Kalabhairavashtakam



The Kalabhairava Ashtaka (कालभैरवअष्टक) is a Sanskrit hymn written by Adi Shankara. The hymn addresses Kalabhairava, a form of Shiva. It consists of eight stanzas, characteristic of an ashtakam.

Hymn
The first hymn of the work extols the deity: "deva rāja sevyamāna pāvanāṅghri paṅkajaṃ vyāla yajña sūtramindu śekharaṃ kṛpākaram nāradādi yogi vṛnda vanditaṃ digambaraṃ kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje""I worship Kalabhairava, the ruler of Kashi, adorned by lotus feet that are revered and served by Indra, who has a sacred thread made up of a snake, who has the moon on his forehead, the naked one, and the who has been sung by Narada and masters of yoga."