கோசாலை / நன்கொடை
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026: Date, Ashtami Timings, Puja Vidhi and Kashi–Ujjain Pujas
வெளியிடப்பட்டது · புதுப்பிக்கப்பட்டது
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026 falls on Tuesday, 1 December 2026. Ashtami tithi runs from 12:11 AM to 11:13 PM that day (New Delhi). Devotees honour Kaal Bhairav, the fierce form of Shiva revered as the Kotwal of Kashi, with a fast and night worship. Many also book a Bhairav puja at Kashi, Ujjain or Tarapith.
The Divine Hindu App is here.
Chat with astrologers, generate your Kundli, book temple Puja and Chadhava, and check today's Panchang — all in one app.
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026 date and Ashtami timings
Kalabhairav Jayanti, also called Kal Bhairav Ashtami, is kept on Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami in the purnimanta calendar of North India. In the amanta calendar of South and West India, the same day is Kartika Krishna Ashtami. The month name differs, but the date is the same.
| Detail | Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, 1 December 2026 |
| Tithi | Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami |
| Ashtami begins | 1 Dec, 12:11 AM |
| Ashtami ends | 1 Dec, 11:13 PM |
| Rule | Ashtami prevailing at night |
Another panchang gives 12:12 AM to 11:14 PM. New Delhi timings; your city may differ by a few minutes. If a website shows 30 November, check its location setting. That date comes from a calendar set to a US city, not India.
Who is Kaal Bhairav
Kaal Bhairav is a fierce form of Shiva. Kaal means time, and devotees revere him as the lord whom even time obeys. In the Puranic account, Bhairav appeared from Shiva to humble Brahma's pride and cut off one of Brahma's five heads. The skull clung to his hand until he reached Kashi, where it fell away.
Kashi became his seat. In tradition he is the Kotwal, the guardian of the city, and many pilgrims believe a Kashi yatra is incomplete without his darshan. Ujjain too honours him as a guardian, at Bhairavgarh. He is shown with a trident, a damru and a skull-bowl, and his vahana is a dog.
Bhairav is also worshipped as Kshetrapala, the guardian of a sacred place. Many Shiva and Devi temples have a Bhairav shrine, and devotees visit it to complete their darshan.
How devotees observe Kalabhairav Jayanti
- Fast: Many keep a fast from sunrise, taking fruit and milk or one simple meal, as family custom allows.
- Night worship: The main worship is after sunset, as the Jayanti is kept on the Ashtami that prevails at night.
- Bhairav Ashtakam: Devotees recite the Kalabhairava Ashtakam, the eight-verse hymn attributed in tradition to Adi Shankaracharya.
- Feeding dogs: As the dog is his vahana, many devotees feed dogs on this day.
- Vigil: Some families sing bhajans late into the night. In Kashi, Jayanti-night worship can continue through all four prahars, or watches.
In 2026 the Jayanti falls on a Tuesday, a day many already keep for Bhairav along with Sunday.
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti puja vidhi at home
- Bathe in the evening, clean the puja space and place an image of Bhairav or a Shivling.
- Take a sankalp with your name, gotra and the purpose of the puja.
- Light a mustard-oil lamp and incense.
- Offer black sesame, urad, sindoor and flowers.
- Recite the Kalabhairava Ashtakam, or chant "Om Kalabhairavaya Namah" 108 times on a mala.
- Perform aarti, offer naivedya/prasad to the deity as your family custom directs, and share it at home.
- If you can, feed a dog or give daan to someone in need.
For the full sequence of a havan and aarti, read Bhairav puja, havan and aarti vidhi.
Kalashtami: Bhairav's monthly day
Kalashtami is the Ashtami of every Krishna Paksha, the waning fortnight. Bhairav devotees fast or light a lamp to him on each one. The Kalashtami of Margashirsha (purnimanta) is the one marked as his Jayanti. Check your panchang for each month's date. Our guide on when to do Bhairav puja explains the monthly and yearly days.
Pujas you can book for Kaal Bhairav Jayanti
If you cannot travel, Divine Hindu arranges Bhairav pujas at these places:
- Kaal Bhairav Jayanti Four-Prahar Abhishek & Bhog — Kashi: abhishek, shringar and bhog through the four watches of the Jayanti night, with a shared sankalp.
- Trishul Maha Abhishek — Kaal Bhairav Mandir, Kashi: a grand abhishek for the Kotwal of Kashi; where it is offered is confirmed before booking.
- Kal Bhairav Puja with Two Priests — Ujjain: two local priests perform the puja; the venue is confirmed before booking.
- Group Bhairav Havan & Raksha Kavach Path — Vikrant Bhairav Mandir, Ujjain: a shared havan with the Raksha Kavach recitation.
- Kaal Bhairav Puja — Maa Tara, Tarapith: a puja of three to four hours by a local priest in the Shakti tirtha of Birbhum.
Browse all Kaal Bhairav Jayanti pujas, or Kaal Bhairav pujas for Kalashtami and other days. When you book, your name and gotra are taken in the sankalp, and video or photos are shared as each puja page states. The four-prahar Kashi puja takes place only on the Jayanti night, so book a few days ahead. Divine Hindu is an independent service, not affiliated with the temple administration.
To understand the two cities' traditions, read Bhairav puja: meaning, Kashi and Ujjain traditions.
Frequently asked questions
When is Kaal Bhairav Jayanti in 2026?
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti is on Tuesday, 1 December 2026. Ashtami tithi begins at 12:11 AM and ends at 11:13 PM on 1 December, New Delhi time. It is Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami in the purnimanta calendar and Kartika Krishna Ashtami in the amanta calendar.
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti kab hai: 30 November or 1 December 2026?
It is on 1 December 2026, a Tuesday. Panchangs calculated for New Delhi list 1 December. Pages showing 30 November are using a calendar set to a US location, where the local date differs. Devotees in India should keep the fast and night worship on 1 December.
Is Kaal Bhairav Jayanti the same as Kalashtami?
Kalashtami is the Krishna Paksha Ashtami that comes every month and is kept for Bhairav. Kaal Bhairav Jayanti is the Kalashtami of Margashirsha (purnimanta), which tradition marks as the day Bhairav appeared. So the Jayanti is a Kalashtami, but only one Kalashtami a year is the Jayanti.
What is offered to Kaal Bhairav on his Jayanti?
Traditional offerings are a mustard-oil lamp, black sesame, urad, sindoor and flowers, with Bhairav mantras or the Kalabhairava Ashtakam. Families offer naivedya as their custom directs and share it at home afterwards. Many devotees also feed dogs, since the dog is Bhairav's vahana in tradition.
Why is Kaal Bhairav called the Kotwal of Kashi?
A kotwal is the guardian or chief protector of a town. In tradition, Kashi became Bhairav's seat after Brahma's skull fell from his hand there. Devotees believe he watches over the city and its pilgrims, and many visit his temple to seek his blessing during a Kashi yatra.
Can I book a Kaal Bhairav puja if I cannot travel?
Yes. Divine Hindu arranges Bhairav pujas at Kashi, Ujjain and Tarapith. Your name and gotra are taken in the sankalp, and video or photos are shared as each puja page states. The four-prahar abhishek in Kashi happens only on the Jayanti night, so book a few days before 1 December.
To explore temple pujas for every occasion, visit Pooja Seva.
Pujas are offered in faith; no outcome is promised.
