira.
The body of the devotee becomes pure. All worldly trouble and pain is wiped away.
श्री भैरव भूतों के राजा। बाधा हरत करत शुभ काजा॥
Shri Bhairav bhuton ke raja. Badha harat karat shubh kaja.
Shri Bhairav, king of the bhutas. Lifter of obstacles, doer of auspicious work.
ऐलादी के दुख निवारयो। सदा कृपा करि काज सम्हारयो॥
Eladi ke dukh nivaryo. Sada kripa kari kaaj samharyo.
You lifted the sorrows of Eladi. Always with grace, you accomplish work.
सुन्दर दास सहित अनुरागा। श्री दुर्वासा निकट प्रयागा॥
Sundardas sahit anuraga. Shri Durvasa nikat Prayaga.
Sundardas, with devotion. Near Shri Durvasa, near Prayag. (The composer's signature line – the same Sundardas whose colophon also closes the Krishna Chalisa and the Ganga Chalisa.)
श्री भैरव जी की जय लेख्यो। सकल कामना पूरण देख्यो॥
Shri Bhairav ji ki jai lekhyo. Sakal kamna puran dekhyo.
I have written 'hail to Shri Bhairav.' I have seen all wishes fulfilled.
जय जय जय भैरव बटुक, स्वामी संकट टार। कृपा दृष्टि निज दास पर, करिये अबकी बार॥
Jai jai jai Bhairav Batuk, swami sankat taar. Kripa drishti nij das par, kariye abki baar.
Hail, hail, hail Bhairav Batuk, lord, lift away trouble. Cast a glance of grace upon your servant – this time, especially.
Why this chalisa
What the Bhairav Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Anchor for Kaal Bhairav Jayanti
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti on Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami (November-December) is the year's major Bhairav night. Many devotees recite the Chalisa eleven or twenty-one times after sunset. Verses 16-17 narrate the Kaal-Bhairav-of-Mahakaal moment: "Maha-kaalhu ke ho kaala" – 'you are the time of Mahakaal himself' – making the Chalisa especially central for Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Kashi-Vishwanath devotees.
For deliverance from fear, supernatural disturbance, or harmful tantric influence
Verse 5 directly names the Chalisa's most-used promise: "Bhairav rav suni havai bhay duri" – 'hearing the cry of Bhairav, fear flees away.' Verse 31 names the cleansing-of-sin practice: "deyan Kaal Bhairav jab sota, nasai paap mota se mota". Many households recite the Chalisa daily during stretches of fear, supernatural disturbance, court-related stress, or any phase where the standard household worship feels insufficient. Pair with the Kali Chalisa (Kalua Bhairon at her side) and the Hanuman Chalisa for additional protection.
Companion to Kashi-Vishwanath and Mahakaleshwar darshan
Verse 20 says directly: "tumhi jai Kashihin jan dhyavahin, Vishvanath kahan darshan pavahin" – 'going to Kashi, devotees meditate upon you and receive the darshan of Vishwanath.' The traditional rule: take Kaal Bhairav darshan first, then Kashi-Vishwanath. The same applies at Ujjain: visit the Kaal Bhairav temple at Bhairavgarh before the Mahakaleshwar darshan. Many pilgrims recite the Chalisa during the journey between the two shrines.
Daily protection-anchor for the household
Many homes recite the Chalisa as the evening paath – the pradosh kaal recitation. Verse 8 promises that taking Bhairav's darshan makes all fear flee. Verses 33-34 establish him as the lifter of obstacles and accomplisher of work. Pair with the Shiv Chalisa in the morning for the complete Shiva-Bhairav household sequence.
Companion to the wider Shaiva and tantric tradition
Verses 28-29 name the tantric companions: "Rudra Batuk Krodhesh kaal-dhar; chakra tund dash paan-vyaal dhar; kari mad paan Shambhu gun-gavat, chaunsath yogin sang nachavat" – 'Rudra, Batuk, Krodhesh; ten serpent-hands; drinking madhu, dancing with the sixty-four yoginis.' This places the Chalisa within the wider Shaiva-tantric tradition. The Ashta-Bhairav form (verses 23-27 enumerate the eight) is particularly important in the Kalachakra tradition.
For court matters and matters requiring justice
Bhairav's identity as the kotwal (police-chief) makes him the natural deity for matters of justice, police, court proceedings, and protection from injustice. Verse 31 names him as the destroyer of even the heaviest sin. Many devotees keep the Chalisa as the morning paath through long court proceedings. (This is a verse of devotional faith, not a replacement for legal counsel or professional advice.)
Origin
The Bhairav Chalisa is signed in chaupai 35 by Sundardas – the same 17th-century saint-poet of the Dadu Panth from Rajasthan whose colophon also appears at the close of the Krishna Chalisa and the Ganga Chalisa. The Chalisa's reference to "Shri Durvasa nikat Prayaga" (verse 35) suggests composition at a hermitage tradition associated with the sage Durvasa near Prayag – the same Kakra village mentioned in the Ganga Chalisa's closing.
The text does not record a date of composition. By language and content, the Chalisa is generally placed in the 17th-19th century CE, written in a Hindi with Awadhi influence. The Chalisa's structural innovation is the explicit naming of the four Bhairav forms in verses 2-3 (Batuk, Kaal, Nath, Sarv) and the Ashta-Bhairav sequence in verses 23-27 – features drawn directly from older Sanskrit Bhairav tantric literature.
Bhairav himself is the fierce form of Shiva – the kotwal (police-chief, security-guardian) of every Shiva temple and especially of Kashi (Varanasi). The classical legend (preserved in the Shiva Purana): when Brahma claimed superiority over Shiva, Shiva manifested as Bhairav and severed Brahma's fifth head. To atone for the brahminicide, Bhairav wandered the earth carrying Brahma's skull until he reached Kashi, where the skull fell from his hand at a place now called Kapal-mochan-tirth. Shiva then made Bhairav the eternal kotwal of Kashi – nobody can take Vishwanath's darshan without first taking Bhairav's permission, and the same rule applies at Ujjain (where the Kaal Bhairav temple at Bhairavgarh stands as the kotwal of Mahakaleshwar) and at Kanchipuram, Kalashtami, Sarjapur, and other major Shiva centres.
The Chalisa's wider companions are the Shiv Chalisa (Bhairav is Shiva), the Kali Chalisa (Kalua Bhairon at Kali's side, verse 21), the Batuk Bhairav Chalisa (the youthful Bhairav form), and the Hanuman Chalisa (paired in protection-practice).
How to recite
A simple, sustainable approach. Nothing here is a hard rule – devotion shapes the form, not the other way around.
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Preparation
Bathe and wear clean clothes – traditionally black or red, the colours of Bhairav. Sit facing south or before the home Bhairav murti or photograph. The traditional offerings are til (sesame), urad dal (whole black gram), a small piece of jaggery, kumkum, a single ghee diya, and a black-and-white sweet. Bhairav's vehicle is the dog – many homes feed a stray dog as part of the Bhairav puja, considered the most-loved offering after the formal puja.
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Posture and start
Sit cross-legged with your spine straight. Bow once. Take a moment of silence. If reciting on Kaal Bhairav Jayanti, on Krishna-paksha Ashtami, or before a Mahakaleshwar/Kashi-Vishwanath darshan, offer a brief sankalp. Begin with the two opening dohas slowly. Bhairav-recitation is traditionally an evening (pradosh) practice.
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Recitation
Move through the thirty-six chaupais without rushing. Verses 2-3 establish the four Bhairav forms. Verses 4-7 narrate the Kashi-kotwal origin story. Verses 23-27 are the Ashta-Bhairav sequence. Verse 35 is the Sundardas composer signature. End with the closing doha.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed. Many people end with the bija mantra Om Hreem Bham Bhairavaya Namah recited 11 or 21 times. Offer the bhog and feed a stray dog if possible (the most traditional Bhairav practice).
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Daily practice and special days
One paath a day – evening, at pradosh kaal – is enough for steady daily practice. Sundays and Tuesdays are especially auspicious. Krishna-paksha Ashtami of every fortnight is the monthly Bhairav night. Kaal Bhairav Jayanti on Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami (November-December) is the year's biggest single Bhairav night.