Counts explained
1000 Names of Kalabhairava
Search results mix “1,000 names of Kalabhairava”, “108 names of Bhairava”, and “1,008 names” lists. They are not a contradiction: different stotras, namavali traditions and recensions preserve different counts. This site's edition of the Kalabhairava Sahasranama contains 1,000 names with English meanings, Devanagari and transliteration — and every one of them is readable here.
The counts, side by side
- 1,000 names: “Sahasranama” literally means a thousand names. This site's text has exactly 1,000 positions, chanted as salutations to Kalabhairava.
- 108 names: a traditional short count for daily practice. The 108-name page takes names 1–108 from this Sahasranama.
- 1,008 names: an auspicious count used in some stotra and namavali traditions. A 1,008-name list is a different devotional text/recension — not a correction to the 1,000-name list.
The point of comparison is the names themselves, not only the headline number. Different lists overlap heavily because the same Lord is invoked through many epithets.
Where the 1,000 names sit
The full Sahasranama is organized into 10 ranges of one hundred names each for practical reading and citation:
| # | Names | Start → end | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1–100 | BHAIRAVAAYA → KAPAYE | Read range |
| 2 | 101–200 | KAAMADEVAAYA → CANDRASANJIIVANAAYA | Read range |
| 3 | 201–300 | CITRAAYA → DURVAASASE | Read range |
| 4 | 301–400 | DVIJAAYA → PURANJAYAAYA | Read range |
| 5 | 401–500 | PAVITRAPAANAYE → MANTRAAYA | Read range |
| 6 | 501–600 | MANGGALAAYA → LAKSHAYAJNAAYA | Read range |
| 7 | 601–700 | LAKSHANAAYA → VISHALYAAYA | Read range |
| 8 | 701–800 | LOKASHALYAKRITE → SAMVATSARAAYA | Read range |
| 9 | 801–900 | SHISHAVE → SUBHUUMAYE | Read range |
| 10 | 901–1000 | SATPARAAYANAAYA → BHAKTAANAAM SVARNADAAYAKAAYA | Read range |
Prefer one page per name? The names hub links every range, and each entry links to its own page with the Devanagari spelling, IAST form, alternate romanizations, and longer meaning note. There are 925 unique name pages covering the repeated names in the text.
Why the counts differ
A Sahasranama is a living devotional text, not a single fixed file. Manuscripts, regional editions and modern compilations include different numbers of names, and devotional publishers sometimes round the count. The important thing is the identity of the Lord invoked and the sincerity of the recitation, not the headline number on a cover.
This site is explicit about its own text: 1000 names, each with a meaning and explanation, presented in the traditional dative salutation form.
Questions about the count
How many names does Kalabhairava have?
Hindu tradition preserves several Kalabhairava and Shiva namavali texts, so counts differ. This project presents a 1,000-name Kalabhairava Sahasranama. Shorter sets such as 108 names are used for daily practice, and some stotra traditions use 1,008 names. The different counts come from different texts and recensions, not one fixed list.
Is there a 1,008-name Kalabhairava list?
One thousand and eight is a sacred count used in many stotras and namavali traditions, and some Kalabhairava or Shiva-related lists use it. This site’s text is the 1,000-name Kalabhairava Sahasranama; the 108-name page offers a compact practice set drawn from it.
What is the Kalabhairava Sahasranama?
A Sahasranama is a devotional sequence of one thousand names. Kalabhairava, the fierce protective form of Shiva associated with time and the guardianship of Kashi, is invoked in this text through 1,000 dative-case salutations (“... namaḥ”), each with a meaning and explanation on this site.
Where can I read all 1,000 names?
The names hub lists the full text in ten 100-name ranges; every name has its own reference page. A printable PDF is available from the download page.