Mahakala Bhairava (‘Beyond Time’ and ‘Frightful’) is a fearsome aspect of Shiva associated with Annihilation. Known as Nagpo Chenpo (Great Black One), Vajrabhairava and Yamantaka (Destroyer of Death) in Tibetan Buddhism. The eight Ashtami Bhairavas that manifest from him represent the eight primary aspects of fear, and their correspondence with the Nakshatras represents them as portions of time and space of which Bhairava is the whole. Their consorts represent their vital expressions of Divine power, and together, they combine to form Bhairavi, Bhairava’s consort. In their totality, Bhairava and Bhairavi are of unified essence and their division into two separate entities serves only as a symbol expressing the objective Absolute and the possibility of becoming subjectively aware of it through the manifestation of Kundalini. Being destroyers and wrathful, this pairing represents the destruction of diversions such as ignorance, attachments, the ego and obstructive emotions that bar our union with the divine source. While fearsome, their associationa with negative emotions represents the knowledge of those emotions, how they can be obstacles to us and how, by destroying and overcoming their influences, we may perfect ourselves. Two of Mahakala Bhairava’s mantras to assist with this perfection, are:
“Om Shri Kaal Bhairavaya Namaha.”
“Om Sow Hreem Shaprowhm Sahase Kaala Bhairavaaye Namaha.”
Auspices
Kaal Ashtami – the 8th Lunar Day (Ashtami) of the waning fortnight, with Bhairava Ashtami,—which comes in the month of Kartik—being the most auspicious, especially if it falls on a Sunday or Tuesday. During this festival, Bhairava is depicted riding his dog in a form named Dandapani, in which he wields a Danda rod, to punish wrongdoers. An all-night vigil is held on the night of and at midnight an arati is performed with conches, drums and cymbals. After a bath the next morning, rites honouring dead kinsmen are performed and Bhairava, his Dog and Bhairavi are worshipped with offerings of flowers, milk, curds and sweets. In Varanasi, an eight day pilgrimage is taken in the days before this major festival.
Experimental Praxis
As Lord of Time, Mahakala Bhairava cannot strictly be apportioned specific Zodiacal properties, yet, with each of his eight manifestations having particular Nakshatras and planets assigned to them, he can be thought of as the sum-total of the entire Zodiac, all nine of the planets and, by extension, every aspect of time and space. With this intent in mind, meditating on and appealing to the Ashta Bhairava and their Shaktis through the course of the Lunar Cycle, can be seen as a month-long devotional ritual to them.
As well as being more convenient for division, the reduction to twenty-seven Mansions from the original twenty-eight also allows a connection between the Lunar Cycle and the sacred number 108, as, with the subsequent division of the twenty-seven Nakshatras into four padas—each of which is attributed a sequential Zodiac sign—a total of 108 (27 x 4) padas are passed through in every Lunar Cycle. An elaboration on the aforementioned adoration of my own devising involves attributing each of those padas to two of the 64 Bhairavas, which presents a more complete meditation on the Lord of Time, Death and the Universe. Considering the meanings of the names of each of these manifestations explored over the last eight posts, it is clear that these names are all epithets of Shiva in his most dreadful form, making a devotion such as this a long and considered reflection on each of those 64 symbolic aspects of his terrible and purifying nature.
Where no specific mantra has been provided for the 56 sub-Bhairavas in the previous posts, one can chant “Om…. Namaha” with the appropriate name of Bhairava being inserted after ‘Om.’
(See the post ‘Ashtama Bhairava and the Nakshatras‘ for the Planetary Lords of the Nakshatras and other relevant correspondences)
Nakshatra | Pada | Bhairavas | Sidereal º | Pada Lord |
Ashwini | Aries | Bheeshana Bhayahara |
0º Aries | Mars |
Taurus | Sarvajna Kalagni |
3º 20′ Aries | Venus | |
Gemini | Maharaudra Daksina |
6º 40′ Aries | Mercury | |
Cancer | Mukhara Asthira |
10º Aries | Moon | |
Bharani | Leo | Kapala Sasibhusana |
13º 20′ Aries | Sun |
Virgo | Hasticarmam-baradhara Yogisa |
16º 40′ Aries | Mercury | |
Libra | Brahmaraksasa Sarvajna |
20º Aries | Venus | |
Scorpio | Sarvadevesa Sarvabhutah-drishtitha |
23º 20′ Aries | Mars | |
Krittika | Sagittarius | Ruru Krodadamstra |
26º 40′ Aries | Jupiter |
Capricorn | Jatadhara Visarupa |
0º Taurus | Saturn | |
Aquarius | Virupaksa Nanarupa-dhara |
3º 20′ Taurus | Saturn | |
Pisces | Vajrahasta Mahakaya |
6º 40′ Taurus | Jupiter | |
Rohini | Aries | Krodha Pingaleksana |
10º Taurus | Mars |
Taurus | Abharupa Dharapala |
13º 20′ Taurus | Venus | |
Gemini | Kutila Mantranakaya |
16º 40′ Taurus | Mercury | |
Cancer | Rudra Pitamaha |
20º Taurus | Moon | |
Mrighirsha | Leo | Chanda Pralayantaka |
23º 20′ Taurus | Sun |
Virgo | Bhumikampa Nilakantha |
26º 40′ Taurus | Mercury | |
Libra | Visnu Kulapalaka |
0º Gemini | Venus | |
Scorpio | Mundapala Kamapala |
3º 20′ Gemini | Mars | |
Ardra | Sagittarius | Bheeshana Bhayahara |
6º 40′ Gemini | Jupiter |
Capricorn | Sarvajna Kalagni |
10º Gemini | Saturn | |
Aquarius | Maharaudra Daksina |
13º 20′ Gemini | Saturn | |
Pisces | Mukhara Asthira |
16º 40′ Gemini | Jupiter | |
Punarvasu | Aries | Asitanga Visalaska |
20º Gemini | Mars |
Taurus | Martanda Modakapriya |
23º 20′ Gemini | Venus | |
Gemini | Svacchanda Vighnsantusta |
26º 40′ Gemini | Mercury | |
Cancer | Khecara Sacracara |
0º Cancer | Moon | |
Pushya | Leo | Unmattha Vatukanayaka |
3º 20′ Cancer | Sun |
Virgo | Sankara Bhutavetala |
6º 40′ Cancer | Mercury | |
Libra | Trinetra Tripurantaka |
10º Cancer | Venus | |
Scorpio | Varada Parvatavasa |
13º 20′ Cancer | Mars | |
Ashlesha | Sagittarius | Samhara Atiriktanga |
16º 40′ Cancer | Jupiter |
Capricorn | Kalagni Priyankara |
20º Cancer | Saturn | |
Aquarius | Ghoranda Visalaksa |
23º 20′ Cancer | Saturn | |
Pisces | Yogisa Daksasamsthita |
26º 40′ Cancer | Jupiter | |
Magha | Aries | Bheeshana Bhayahara |
0º Leo | Mars |
Taurus | Sarvajna Kalagni |
3º 20′ Leo | Venus | |
Gemini | Maharaudra Daksina |
6º 40′ Leo | Mercury | |
Cancer | Mukhara Asthira |
10º Leo | Moon | |
Purvaphalguni | Leo | Kapala Sasibhusana |
13º 20′ | Sun |
Virgo | Hasticarmam-baradhara Yogisa |
16º 40′ Leo | Mercury | |
Libra | Brahmaraksasa Sarvajna |
20º Leo | Venus | |
Scorpio | Sarvadevesa Sarvabhutah-drishtitha |
23º 20 Leo | Mars | |
Uttaraphalguni | Sagittarius | Ruru Krodadamstra |
26º 40′ Leo | Jupiter |
Capricorn | Jatadhara Visarupa |
0º Virgo | Saturn | |
Aquarius | Virupaksa Nanarupa-dhara |
3º 20′ Virgo | Saturn | |
Pisces | Vajrahasta Mahakaya |
6º 40′ Virgo | Jupiter | |
Hasta | Aries | Krodha Pingaleksana |
10º Virgo | Mars |
Taurus | Abharupa Dharapala |
13º 20′ Virgo | Venus | |
Gemini | Kutila Mantranakaya |
16º 40′ Virgo | Mercury | |
Cancer | Rudra Pitamaha |
20º Virgo | Moon | |
Chitra | Leo | Chanda Pralayantaka |
23º 20′ Virgo | Sun |
Virgo | Bhumikampa Nilakantha |
26º 40′ Virgo | Mercury | |
Libra | Visnu Kulapalaka |
0º Libra | Venus | |
Scorpio | Mundapala Kamapala |
3º 20′ Libra | Mars | |
Swati | Sagittarius | Bheeshana Bhayahara |
6º 40′ Libra | Jupiter |
Capricorn | Sarvajna Kalagni |
10º Libra | Saturn | |
Aquarius | Maharaudra Daksina |
13º 20′ Libra | Saturn | |
Pisces | Mukhara Asthira |
16º 40′ Libra | Jupiter | |
Vishakha | Aries | Asitanga Visalaska |
20º Libra | Mars |
Taurus | Martanda Modakapriya |
23º 20′ Libra | Venus | |
Gemini | Svacchanda Vighnsantusta |
26º 40′ Libra | Mercury | |
Cancer | Khecara Sacracara |
0º Scorpio | Moon | |
Anuradha | Leo | Unmattha Vatukanayaka |
3º 20′ Scorpio | Sun |
Virgo | Sankara Bhutavetala |
6º 40′ Scorpio | Mercury | |
Libra | Trinetra Tripurantaka |
10º Scorpio | Venus | |
Scorpio | Varada Parvatavasa |
13º 20′ Scorpio | Mars | |
Jyeshtha | Sagittarius | Samhara Atiriktanga |
16º 40′ Scorpio | Jupiter |
Capricorn | Kalagni Priyankara |
20º Scorpio | Saturn | |
Aquarius | Ghoranda Visalaksa |
23º 20′ Scorpio | Saturn | |
Pisces | Yogisa Daksasamsthita |
26º 40′ Scorpio | Jupiter | |
Mula | Aries | Bheeshana Bhayahara |
0º Sagittarius | Mars |
Taurus | Sarvajna Kalagni |
3º 20′ Sagittarius | Venus | |
Gemini | Maharaudra Daksina |
6º 40′ Sagittarius | Mercury | |
Cancer | Mukhara Asthira |
10º Sagittarius | Moon | |
Purvashadha | Leo | Kapala Sasibhusana |
13º 20′ Sagittarius | Sun |
Virgo | Hasticarmam-baradhara Yogisa |
16º 40′ Sagittarius | Mercury | |
Libra | Brahmaraksasa Sarvajna |
20º Sagittarius | Venus | |
Scorpio | Sarvadevesa Sarvabhutah-drishtitha |
23º 20′ Sagittarius | Mars | |
Uttarashadha | Sagittarius | Ruru Krodadamstra |
26º 40′ Sagittarius | Jupiter |
Capricorn | Jatadhara Visarupa |
0º Capricorn | Saturn | |
Aquarius | Virupaksa Nanarupa-dhara |
3º 20′ Capricorn | Saturn | |
Pisces | Vajrahasta Mahakaya |
6º 40′ Capricorn | Jupiter | |
Shravana | Aries | Krodha Pingaleksana |
10º Capricorn | Mars |
Taurus | Abharupa Dharapala |
13º 20′ Capricorn | Venus | |
Gemini | Kutila Mantranakaya |
16º 40′ Capricorn | Mercury | |
Cancer | Rudra Pitamaha |
20º Capricorn | Moon | |
Dhanishtha | Leo | Chanda Pralayantaka |
23º 20′ Capricorn | Sun |
Virgo | Bhumikampa Nilakantha |
26º 40′ Capricorn | Mercury | |
Libra | Visnu Kulapalaka |
0º Aquarius | Venus | |
Scorpio | Mundapala Kamapala |
3º 20′ Aquarius | Mars | |
Sathabhisha | Sagittarius | Bheeshana Bhayahara |
6º 40′ Aquarius | Jupiter |
Capricorn | Sarvajna Kalagni |
10º Aquarius | Saturn | |
Aquarius | Maharaudra Daksina |
13º 20′ Aquarius | Saturn | |
Pisces | Mukhara Asthira |
16º 40′ Aquarius | Jupiter | |
Poorva Bhadrapada |
Aries | Asitanga Visalaska |
20º Aquarius | Mars |
Taurus | Martanda Modakapriya |
23º 20′ Aquarius | Venus | |
Gemini | Svacchanda Vighnsantusta |
26º 40′ Aquarius | Mercury | |
Cancer | Khecara Sacracara |
0º Pisces | Moon | |
Uttara Bhadrapada |
Leo | Unmattha Vatukanayaka |
3º 20′ Pisces | Sun |
Virgo | Sankara Bhutavetala |
6º 40 Pisces | Mercury | |
Libra | Trinetra Tripurantaka |
10º Pisces | Venus | |
Scorpio | Varada Parvatavasa |
13º 20′ Pisces | Mars | |
Revati | Sagittarius | Samhara Atiriktanga |
16º 40′ Pisces | Jupiter |
Capricorn | Kalagni Priyankara |
20º Pisces | Saturn | |
Aquarius | Ghoranda Visalaksa |
23º 20′ Pisces | Saturn | |
Pisces | Yogisa Daksasamsthita |
26º 40′ Pisces | Jupiter |
As noted above, the number 108 is of special importance in Vedic and Tantric traditions. The Shivaganas, the attendants of Shiva who reside in chthonic or liminal locations such as cemeteries and charnel grounds, were 108 in number. It is also the number of beads on a Rudhraksha and the number of names attributed to many gods, including Bhairava, Additionally, when rounded up, the Sun and Moon are (on average) 108 times the distance from the Earth as their own diameters, with the diameter of the Sun also being approximately 108 times that of the Earth.
The mantras of the 108 names of Bhairava are:
- Om Bhairavaaya namaha
- Om Bhuutanaathaaya namaha
- Om Bhritaatmane namaha
- Om Bhuutabhaavanaaya namaha
- Om Kshetragyaaya namaha
- Om Kshetrapaalaaya namaha
- Om Kshetradaaya namaha
- Om Kshatriyaaya namaha
- Om Viraaje namaha
- Om Shmashaanavaasine namaha
- Om Maamsaashine namaha
- Om Kharvaroshine namaha
- Om Smarantakaaya namaha
- Om Raktapaaya namaha
- Om Paanayaaya namaha
- Om Siddhaaya namaha
- Om Siddhidaaya namaha
- Om Siddhisevitaaya namaha
- Om Kankaalaaya namaha
- Om Kalaashamanaaya namaha
- Om Kalaakaashtaaya namaha
- Om Tanaye namaha
- Om Kavaye namaha
- Om Trinetraaya namaha
- Om Bahunetraaya namaha
- Om Pigala-lochanaaya namaha
- Om Shuulapaanaye namaha
- Om Khadgapaanaye namaha
- Om Kapaaline namaha
- Om Dhuumralochanaaya namaha
- Om Abhirave namaha
- Om Bhauraviinaathaaya namaha
- Om Bhuutapaaya namaha
- Om Yoginiipataye namaha
- Om Dhanadaaya namaha
- Om Dhanahaarine namaha
- Om Dhanavate namaha
- Om Priitivardhanaaya namaha
- Om Naagahaaraaya namaha
- Om Naagapaashaaya namaha
- Om Vyomakeshaaya namaha
- Om Kapaalabhrite namaha
- Om Kaalaaya namaha
- Om Kapaalamaaline namaha
- Om Kamaniiyaaya namaha
- Om Kalaanidhaye namaha
- Om Trilochanaaya namaha
- Om Jvalannetraaya namaha
- Om Trishikhine namaha
- Om Trilokashaaya namaha
- Om Trinetrataapaaya namaha
- Om Dibhaaya namaha
- Om Shaantaaya namaha
- Om Shaantajanapriyaaya namaha
- Om Batukaaya namaha
- Om Batuveshaaya namaha
- Om Khatvaangadhaarakaaya namaha
- Om Yanaadhyakshaaya namaha
- Om Pashupataye namaha
- Om Bhikshukaaya namaha
- Om Parichaarakaaya namaha
- Om Dhuurtaaya namaha
- Om Digambaraaya namaha
- Om SHuuraaya namaha
- Om Harine namaha
- Om Paandulochanaaya namaha
- Om Prashaantaaya namaha
- Om Shaantidaaya namaha
- Om Siddhaaya namaha
- Om Shankarapriyabaandhavaaya namaha
- Om Ashtamuurtaye namaha
- Om Nidhiishaaya namaha
- Om Gyaanachakshushe namaha
- Om Tapomadaaya namaha
- Om Ashtaadhaaraaya namaha
- Om Shadaadhaaraaya namaha
- Om Sarpayuktaaya namaha
- Om Shikhisakhaaya namaha
- Om Bhuudharaaya namaha
- Om Bhuudharaadhiishaaya namaha
- Om Bhuupataye namaha
- Om Bhuudharaatmagyaaya namaha
- Om Kankaaladhaarine namaha
- Om Mundine namaha
- Om Naagayagyopavitavate namaha
- Om Jribhbhanaaya namaha
- Om Mohanaaya namaha
- Om Stambhine namaha
- Om Maranaaya namaha
- Om Kshobhanaaya namaha
- Om Shuddhaniilaamjanaprakhyaaya namaha
- Om Dvityaghne namaha
- Om Mundabhuushitaaya namaha
- Om Balibhuuje namaha
- Om Balibhunanaathaaya namaha
- Om Baalaaya namaha
- Om Baalaparaakramaaya namaha
- Om Sarvaapattaaranaaya namaha
- Om Durgaaya namaha
- Om Dushta Bhuutanishevitaaya namaha
- Om Kaamine namaha
- Om Kalaanidhaye namaha
- Om Kaantaaya namaha
- Om Kaaminiivashakridvashine namaha
- Om Sarvasiddhipadaaya namaha
- Om Vaidyaaya namaha
- Om Prabhave namaha
- Om Vishnave Namaha
Hymn to Kalabhairava
I Worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
Whose sacred lotus feet are worshipped by the King of Devas,
The compassionate One,
Whose sacrificial thread is made of serpents,
On whose forehead shines the moon.
The naked one,
Whom Nārada and multitudes of other Yogis adore.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
Our great Saviour in our voyage across the ocean of the world.
The blue-throated, three-eyed grantor of all desires,
The lotus-eyed, who is the death of death,
The imperishable One,
Holding the rosary of human bone and the trident.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
The primeval cause,
Holding in His hands trident, axe, noose, and staff 8
–Him of the black body,
The first of all Deva, imperishable, incorruptible,
Lord formidable and powerful,
Who loves to dance wonderfully.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
Of great and beautiful body,
The giver of both enjoyment and liberation,
Who loves and smiles upon all His devotees,
Whose body is the whole world,
Whose waist is adorned with little tinkling bells;
Beautiful are they, and made of gold.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
The protector of the bridge of dharma,
Destroyer of the path of adharma,
Liberator form the bonds of karma,
The all-pervading giver of welfare to all,
Whose golden body is adorned with serpent coils.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī
Whose feet are beautiful with the lustre of the gems thereon–
The stainless, eternal Iṣṭadevatā,
One without a second,
Destroyer of pride, and liberator from the gaping jaw of the God of Death.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
Whose loud laughter broke the shell of many an egg of the lotus-born;
Strong ruler, at whose glance the net of sin is broken; Giver of the eight powers,
Whose shoulders serpents garland.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
The Saviour of all, giver of great fame,
The all-pervading One,
Who purifies of both sin and virtue the people of Kāśī;
The ancient Lord of the world,
Wise in the wisdom of all moralities.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī