Shiva Kavacham
Shiva Kavacham is a powerful Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva, designed as a protective armor (Kavach) for devotees. It is believed that reciting this sacred text bestows divine blessings, removes obstacles, and provides spiritual and physical protection. This hymn is deeply rooted in Hindu traditions and is revered for its mystical and meditative significance.
Meaning and Significance of Shiva Kavacham
The word Kavacham (कवचम्) means armor or shield. Just as a warrior wears armor for protection in battle, Shiva Kavacham acts as a spiritual shield against negative energies, fears, diseases, and adversities. It invokes the supreme power of Lord Shiva to safeguard the devotee from physical and metaphysical dangers.
Shiva Kavacham is known to:
- Offer Protection: It creates a protective aura around the reciter.
- Bestow Strength and Courage: It fills the mind with determination and fearlessness.
- Remove Negative Influences: It helps in warding off evil spirits, black magic, and negative planetary effects.
- Enhance Spiritual Growth: It aids in meditation and devotion, bringing one closer to Shiva consciousness.
- Improve Health and Well-being: It is believed to eliminate ailments and bring peace of mind.
Structure and Composition
Shiva Kavacham is usually composed in Sanskrit and follows a poetic and rhythmic meter. It consists of verses praising Lord Shiva and seeking his divine protection. Some versions also include Nyasa (ritual placements of mantras on different body parts) and Dhyana (meditative verses) to enhance its potency.
It generally includes:
- Invocation (Dhyanam): Meditating upon Lord Shiva’s divine form.
- Main Hymn: Verses describing different aspects of Shiva and requesting protection for various body parts.
- Phala Shruti: The benefits of reciting the Kavacham.
Shiva Kavacham
atha śivakacham
asya śrī śivakavacha stōtra mahāmantrasya ।
ṛṣabha-yōgīśvara ṛṣiḥ ।
anuṣṭup Chandaḥ ।
śrī-sāmbasadāśivō dēvatā ।
ōṃ bījam ।
namaḥ śaktiḥ ।
śivāyēti kīlakam ।
sāmbasadāśivaprītyarthē japē viniyōgaḥ ॥
karanyāsaḥ
ōṃ sadāśivāya aṅguṣṭhābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
naṃ gaṅgādharāya tarjanībhyāṃ namaḥ ।
maṃ mṛtyuñjayāya madhyamābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
śiṃ śūlapāṇayē anāmikābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
vāṃ pinākapāṇayē kaniṣṭhikābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
yaṃ umāpatayē karatalakarapṛṣṭhābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
hṛdayādi aṅganyāsaḥ
ōṃ sadāśivāya hṛdayāya namaḥ ।
naṃ gaṅgādharāya śirasē svāhā ।
maṃ mṛtyuñjayāya śikhāyai vaṣaṭ ।
śiṃ śūlapāṇayē kavachāya hum ।
vāṃ pinākapāṇayē nētratrayāya vauṣaṭ ।
yaṃ umāpatayē astrāya phaṭ ।
bhūrbhuvassuvarōmiti digbandhaḥ ॥
dhyānam
vajradaṃṣṭraṃ trinayanaṃ kālakaṇṭha marindamam ।
sahasrakara-matyugraṃ vandē śambhuṃ umāpatim ॥
rudrākṣa-kaṅkaṇa-lasatkara-daṇḍayugmaḥ pālāntarā-lasita-bhasmadhṛta-tripuṇḍraḥ ।
pañchākṣaraṃ paripaṭhan varamantrarājaṃ dhyāyan sadā paśupatiṃ śaraṇaṃ vrajēthāḥ ॥
ataḥ paraṃ sarvapurāṇa-guhyaṃ niḥśēṣa-pāpaughaharaṃ pavitram ।
jayapradaṃ sarva-vipatpramōchanaṃ vakṣyāmi śaivaṃ kavachaṃ hitāya tē ॥
pañchapūjā
laṃ pṛthivyātmanē gandhaṃ samarpayāmi ।
haṃ ākāśātmanē puṣpaiḥ pūjayāmi ।
yaṃ vāyvātmanē dhūpaṃ āghrāpayāmi ।
raṃ agnyātmanē dīpaṃ darśayāmi ।
vaṃ amṛtātmanē amṛtaṃ mahā-naivēdyaṃ nivēdayāmi ।
saṃ sarvātmanē sarvōpachāra-pūjāṃ samarpayāmi ॥
mantraḥ
ṛṣabha uvācha ।
namaskṛtya mahādēvaṃ viśva-vyāpina-mīśvaram ।
vakṣyē śivamayaṃ varma sarvarakṣākaraṃ nṛṇām ॥ 1 ॥
śuchau dēśē samāsīnō yathāvatkalpitāsanaḥ ।
jitēndriyō jitaprāṇa-śchintayēchChivamavyayam ॥ 2 ॥
hṛtpuṇḍarīkāntarasanniviṣṭaṃ
svatējasā vyāpta-nabhō’vakāśam ।
atīndriyaṃ sūkṣmamanantamādyaṃ
dhyāyētparānandamayaṃ mahēśam ॥ 3 ॥
dhyānāvadhūtākhilakarmabandha-
-śchiraṃ chidānandanimagnachētāḥ ।
ṣaḍakṣaranyāsasamāhitātmā
śaivēna kuryātkavachēna rakṣām ॥ 4 ॥
māṃ pātu dēvō’khiladēvatātmā
saṃsārakūpē patitaṃ gabhīrē ।
tannāma divyaṃ varamantramūlaṃ
dhunōtu mē sarvamaghaṃ hṛdistham ॥ 5 ॥
sarvatra māṃ rakṣatu viśvamūrti-
-rjyōti-rmayānandaghanaśchidātmā ।
aṇōraṇīyānuruśaktirēkaḥ
sa īśvaraḥ pātu bhayādaśēṣāt ॥ 6 ॥
yō bhūsvarūpēṇa bibharti viśvaṃ
pāyātsa bhūmērgiriśō’ṣṭamūrtiḥ ।
yō’pāṃ svarūpēṇa nṛṇāṃ karōti
sañjīvanaṃ sō’vatu māṃ jalēbhyaḥ ॥ 7 ॥
kalpāvasānē bhuvanāni dagdhvā
sarvāṇi yō nṛtyati bhūrilīlaḥ ।
sa kālarudrō’vatu māṃ davāgnē-
-rvātyādibhītē-rakhilāchcha tāpāt ॥ 8 ॥
pradīpta-vidyutkanakāvabhāsō
vidyāvarābhīti-kuṭhārapāṇiḥ ।
chaturmukhastatpuruṣastrinētraḥ
prāchyāṃ sthitō rakṣatu māmajasram ॥ 9 ॥
kuṭhāra khēṭāṅkuśapāśaśūla
kapālapāśākṣa guṇāndadhānaḥ ।
chaturmukhō nīla-ruchistrinētraḥ
pāyādaghōrō diśi dakṣiṇasyām ॥ 10 ॥
kundēndu-śaṅkha-sphaṭikāvabhāsō
vēdākṣamālā-varadābhayāṅkaḥ ।
tryakṣaśchaturvaktra uruprabhāvaḥ
sadyō’dhijātō’vatu māṃ pratīchyām ॥ 11 ॥
varākṣa-mālābhayaṭaṅka-hastaḥ
sarōja-kiñjalkasamānavarṇaḥ ।
trilōchana-śchāruchaturmukhō māṃ
pāyādudīchyāṃ diśi vāmadēvaḥ ॥ 12 ॥
vēdābhayēṣṭāṅkuśaṭaṅkapāśa-
-kapālaḍhakkākṣara-śūlapāṇiḥ ।
sitadyutiḥ pañchamukhō’vatānmā-
-mīśāna ūrdhvaṃ paramaprakāśaḥ ॥ 13 ॥
mūrdhānamavyānmama chandramauḻiḥ
phālaṃ mamāvyādatha phālanētraḥ ।
nētrē mamāvyādbhaganētrahārī
nāsāṃ sadā rakṣatu viśvanāthaḥ ॥ 14 ॥
pāyāchChrutī mē śrutigītakīrtiḥ
kapōlamavyātsatataṃ kapālī ।
vaktraṃ sadā rakṣatu pañchavaktrō
jihvāṃ sadā rakṣatu vēdajihvaḥ ॥ 15 ॥
kaṇṭhaṃ girīśō’vatu nīlakaṇṭhaḥ
pāṇidvayaṃ pātu pinākapāṇiḥ ।
dōrmūlamavyānmama dharmabāhuḥ
vakṣaḥsthalaṃ dakṣamakhāntakō’vyāt ॥ 16 ॥
mamōdaraṃ pātu girīndradhanvā
madhyaṃ mamāvyānmadanāntakārī ।
hērambatātō mama pātu nābhiṃ
pāyātkaṭiṃ dhūrjaṭirīśvarō mē ॥ 17 ॥
[smarāri-ravyānmama guhyadēśam
pṛṣṭaṃ sadā rakṣatu pārvatīśaḥ ।]
ūrudvayaṃ pātu kubēramitrō
jānudvayaṃ mē jagadīśvarō’vyāt ।
jaṅghāyugaṃ puṅgavakēturavyā-
-tpādau mamāvyātsuravandyapādaḥ ॥ 18 ॥
mahēśvaraḥ pātu dinādiyāmē
māṃ madhyayāmē’vatu vāmadēvaḥ ।
trilōchanaḥ pātu tṛtīyayāmē
vṛṣadhvajaḥ pātu dināntyayāmē ॥ 19 ॥
pāyānniśādau śaśiśēkharō māṃ
gaṅgādharō rakṣatu māṃ niśīthē ।
gaurīpatiḥ pātu niśāvasānē
mṛtyuñjayō rakṣatu sarvakālam ॥ 20 ॥
antaḥsthitaṃ rakṣatu śaṅkarō māṃ
sthāṇuḥ sadā pātu bahiḥsthitaṃ mām ।
tadantarē pātu patiḥ paśūnāṃ
sadāśivō rakṣatu māṃ samantāt ॥ 21 ॥
tiṣṭhanta-mavyādbhuvanaikanāthaḥ
pāyādvrajantaṃ pramathādhināthaḥ ।
vēdāntavēdyō’vatu māṃ niṣaṇṇaṃ
māmavyayaḥ pātu śivaḥ śayānam ॥ 22 ॥
mārgēṣu māṃ rakṣatu nīlakaṇṭhaḥ
śailādi-durgēṣu puratrayāriḥ ।
araṇyavāsādi-mahāpravāsē
pāyānmṛgavyādha udāraśaktiḥ ॥ 23 ॥
kalpānta-kālōgra-paṭuprakōpaḥ [kaṭōpa]
sphuṭāṭṭa-hāsōchchalitāṇḍa-kōśaḥ ।
ghōrāri-sēnārṇavadurnivāra-
-mahābhayādrakṣatu vīrabhadraḥ ॥ 24 ॥
pattyaśvamātaṅga-rathāvarūdhinī- [ghaṭāvarūtha]
-sahasra-lakṣāyuta-kōṭibhīṣaṇam ।
akṣauhiṇīnāṃ śatamātatāyināṃ
Chindyānmṛḍō ghōrakuṭhāradhārayā ॥ 25 ॥
nihantu dasyūnpraḻayānalārchi-
-rjvalattriśūlaṃ tripurāntakasya ।
śārdūla-siṃharkṣavṛkādi-hiṃsrān
santrāsayatvīśa-dhanuḥ pinākaḥ ॥ 26 ॥
dussvapna duśśakuna durgati daurmanasya
durbhikṣa durvyasana dussaha duryaśāṃsi ।
utpāta-tāpa-viṣabhīti-masadgrahārtiṃ
vyādhīṃścha nāśayatu mē jagatāmadhīśaḥ ॥ 27 ॥
ōṃ namō bhagavatē sadāśivāya
sakala-tattvātmakāya
sarva-mantra-svarūpāya
sarva-yantrādhiṣṭhitāya
sarva-tantra-svarūpāya
sarva-tattva-vidūrāya
brahma-rudrāvatāriṇē-nīlakaṇṭhāya
pārvatīmanōharapriyāya
sōma-sūryāgni-lōchanāya
bhasmōddhūḻita-vigrahāya
mahāmaṇi-mukuṭa-dhāraṇāya
māṇikya-bhūṣaṇāya
sṛṣṭisthiti-praḻayakāla-raudrāvatārāya
dakṣādhvara-dhvaṃsakāya
mahākāla-bhēdanāya
mūladhāraika-nilayāya
tatvātītāya
gaṅgādharāya
sarva-dēvādi-dēvāya
ṣaḍāśrayāya
vēdānta-sārāya
trivarga-sādhanāya
anantakōṭi-brahmāṇḍa-nāyakāya
ananta-vāsuki-takṣaka-karkōṭaka-śaṅkha-kulika-padma-mahāpadmēti-aṣṭa-mahā-nāga-kulabhūṣaṇāya
praṇavasvarūpāya
chidākāśāya
ākāśa-dik-svarūpāya
graha-nakṣatra-mālinē
sakalāya
kalaṅka-rahitāya
sakala-lōkaika-kartrē
sakala-lōkaika-bhartrē
sakala-lōkaika-saṃhartrē
sakala-lōkaika-guravē
sakala-lōkaika-sākṣiṇē
sakala-nigamaguhyāya
sakala-vēdānta-pāragāya
sakala-lōkaika-varapradāya
sakala-lōkaika-śaṅkarāya
sakala-duritārti-bhañjanāya
sakala-jagadabhayaṅkarāya
śaśāṅka-śēkharāya
śāśvata-nijāvāsāya
nirākārāya
nirābhāsāya
nirāmayāya
nirmalāya
nirlōbhāya
nirmadāya
niśchintāya
nirahaṅkārāya
niraṅkuśāya
niṣkalaṅkāya
nirguṇāya
niṣkāmāya
nirūpaplavāya
niravadhyayā
nirantarāya
nirupadravāya
niravadyāya
nirantarāya
niṣkāraṇāya
nirātaṅkāya
niṣprapañchāya
nissaṅgāya
nirdvandvāya
nirādhārāya
nīrāgāya
niśkrodhaya
nirlobhaya
niṣpāpāya
nirvikalpāya
nirbhēdāya
niṣkriyāya
nistulāya
niśśaṃśayāya
nirañjanāya
nirupamavibhavāya
nityaśuddhabuddhamuktaparipūrṇa-sachchidānandādvayāya
paramaśāntasvarūpāya
paramaśāntaprakāśāya
tējōrūpāya
tējōmayāya
tējō’dhipatayē
jaya jaya rudra mahārudra
mahā-raudra
bhadrāvatāra
mahā-bhairava
kāla-bhairava
kalpānta-bhairava
kapāla-mālādhara
khaṭvāṅga-charma-khaḍga-dhara
pāśāṅkuśa-ḍamarūśūla-chāpa-bāṇa-gadā-śakti-bhindi-
pāla-tōmara-musala-bhuśuṇḍī-mudgara-pāśa-parigha-śataghnī-chakrādyāyudha-bhīṣaṇākāra
sahasra-mukha
daṃṣṭrākarāla-vadana
vikaṭāṭṭahāsa
visphātita-brahmāṇḍa-maṇḍala-nāgēndrakuṇḍala
nāgēndrahāra
nāgēndravalaya
nāgēndracharmadhara
nāgēndranikētana
mṛtyuñjaya
tryambaka
tripurāntaka
viśvarūpa
virūpākṣa
viśvēśvara
vṛṣabhavāhana
viṣavibhūṣaṇa
viśvatōmukha
sarvatōmukha
māṃ rakṣa rakṣa
jvala jvala
prajvala prajvala
mahāmṛtyubhayaṃ śamaya śamaya
apamṛtyubhayaṃ nāśaya nāśaya
rōgabhayaṃ utsādaya utsādaya
viṣasarpabhayaṃ śamaya śamaya
chōrān māraya māraya
mama śatrūn uchchāṭaya uchchāṭaya
triśūlēna vidāraya vidāraya
kuṭhārēṇa bhindhi bhindhi
khaḍgēna Chinddi Chinddi
khaṭvāṅgēna vipōdhaya vipōdhaya
mama pāpaṃ śōdhaya śōdhaya
musalēna niṣpēṣaya niṣpēṣaya
bāṇaiḥ santāḍaya santāḍaya
yakṣa rakṣāṃsi bhīṣaya bhīṣaya
aśēṣa bhūtān vidrāvaya vidrāvaya
kūṣmāṇḍa-bhūta-bētāla-mārīgaṇa-brahmarākṣasagaṇān santrāsaya santrāsaya
mama abhayaṃ kuru kuru
[mama pāpaṃ śōdhaya śōdhaya]
naraka-mahābhayān māṃ uddhara uddhara
vitrastaṃ māṃ āśvāsaya āśvāsaya
amṛta-kaṭākṣa-vīkṣaṇēna māṃ ālōkaya ālōkaya
sañjīvaya sañjīvaya
kṣuttṛṣṇārtaṃ māṃ āpyāyaya āpyāyaya
duḥkhāturaṃ māṃ ānandaya ānandaya
śivakavachēna māṃ āchChādaya āchChādaya
hara hara
hara hara
mṛtyuñjaya
tryambaka
sadāśiva
paramaśiva
namastē namastē namastē namaḥ ॥
pūrvavat – hṛdayādi nyāsaḥ ।
pañchapūjā ॥
bhūrbhuvassuvarōmiti digvimōkaḥ ॥
phalaśrutiḥ
ṛṣabha uvācha ।
ityētatkavachaṃ śaivaṃ varadaṃ vyāhṛtaṃ mayā ।
sarva-bādhā-praśamanaṃ rahasyaṃ sarvadēhinām ॥ 1 ॥
yaḥ sadā dhārayēnmartyaḥ śaivaṃ kavachamuttamam ।
na tasya jāyatē kvāpi bhayaṃ śambhōranugrahāt ॥ 2 ॥
kṣīṇāyu-rmṛtyumāpannō mahārōgahatō’pi vā ।
sadyaḥ sukhamavāpnōti dīrghamāyuścha vindati ॥ 3 ॥
sarvadāridryaśamanaṃ saumāṅgalya-vivardhanam ।
yō dhattē kavachaṃ śaivaṃ sa dēvairapi pūjyatē ॥ 4 ॥
mahāpātaka-saṅghātairmuchyatē chōpapātakaiḥ ।
dēhāntē śivamāpnōti śiva-varmānubhāvataḥ ॥ 5 ॥
tvamapi śraddhayā vatsa śaivaṃ kavachamuttamam ।
dhārayasva mayā dattaṃ sadyaḥ śrēyō hyavāpsyasi ॥ 6 ॥
sūta uvācha ।
ityuktvā ṛṣabhō yōgī tasmai pārthiva-sūnavē ।
dadau śaṅkhaṃ mahārāvaṃ khaḍgaṃ chāriniṣūdanam ॥ 7 ॥
punaścha bhasma sammantrya tadaṅgaṃ sarvatō’spṛśat ।
gajānāṃ ṣaṭsahasrasya dviguṇaṃ cha balaṃ dadau ॥ 8 ॥
bhasmaprabhāvātsamprāpya balaiśvaryadhṛtismṛtiḥ ।
sa rājaputraḥ śuśubhē śaradarka iva śriyā ॥ 9 ॥
tamāha prāñjaliṃ bhūyaḥ sa yōgī rājanandanam ।
ēṣa khaḍgō mayā dattastapōmantrānubhāvataḥ ॥ 10 ॥
śitadhāramimaṃ khaḍgaṃ yasmai darśayasi sphuṭam ।
sa sadyō mriyatē śatruḥ sākṣānmṛtyurapi svayam ॥ 11 ॥
asya śaṅkhasya nihrādaṃ yē śṛṇvanti tavāhitāḥ ।
tē mūrChitāḥ patiṣyanti nyastaśastrā vichētanāḥ ॥ 12 ॥
khaḍgaśaṅkhāvimau divyau parasainyavināśinau ।
ātmasainyasvapakṣāṇāṃ śauryatējōvivardhanau ॥ 13 ॥
ētayōścha prabhāvēna śaivēna kavachēna cha ।
dviṣaṭsahasranāgānāṃ balēna mahatāpi cha ॥ 14 ॥
bhasmadhāraṇasāmarthyāchChatrusainyaṃ vijēṣyasi ।
prāpya siṃhāsanaṃ paitryaṃ gōptāsi pṛthivīmimām ॥ 15 ॥
iti bhadrāyuṣaṃ samyaganuśāsya samātṛkam ।
tābhyāṃ sampūjitaḥ sō’tha yōgī svairagatiryayau ॥ 16 ॥
iti śrīskāndamahāpurāṇē brahmōttarakhaṇḍē śivakavacha prabhāva varṇanaṃ nāma dvādaśō’dhyāyaḥ sampūrṇaḥ ॥
Benefits of Reciting Shiva Kavacham
- Spiritual Protection: Shields from negative energies and evil forces.
- Mental Peace: Calms the mind, reducing stress and anxiety.
- Health and Healing: Helps in curing diseases and enhancing vitality.
- Planetary Dosha Relief: Reduces the malefic effects of planets like Shani (Saturn) and Rahu.
- Success in Life: Grants strength, confidence, and victory over obstacles.
How to Recite Shiva Kavacham
To maximize the benefits, follow these guidelines:
- Best Time: Early morning during Brahma Muhurta or in the evening.
- Cleanse Yourself: Bathe and wear clean clothes before chanting.
- Sacred Space: Sit in a peaceful place, preferably near a Shiva Linga or a picture of Lord Shiva.
- Use a Rudraksha Mala: Chant with a Rudraksha bead mala for better focus.
- Faith and Devotion: The power of the Kavacham increases with sincere devotion and regular recitation.
