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Kalabhairavashtakam

कालभैरवाष्टकम्

Kālabhairavāṣṭakam

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देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् । नारदादियोगिबृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥

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Word breakdown

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं: Whose pure lotus feet are served by Indra, who wears serpents as sacred thread and the moon as crest,
कृपाकरम् ।: who is merciful,
नारदादियोगिबृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं: saluted by Narada and hosts of yogis, clothed in space,
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.

When the mind turns to the Lord of Kashi as the ground of all pilgrimage and time, worship affirms that the terrifying and the merciful are one reality beyond name and form. Recognition of that Lord within dissolves the fear that makes the world seem other than the Self.

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