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:

1. Om Bhairavaaya namaha
2. Om Bhuutanaathaaya namaha
3. Om Bhritaatmane namaha
4. Om Bhuutabhaavanaaya namaha
5. Om Kshetragyaaya namaha
6. Om Kshetrapaalaaya namaha
7. Om Kshetradaaya namaha
8. Om Kshatriyaaya namaha
9. Om Viraaje namaha
10. Om Shmashaanavaasine namaha
11. Om Maamsaashine namaha
12. Om Kharvaroshine namaha
13. Om Smarantakaaya namaha
14. Om Raktapaaya namaha
15. Om Paanayaaya namaha
16. Om Siddhaaya namaha
17. Om Siddhidaaya namaha
18. Om Siddhisevitaaya namaha
19. Om Kankaalaaya namaha
20. Om Kalaashamanaaya namaha
21. Om Kalaakaashtaaya namaha
22. Om Tanaye namaha
23. Om Kavaye namaha
24. Om Trinetraaya namaha
25. Om Bahunetraaya namaha
26. Om Pigala-lochanaaya namaha
27. Om Shuulapaanaye namaha
28. Om Khadgapaanaye namaha
29. Om Kapaaline namaha
30. Om Dhuumralochanaaya namaha
31. Om Abhirave namaha
32. Om Bhauraviinaathaaya namaha
33. Om Bhuutapaaya namaha
34. Om Yoginiipataye namaha
35. Om Dhanadaaya namaha
36. Om Dhanahaarine namaha
37. Om Dhanavate namaha
38. Om Priitivardhanaaya namaha
39. Om Naagahaaraaya namaha
40. Om Naagapaashaaya namaha
41. Om Vyomakeshaaya namaha
42. Om Kapaalabhrite namaha
43. Om Kaalaaya namaha
44. Om Kapaalamaaline namaha
45. Om Kamaniiyaaya namaha
46. Om Kalaanidhaye namaha
47. Om Trilochanaaya namaha
48. Om Jvalannetraaya namaha
49. Om Trishikhine namaha
50. Om Trilokashaaya namaha
51. Om Trinetrataapaaya namaha
52. Om Dibhaaya namaha
53. Om Shaantaaya namaha
54. Om Shaantajanapriyaaya namaha
55. Om Batukaaya namaha
56. Om Batuveshaaya namaha
57. Om Khatvaangadhaarakaaya namaha
58. Om Yanaadhyakshaaya namaha
59. Om Pashupataye namaha
60. Om Bhikshukaaya namaha
61. Om Parichaarakaaya namaha
62. Om Dhuurtaaya namaha
63. Om Digambaraaya namaha
64. Om SHuuraaya namaha
65. Om Harine namaha
66. Om Paandulochanaaya namaha
67. Om Prashaantaaya namaha
68. Om Shaantidaaya namaha
69. Om Siddhaaya namaha
70. Om Shankarapriyabaandhavaaya namaha
71. Om Ashtamuurtaye namaha
72. Om Nidhiishaaya namaha
73. Om Gyaanachakshushe namaha
74. Om Tapomadaaya namaha
75. Om Ashtaadhaaraaya namaha
76. Om Shadaadhaaraaya namaha
77. Om Sarpayuktaaya namaha
78. Om Shikhisakhaaya namaha
79. Om Bhuudharaaya namaha
80. Om Bhuudharaadhiishaaya namaha
81. Om Bhuupataye namaha
82. Om Bhuudharaatmagyaaya namaha
83. Om Kankaaladhaarine namaha
84. Om Mundine namaha
85. Om Naagayagyopavitavate namaha
86. Om Jribhbhanaaya namaha
87. Om Mohanaaya namaha
88. Om Stambhine namaha
89. Om Maranaaya namaha
90. Om Kshobhanaaya namaha
91. Om Shuddhaniilaamjanaprakhyaaya namaha
92. Om Dvityaghne namaha
93. Om Mundabhuushitaaya namaha
94. Om Balibhuuje namaha
95. Om Balibhunanaathaaya namaha
96. Om Baalaaya namaha
97. Om Baalaparaakramaaya namaha
98. Om Sarvaapattaaranaaya namaha
99. Om Durgaaya namaha
100. Om Dushta Bhuutanishevitaaya namaha
101. Om Kaamine namaha
102. Om Kalaanidhaye namaha
103. Om Kaantaaya namaha
104. Om Kaaminiivashakridvashine namaha
105. Om Sarvasiddhipadaaya namaha
106. Om Vaidyaaya namaha
107. Om Prabhave namaha
108. 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