Bhairavnath Aarti
श्री भैरवनाथाची आरती
What is the Bhairavnath Aarti?
Bhairavnath Aarti The Bhairavnath Aarti is a Marathi devotional song to Bhairavnath, the fierce guardian form of Shiva worshipped across Maharashtra as Bahiroba and Kshetrapal, sung to seek his protection.
The Bhairavnath Aarti is a five-verse Marathi hymn to Bhairavnath, the guardian form of Shiva known in villages across Maharashtra as Bahiroba and Kshetrapal. Beginning with the refrain Jai dev jai dev jai Bhairavnatha, it praises his feet, asks for the gift of singing his name, and calls on him to remove fear and danger. The closing verse carries the signature of the Marathi poet-saint Mukteshwar.
Bhairavnath Aarti Lyrics (English)
Roman transliteration for easy chanting. Tap “Meaning” under any verse for the English translation.
Refrain
Jai dev jai dev jai Bhairavnatha
Sundar padayug toojhen vandin nijamatha
Bhairavnatha gaurav de maj bhajanachen
Raurav sankat nashi janana-nidhanachen
Nishidini deva de maj gunakirtan vache
Kairavapadanakhachandri kari man mam sachen
Meaning
The devotee asks Bhairavnath for the honour of singing his praise and for the terrible pains of birth and death to be undone. He prays that his voice keep the Lord's praise day and night, and that his mind rest truly on the moon-white nails of those feet.
Bhavabhayabhanjan sajjanaranjan gurudeva
Padaraj anjan letan pragate nij theva
Jevha darshan desi bhagyoday tevha
Anant punyen ladhe amha tav seva
Meaning
He breaks the fear of worldly life and gladdens the good; the dust of his feet, worn like eye-collyrium, reveals the hidden treasure within. The day he grants his sight is the dawn of good fortune, and his service is won only through boundless merit.
Kalimalashamana danavadamana de pani
Damarurava amarante nirbhay sukhadani
Kashirakshak takshakamaladhar charani
Todar miravi aringan mastaki manakarni
Meaning
He washes away the stains of the Kali age and subdues the demons; the beat of his damaru gives the immortals a fearless joy. As guardian of Kashi he wears the serpent Takshaka for a garland, anklets ringing at his feet.
Lakshi karunachakshi anuchar nijapakshi
Bhakshi dushtan sushtan sanrakshi
Sakshi karmakarmi jagadantarakukshi
Mumukshupakshi vasati tav padasuravrikshi
Meaning
With eyes of mercy he watches over those who take his side, striking down the wicked and sheltering the good. He is the silent witness of every deed and non-deed, holding the whole world within, and seekers of freedom dwell at the wish-granting tree of his feet.
Sonari puradhami Bhairav kulaswami
Smaratan satvar pavasi sankatharanami
Ichchhit desi dasan jo jo jen kami
Mukteshvari hetu nishchay kuladharmi
Meaning
Honoured at Sonari as the family guardian Bhairav, he comes quickly the moment he is remembered and lives up to his name as the remover of danger. He grants each devotee whatever they truly need, and the poet Mukteshwar affirms him as the sure deity of the family tradition.
Meaning & Significance
The Bhairavnath Aarti reads as a plea for protection. Each verse names a role Bhairavnath plays for his devotees: he undoes the pain of birth and death, keeps his praise on their lips, subdues demons, and shelters the good while punishing the wicked. The imagery is drawn from Shaiva tradition, with the serpent garland, the damaru drum, and the guardianship of Kashi all pointing to Bhairavnath as a fierce, watchful form of Shiva.
In Maharashtra this deity is deeply local. He is called Bahiroba or Kshetrapal, the keeper of the village boundary and the family’s protective guardian (kuldaivat). The last verse ties the aarti to a specific shrine at Sonari and signs off with the name of Mukteshwar, marking it as part of the Marathi saint-poet tradition rather than a pan-Indian text. Singing it is a way of placing oneself and one’s household under Bhairavnath’s watch.
How Do You Perform the Aarti?
- Prepare the space — Clean the area before the image or idol of Bhairavnath, light a ghee or oil lamp, and offer incense. A black or dark cloth and flowers are traditional for a fierce guardian deity.
- Begin with the refrain — Start by singing the opening line, Jai dev jai dev jai Bhairavnatha, and return to it after each verse, as the Devanagari markings (jay 0) indicate.
- Circle the lamp — Hold the lit aarti lamp and move it in slow clockwise circles before the deity while you sing, keeping the rhythm steady across all five verses.
- Close and share prasad — End with the closing line, ring the bell, take the flame's warmth to your eyes with your palms, and distribute prasad. A quiet moment of prayer for protection completes the aarti.
What Are the Benefits of Singing This Aarti?
Devotees sing the Bhairavnath Aarti to place themselves under the guardianship of a protective deity and to steady the mind.
- Sense of protection: Bhairavnath is invoked as a guardian who removes fear and danger, so the aarti is often sung for safety of the home and family.
- Focus and devotion: The repeated refrain and steady meter make the aarti easy to memorise, helping the mind settle into a calm, prayerful state.
- Connection to kuldaivat: For many Maharashtrian families Bhairavnath is the family guardian, and singing his aarti keeps that household tradition alive across generations.
- Relief from worry: The verses ask for the pains of life to be undone and for obstacles to be cleared, giving devotees a way to voice their anxieties and hand them over.
Who Wrote This Aarti?
The final verse carries the signature of Mukteshwar, the seventeenth-century Marathi poet-saint and grandson of Sant Eknath, who was known for his devotional verse. Like most traditional Marathi aartis it was passed down orally and in aarti-sangrah collections long before it was printed, so the exact date is not recorded. It is sung mainly in Maharashtra, where Bhairavnath, also called Bahiroba, is honoured as a village guardian and family deity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bhairavnath Aarti?
The Bhairavnath Aarti is a Marathi devotional song to Bhairavnath, the fierce guardian form of Shiva worshipped across Maharashtra as Bahiroba and Kshetrapal, sung to seek his protection.
Who is Bhairavnath?
Bhairavnath is a fierce form of Shiva, worshipped in Maharashtra as Bahiroba or Kshetrapal, the guardian of village boundaries and the protective family deity of many households.
Is this the same as the Kaal Bhairav Aarti?
No. This is the Marathi Bhairavnath (Bahiroba) aarti beginning Jai dev jai dev jai Bhairavnatha, distinct from the North Indian Kaal Bhairav aarti Jai Bhairav Deva, though both address forms of Bhairava.
When should the Bhairavnath Aarti be sung?
It is commonly sung on Sundays, on Ashtami, on Kalabhairav Jayanti, and during daily or festival worship at Bhairavnath and Bahiroba shrines.
Who composed the Bhairavnath Aarti?
The last verse bears the signature of the Marathi poet-saint Mukteshwar. The aarti is traditional and was handed down orally and through aarti collections.
॥ जय देव जय देव जय भैरवनाथा ॥