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Kalabhairavashtakam
कालभैरवाष्टकम्
Kālabhairavāṣṭakam
Chant
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् । भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥
Study note
Word breakdown
- शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं
- Who holds trident, sword, noose, and staff in his hands, primal cause, dark-bodied, first God, imperishable,
- निरामयम् ।
- free from disease,
- भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं
- of terrible prowess, the Lord, lover of the wondrous cosmic dance,
- काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥
- I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.
The weapons in his hands symbolize the powers that cut bondage, yet the dance he loves is the play of consciousness in manifestation. The primal Lord beyond affliction reminds the seeker that the Self is never touched by the body's changes or the mind's storms.
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