Original text
॥ दोहा ॥ श्री गणपति गुरु गौरी पद प्रेम सहित धरि माथ । चालीसा वंदन करो श्री शिव भैरवनाथ ॥ श्री भैरव संकट हरण मंगल करण कृपाल । श्याम वरण विकराल वपु लोचन लाल विशाल ॥ ॥ चौपाई ॥ जय जय श्री काली के लाला । जयति जयति काशी-कुतवाला ॥1॥ जयति बटुक-भैरव भय हारी । जयति काल-भैरव बलकारी ॥2॥ जयति नाथ-भैरव विख्याता । जयति सर्व-भैरव सुखदाता ॥3॥ भैरव रूप कियो शिव धारण । भव के भार उतारण कारण ॥4॥ भैरव रव सुनि ह्वै भय दूरी । सब विधि होय कामना पूरी ॥5॥ शेष महेश आदि गुण गायो । काशी-कोतवाल कहलायो ॥6॥ जटा जूट शिर चंद्र विराजत । बाला मुकुट बिजायठ साजत ॥7॥ कटि करधनी घुंघरू बाजत । दर्शन करत सकल भय भाजत ॥8॥ जीवन दान दास को दीन्ह्यो । कीन्ह्यो कृपा नाथ तब चीन्ह्यो ॥9॥ वसि रसना बनि सारद-काली । दीन्ह्यो वर राख्यो मम लाली ॥10॥ धन्य धन्य भैरव भय भंजन । जय मनरंजन खल दल भंजन ॥11॥ कर त्रिशूल डमरू शुचि कोड़ा । कृपा कटाक्ष सुयश नहिं थोडा ॥12॥ जो भैरव निर्भय गुण गावत । अष्टसिद्धि नव निधि फल पावत ॥13॥ रूप विशाल कठिन दुख मोचन । क्रोध कराल लाल दुहुं लोचन ॥14॥ अगणित भूत प्रेत संग डोलत । बम बम बम शिव बम बम बोलत ॥15॥ रुद्रकाय काली के लाला । महा कालहू के हो काला ॥16॥ बटुक नाथ हो काल गंभीरा । श्वेत रक्त अरु श्याम शरीरा ॥17॥ करत तीनहूं रूप प्रकाशा । भरत सुभक्तन कहं शुभ आशा ॥18॥ रत्न जड़ित कंचन सिंहासन । व्याघ्र चर्म शुचि नर्म सुआनन ॥19॥ तुमहि जाइ काशिहिं जन ध्यावहिं । विश्वनाथ कहं दर्शन पावहिं ॥20॥ जय प्रभु संहारक सुनन्द जय । जय उन्नत हर उमा नन्द जय ॥21॥ भीम त्रिलोचन स्वान साथ जय । वैजनाथ श्री जगतनाथ जय ॥22॥ महा भीम भीषण शरीर जय । रुद्र त्रयम्बक धीर वीर जय ॥23॥ अश्वनाथ जय प्रेतनाथ जय । स्वानारुढ़ सयचंद्र नाथ जय ॥24॥ निमिष दिगंबर चक्रनाथ जय । गहत अनाथन नाथ हाथ जय ॥25॥ त्रेशलेश भूतेश चंद्र जय । क्रोध वत्स अमरेश नन्द जय ॥26॥ श्री वामन नकुलेश चण्ड जय । कृत्याऊ कीरति प्रचण्ड जय ॥27॥ रुद्र बटुक क्रोधेश कालधर । चक्र तुण्ड दश पाणिव्याल धर ॥28॥ करि मद पान शम्भु गुणगावत । चौंसठ योगिन संग नचावत ॥29॥ करत कृपा जन पर बहु ढंगा । काशी कोतवाल अड़बंगा ॥30॥ देयं काल भैरव जब सोटा । नसै पाप मोटा से मोटा ॥31॥ जाकर निर्मल होय शरीरा । मिटै सकल संकट भव पीरा ॥32॥ श्री भैरव भूतों के राजा । बाधा हरत करत शुभ काजा ॥33॥ ऐलादी के दुख निवारयो । सदा कृपाकरि काज सम्हारयो ॥34॥ सुन्दर दास सहित अनुरागा । श्री दुर्वासा निकट प्रयागा ॥35॥ श्री भैरव जी की जय लेख्यो । सकल कामना पूरण देख्यो ॥36॥ ॥ दोहा ॥ जय जय जय भैरव बटुक स्वामी संकट टार । कृपा दास पर कीजिए शंकर के अवतार ॥
Transliteration
Doha: Shri Ganapati Guru Gauri Pad, Prem Sahit Dhari Maath. Chalisa Vandan Karo, Shri Shiv Bhairavnath. Shri Bhairav Sankat Haran, Mangal Karan Kripal. Shyam Varan Vikral Vapu, Lochan Laal Vishal. Chaupai: 1. Jai Jai Shri Kali Ke Lala, Jayati Jayati Kashi-Kutvala. 2. Jayati Batuk-Bhairav Bhay Hari, Jayati Kaal-Bhairav Balkari. 3. Jayati Nath-Bhairav Vikhyata, Jayati Sarva-Bhairav Sukhdata. 4. Bhairav Roop Kiyo Shiv Dharan, Bhav Ke Bhaar Utaran Karan. 5. Bhairav Rav Suni Hvai Bhay Doori, Sab Vidhi Hoy Kamna Poori. 6. Shesh Mahesh Aadi Gun Gayo, Kashi-Kotval Kahlayo. 7. Jata Joot Shir Chandra Virajat, Bala Mukut Bijayath Sajat. 8. Kati Kardhani Ghunghru Bajat, Darshan Karat Sakal Bhay Bhajat. 9. Jeevan Daan Daas Ko Dinhyo, Kinhyo Kripa Nath Tab Chinhyo. 10. Vasi Rasna Bani Sarad-Kali, Dinhyo Var Rakhyo Mam Laali. 11. Dhanya Dhanya Bhairav Bhay Bhanjan, Jai Manranjan Khal Dal Bhanjan. 12. Kar Trishul Damru Shuchi Koda, Kripa Kataksh Suyash Nahin Thoda. 13. Jo Bhairav Nirbhay Gun Gavat, Ashtasiddhi Nav Nidhi Phal Pavat. 14. Roop Vishal Kathin Dukh Mochan, Krodh Karal Laal Duhun Lochan. 15. Aganit Bhoot Pret Sang Dolat, Bam Bam Bam Shiv Bam Bam Bolat. 16. Rudrakay Kali Ke Lala, Maha Kaalhu Ke Ho Kala. 17. Batuk Nath Ho Kaal Gambhira, Shvet Rakt Aru Shyam Sharira. 18. Karat Teenhun Roop Prakasha, Bharat Subhaktan Kahan Shubh Aasha. 19. Ratn Jadit Kanchan Sinhasan, Vyaghra Charm Shuchi Narm Suanan. 20. Tumhi Jai Kashihin Jan Dhyavahin, Vishvanath Kahan Darshan Pavahin. 21. Jai Prabhu Sanharak Sunand Jai, Jai Unnat Har Uma Nand Jai. 22. Bheem Trilochan Svan Saath Jai, Vaijnath Shri Jagatnath Jai. 23. Maha Bheem Bheeshan Sharir Jai, Rudra Trayambak Dheer Veer Jai. 24. Ashvanath Jai Pretnath Jai, Svanarudh Saychandra Nath Jai. 25. Nimish Digambar Chakranath Jai, Gahat Anathan Nath Haath Jai. 26. Treshlesh Bhootesh Chandra Jai, Krodh Vats Amresh Nand Jai. 27. Shri Vaman Nakulesh Chand Jai, Krityau Kirati Prachand Jai. 28. Rudra Batuk Krodhesh Kaaldhar, Chakra Tund Dash Panivyal Dhar. 29. Kari Mad Paan Shambhu Gungavat, Chaunsath Yogin Sang Nachavat. 30. Karat Kripa Jan Par Bahu Dhanga, Kashi Kotval Adbanga. 31. Deyan Kaal Bhairav Jab Sota, Nasai Paap Mota Se Mota. 32. Jakar Nirmal Hoy Sharira, Mitai Sakal Sankat Bhav Peera. 33. Shri Bhairav Bhooton Ke Raja, Badha Harat Karat Shubh Kaja. 34. Ailadi Ke Dukh Nivaryo, Sada Kripakari Kaaj Samharyo. 35. Sundar Daas Sahit Anuraga, Shri Durvasa Nikat Prayaga. 36. Shri Bhairav Ji Ki Jai Lekhyo, Sakal Kamna Pooran Dekhyo. Doha: Jai Jai Jai Bhairav Batuk, Swami Sankat Taar. Kripa Daas Par Kijiye, Shankar Ke Avatar.
Who Bhairav is
The opening doha bows to Ganapati, the guru and Gauri, and then salutes "Shri Shiv Bhairavnath". It is clear from the first line that Bhairav is not a separate god but Shiva himself in a fierce form. Chaupai 4 says so directly: "Shiva took the form of Bhairav to lift the burden of the world." The second doha paints him: remover of trouble and bringer of good, dark-complexioned, with a terrifying body and large red eyes. His best-known story, from the Shiva Purana tradition, tells how Bhairav cut off Brahma's fifth head when Brahma grew arrogant. The skull stuck to his hand, and he wandered carrying it until it finally fell away at Kashi. That is why he is bound to that city.
The Kotwal of Kashi
The very first chaupai calls him Kashi-kutvala, and chaupai 6 repeats it: Kashi-Kotval kahlayo. A kotwal was the chief of a town's watch. The tradition in Varanasi is that Kaal Bhairav guards the city on Shiva's behalf, and pilgrims visit the Kaal Bhairav temple as well as Kashi Vishwanath. Chaupai 20 connects the two: people go to Kashi to meditate on Bhairav, "and there receive the darshan of Vishwanath". Chaupai 30 calls him adbanga, the unconventional, carefree Kotwal who shows kindness to people "in many ways".
His many forms
The chalisa names his forms: Batuk Bhairav, the child form, gentle and approachable; Kaal Bhairav, the lord of time and death; and Nath Bhairav and Sarva Bhairav. It describes his body as white, red and dark (17 to 18), "showing all three forms". He is "Kali's son" (Kali ke lala) and "the death even of Mahakaal". He carries a trident, damru and a whip (koda), and his mount is the dog: "svan saath", "svanarudh". Countless ghosts and spirits move with him chanting "bam bam", because he is bhooton ke raja, king of the spirits (33). That is why he is prayed to for protection from them.
Chaupais 21 to 28 are a long chain of names ending in "jai". Several are names of the eight classical Bhairavas, such as Chanda, Krodha, Bhishana and Samhara. Others are names Shiva himself carries (Bhima, Trilochana, Tryambaka, Vaidyanath). A few appear in printed editions in forms whose exact meaning is unclear; we have kept them exactly as the sources print them.
What it asks and who wrote it
The prayers are for fearlessness above all. "Hearing Bhairav's roar, fear goes far away" (5), and "whoever fearlessly sings Bhairav's qualities gains the eight siddhis and nine nidhis" (13). Chaupai 31 says one stroke of Kaal Bhairav's staff (sota) destroys even the heaviest sin. Near the end the poet signs himself: Sundardas, writing "with devotion, near Shri Durvasa at Prayag" (35), and says he wrote the praises and saw every wish fulfilled.
When and how to recite it
The main days are Kalashtami, the Ashtami of every Krishna Paksha, and above all Kaal Bhairav Jayanti (Bhairav Ashtami) in Margashirsha. The customary offering is a mustard-oil lamp, and feeding a dog, his mount, is considered especially pleasing to him. The chalisa takes under ten minutes to read, and it pairs well with the Shiva Chalisa and the Om Jai Shiv Omkara aarti.
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