Shloka 11
Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca
Sūta’s Return to Kāśī and the Observances of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and Tripuṇḍra
कालभैरवनाथं च संपूज्याथ विधानतः । प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य पुनस्त्रेधा नत्वा च पंचधा
kālabhairavanāthaṃ ca saṃpūjyātha vidhānataḥ | pradakṣiṇīkṛtya punastredhā natvā ca paṃcadhā
Dann, nachdem Kālabhairava Nātha gemäß der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung verehrt worden ist, soll man die Pradakṣiṇā (Umrundung) vollziehen und erneut niederfallen—dreimal, und auch in der fünfgliedrigen Verneigung.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Kālabhairava
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kālabhairava is classically linked with Kāśī as its kṣetrapāla (guardian); worship and pradakṣiṇā/namaskāra to Bhairava are part of Kāśī-kṣetra observance surrounding Viśvanātha.
Significance: Bhairava worship is held to remove fear and obstacles, protect the sādhaka, and regulate entry into the sacred kṣetra; it supports disciplined approach to Śiva’s grace.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It teaches that devotion is perfected through disciplined, rule-based worship—honoring Kālabhairava (Śiva’s protective, time-transcending power) with reverence, circumambulation, and repeated prostration that cultivates humility and steadiness of mind.
Kālabhairava is a Saguna manifestation of Śiva; the verse emphasizes external ritual acts—pūjā, pradakṣiṇā, and namaskāra—as supports for inner surrender to Śiva, which in Shaiva Siddhanta matures the soul’s devotion toward the Lord (Pati).
Perform pūjā as per vidhi, then do pradakṣiṇā and structured namaskāra (threefold and fivefold), using the body’s reverence to anchor the mind in Śiva-bhakti—especially suitable as a Mahāśivarātri-style observance.