śrīdattātreyavajrakavacam

Salutations to Lord Ganesha. Salutations to Lord Dattatreya. The Rishis said: O Vedavyasa, how can the fulfillment of desires be attained in the Kali Yuga? What is declared to be the means for achieving Dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation)?

Vyasa said: Listen, O sages, to this means of quickly accomplishing one's resolve, which, by mere recitation once, bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation.

On the peak of the Himalayas, adorned with wish-fulfilling trees, situated in the center of a pavilion made of radiant, divine, precious gems and gold.

To the Supreme Lord, who is seated on a throne of jewels and is full of grace, whose lotus-like face is adorned with a gentle smile, Parvati spoke to Shankara.

The Goddess said: O God of gods, O Great God, O Benefactor of the world, O Shambhu, all the arrays of mantras and all the arrays of yantras in their entirety.

I have heard many tantras from you. Now, I wish to see the earth in particular.

Having heard these words spoken by Parvati, the Supreme Lord, with great satisfaction, stroked her with His hand and replied to her.

"Now, I shall depart with you, mounting the bull." Having said this, Shankara mounted the bull along with Parvati.

He went to see the earth, showing Gauri various wonders, and at one place, in the deep forest at the edge of the Vindhya mountains, which is very difficult to traverse.

There, a Bhilla (tribesman) carrying an axe approached to strike, and a great tiger, surrounded by claws and fangs, was being killed.

Possessing an extremely wondrous character and a body as indestructible as a diamond, He remains established in total happiness, effortlessly and without any exertion.

Seeing a tiger flee in fear after a deer that was running away, Parvati, observing this wonder, spoke to Shankara.

Shri Parvati said: What is this wonder? What is this wonder? O Shambhu, please look ahead. Having been thus addressed, Shambhu, the knower of the Puranas, looked and spoke.

Shri Shankara said: O Gauri, I shall tell you a wondrous thing that is beyond the reach of speech and mind; there is nothing anywhere that has not been seen by us before.

I shall now relate it to you briefly, O Parvati, listen. This is the story of a highly righteous Bhilla (tribesman) named Durasrava.

Having gone to the forest every day with effort, gather sacrificial wood, kusha grass, flowers, tubers, roots, fruits, and the like.

O Beloved, formerly He gave to the best of sages what they did not even desire; and they, the silent ones, in turn, also show compassion unto Him.

The great yogi Daladana, while residing in his own hermitage, once remembered the perfected one, Dattatreya, who is clad in the directions (sky-clad).

Dattatreya, who comes to those who remember Him, in order to test the history, that Lord of Yogis, Dattatreya, appeared instantly.

Seeing Him with astonishment and joy, the great sage Dalabhya worshipped Dattatreya, who was seated before him, and spoke to Him.

O Great Sage Dattatreya, I have invoked you and you have arrived; I wish to test the saying that you appear to those who remember you.

I have remembered You today, please forgive my offenses. Dattatreya said to the sage, "Such is my nature."

Whether with devotion or without devotion, whoever remembers Me with a single-minded focus, I immediately approach them and grant them their desired wishes.

Dattatreya said to the great sage Dalabhya, "Ask for whatever you desire, for which I have appeared because you remembered me."

The sage said to Dattatreya, "I have nothing to say; O best of sages, grant me whatever is already present in your mind."

Sri Dattatreya said: "Accept this Vajra Kavacha (Diamond Armor) of mine," he said to the sage. Upon the sage agreeing, saying "So be it," the sage (Dattatreya) imparted it to the sage Dalada.

He spoke the Vajra Kavacham, preceded by the Rishi and Chhandas, along with the Nyasa, Dhyana, the fruit thereof, and the purpose in its entirety.

Of this Sri Dattatreya Vajra Kavacha Stotra mantra, the sage is the great Rudra in the form of a hunter (Kirata), the meter is Anushtup, the deity is Sri Dattatreya, Draam is the seed (Bija), Aam is the power (Shakti), Kraum is the pin (Kilaka). Om, salutations to the Self. Om Dreem, salutations to the mind. Om Aam Dreem Shreem Sauh, Om Klaam Kleem Kloom Klaim Kloum Klah. The recitation is engaged for the attainment of the grace of Sri Dattatreya.

Now, the Karanyasa (ritual of touching the fingers): Om Dram, salutations to the thumbs. Om Dreem, salutations to the index fingers. Om Droom, salutations to the middle fingers. Om Draim, salutations to the ring fingers. Om Draum, salutations to the little fingers. Om Drah, salutations to the palms and the backs of the hands.

Now, the Nyasa of the heart and other parts. Om Dram, salutations to the heart. Om Dreem, svaha to the head. Om Droom, vashat to the tuft of hair. Om Draim, hum to the armor. Om Draum, vaushat to the three eyes. Om Drah, phat to the weapon. Om Bhurbhuvah-suvar-om, the directions are bound.

Now, the meditation: To the root-bulb of the sprout of the universe, to the embodiment of existence, consciousness, and bliss, to Dattatreya, the moon among the kings of yogis, the Supreme Self.

Sometimes a yogi, sometimes a hedonist, sometimes naked like a demon; Dattatreya is Hari himself, the bestower of both worldly enjoyment and liberation.

He who bathes in the city of Varanasi, who is devoted to chanting in Kolhapur, who subsists on alms in Mahuripur, and who sleeps on the Sahya mountain, the one who is sky-clad (naked).

He is of the color of a sapphire, possesses the radiance of the moonlight, shines like a cat's eye gem, and wears slightly moving matted locks of hair.

His eyes are soft and bright, with pupils of deep blue; his eyebrows, chest, and beard are marked with blue, and his face is as radiant as the moon.

His laughter surpasses the snow in whiteness, his throat excels the conch-shell in beauty, he has muscular shoulders and long arms, and his hands surpass the tender sprouts in delicacy.

He has a broad and stout chest, copper-colored hands, and a belly with folds. He is adorned with broad hips and possesses a large pelvic region.

Whose thighs are like the trunks of plantain trees, whose shanks are uniform and straight, whose ankles are hidden, and whose feet are arched like the back of a tortoise.

Whose feet and lips are as charming as a red lotus, who is clad in a skin, who is a Yogi, and who appears in an instant to those who remember Him.

Engaged in imparting knowledge, dedicated to rescuing from adversity, seated in the Siddhasana posture, with an upright body and a smiling face.

With his left hand he grants boons, and with his right he bestows fearlessness; sometimes he appears accompanied by or tested by children, the mad, or spirits.

He is the renouncer, the enjoyer, the great yogi, eternally blissful, and untainted. He is the embodiment of all, the bestower of all, omnipresent, and the fulfiller of all desires.

His entire body is smeared with sacred ash, and He is the destroyer of great sins. He is the bestower of worldly enjoyments and liberation, and He is undoubtedly liberated while still living.

Thus, having meditated with a single-minded focus, one should recite my Vajra Kavacham; seeing Me everywhere, he shall move about in My presence.

He who is clad in the quarters (sky-clad), anointed with fragrant ashes, holding the discus, trident, damaru, and mace as weapons, seated in the lotus posture, and worshipped by the foremost of yogis and sages; by the constant remembrance of the name "Datta," one attains Him.

(Then, having worshipped with the five offerings, one should chant "Om Dram" one hundred and eight times.) Om Dram.

Now the armor. Om. May Dattatreya, who resides in the thousand-petaled lotus, protect my head. May the son of Anasuya, who dwells in the center of the lunar orb, protect my forehead.

May the One who resides in the two-petaled lotus (Ajna Chakra), whose form is the mind and the seed syllables 'Ham' and 'Ksham', protect me. May the One who is the form of light protect my eyes, and may the One who is the form of sound protect my ears.

May He who is the essence of fragrance protect my nose, and He who is the essence of taste protect my mouth. May He who is the essence of the Vedas protect my tongue, and may He who is the embodiment of righteousness protect my teeth and lips.

May the son of Atri protect my cheeks, and may the knower of the Self protect my entire being. May the Soul of all sounds, residing in the sixteen-petaled lotus, protect my throat.

May the younger brother of the Moon protect my shoulders, and may the Creator of the primordial beings protect my arms. May the Conqueror of enemies protect my collarbones, and may Hari protect my chest.

May the Lord of the masters of yoga, who resides in the heart, who is the essence of the wind element, and who dwells in the twelve-petaled lotus located between the letters 'ka' and 'tha', protect my heart.

May Lord Hari, who stands by my side, protect my sides; may He, who is remembered as being present by my side, protect me. May the knower of Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga, the treasure-house of compassion, protect my abdomen.

May the One who resides in the ten-petaled lotus of the navel, extending from the letter 'Da' to the letter 'Pha', and who is of the nature of fire, protect my navel.

May the Yogi, who is the embodiment of the fire element, protect my Manipura chakra; may the Lord, who resides in the waist as the indwelling soul of the universe, protect my waist.

May the Yogi, who is the embodiment of the water element, the knower of the six-petaled lotus starting with the letter 'ba' and ending with 'la', protect my Svadhisthana chakra.

May the Lord of the Siddhas, seated in the Siddhasana posture, protect my thighs; He who is the awakener of the four-petaled lotus (Muladhara chakra) representing the letters from 'va' to 'sa'.

May the Lord, who is the embodiment of the earth and the controller of vital energy, protect my Mūlādhāra; and may He, whose lotus-like hands rest upon His knees, protect my back from all sides.

May the Lord of the Avadhutas protect my shanks, and may the Purifier of holy places protect my feet. May the Soul of all protect my entire body, and may Keshava protect my pores.

May He who is clad in skin protect my skin; may the Lover of devotion protect my blood. May He who creates flesh protect my flesh; may He who is the essence of marrow protect my marrow.

May the steady-minded one protect my bones, may the Creator protect my intellect, may the bestower of happiness protect my reproductive essence, and may the one of firm form protect my consciousness.

May the Lord of the senses (Hrishikesha) protect my mind, intellect, and ego. May the Lord (Isha) protect my organs of action, and may the Unborn (Aja) protect my organs of perception.

May the best of kinsmen protect my kinsmen, and may the conqueror of enemies protect me from enemies. May Shankara protect my home, gardens, wealth, fields, children, and others.

May the Knower of Nature protect my wife, may the Bearer of the Sharnga bow protect my animals and others, may the Knower of the Primal Cause protect my life-breaths, and may the Sun-god protect my food and other necessities.

May the moon-natured one protect me from unhappiness, may the destroyer of Tripura protect me from sorrow, may the Lord of all beings protect my animals, and may the Lord of all existences protect my prosperity.

May the destroyer of poison protect me in the East, and may the embodiment of sacrifice protect me in the South-East. May the embodiment of Dharma protect me in the South, and may the destroyer of all enemies protect me in the South-West.

May Varaha protect me in the west, and may the Giver of Life (Pranada) protect me in the northwest. May the Giver of Wealth (Dhanada) protect me in the north, and may the Great Guru (Mahaguru) protect me in the northeast.

May the Great Siddha protect me from above, and may the matted-haired one protect me from below. May the Lord of the primordial sages protect whatever part remains unprotected.

Om Dram. Chanting of the garland mantra. (Again) Now, the hand ritual (Karanyasa). Om Dram, salutations to the thumbs. Om Dreem, salutations to the index fingers. Om Droom, salutations to the middle fingers. Om Draim, salutations to the ring fingers. Om Draum, salutations to the little fingers. Om Drah, salutations to the palms and the backs of the hands.

Now, the Nyasa of the heart and other parts. Om Dram, salutations to the heart. Om Dreem, salutations to the head. Om Droom, salutations to the tuft of hair. Om Draim, salutations to the armor. Om Draum, salutations to the three eyes. Om Drah, salutations to the weapon. Om Bhur-Bhuvah-Svah, this is the binding of the directions.

Whoever reads or hears this Vajra Kavacham of mine, I, Dattatreya, declare that they shall possess a body as strong as a diamond and live for a long time.

He is a renunciate, an enjoyer, a great yogi, and devoid of both pleasure and pain. His resolve is fulfilled everywhere, and he exists as one liberated while still alive.

Having said this, the Yogi Dattatreya, the sky-clad one, disappeared; Daladana also, having chanted this, remains liberated while still alive.

At that time, a hunter named Dūraśravā, who was a listener of the scriptures, became diamond-bodied merely by hearing it once.

Having heard this entire Vajra Kavacham of the yogi Dattatreya from the mouth of Shambhu, Parvati spoke again.

Parvati said: Explain to me in detail the greatness of this armor. Where, by whom, when, and how should it be recited, and what is the procedure for its recitation?

Shambhu spoke all that was requested by Parvati with humility. Shri Shiva said: Listen, O Parvati, I shall tell you that which is focused and clear.

This alone is the ultimate refuge for the attainment of righteousness, prosperity, desire, and liberation; it bestows all forms of wealth, including elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry.

It is the means to achieve all happiness, such as sons, friends, and spouse; it is indeed the supreme treasure of all knowledge, including the Vedas and Shastras.

(He) is the bestower of the knowledge of music, literature, and poetic composition; He is the giver of intellect, learning, memory, wisdom, and profound mental maturity.

It brings satisfaction to all and removes all sorrows; it swiftly destroys enemies and increases fame and glory.

The eight types of major diseases, the thirteen types of sannipata (complex fevers), the ninety-six types of eye diseases, and the twenty types of urinary disorders.

The eighteen types of leprosy, the eight types of abdominal tumors, the eighty diseases caused by Vata, and the forty diseases caused by Pitta.

The twenty types of phlegm-related diseases, consumption, quartan fevers and the like, as well as those caused by mantras, yantras, evil spells, and those created by various rituals and tantras.

May the afflictions arising from Brahma-rakshasas, Vetālas, Kūshmāndas, and other malevolent spirits, those born of bad association, those caused by place and time, and those originating from the three types of suffering, be destroyed.

All diseases arising from the nine planets and those caused by great sins will undoubtedly be destroyed by reciting this a thousand times.

By reciting this ten thousand times, a barren woman will be blessed with a son. By reciting it twenty thousand times, one will surely conquer untimely death.

By thirty thousand recitations, one attains the power of movement in the sky; by reciting between one thousand and ten thousand times, one accomplishes all tasks.

By repeating this one hundred thousand times, the fulfillment of one's desires will undoubtedly be attained.

Sitting at the root of a poisonous tree and facing the south, one makes the enemy incapacitated in just one month.

It is chanted by one desiring prosperity at the root of the Audumbara tree; one desiring wealth should chant it at the root of the Shrivaksha tree, and at the root of the Tamarind tree for pacification rituals.

Those desiring vitality should worship at the root of an Ashvattha tree, those desiring a spouse at the root of a mango tree, those seeking knowledge at the root of a Tulsi plant, and those desiring offspring within the inner sanctum of the house.

Those desiring wealth should recite it in a fertile field, those desiring cattle in a cowshed, and those desiring all fulfillments in a temple; at the appropriate time, everything will be revealed.

Standing in water up to the navel and gazing at the sun, one who recites this shall attain victory in battle or in scholarly debate by repeating it a thousand times.

He who recites this armor at night while standing in water up to his neck, shall be cured of fevers, epilepsy, leprosy, and all other afflictions.

Whatever is stable and whatever is serene in any place, that which is withdrawn (from worldly distractions) should be practiced there; by doing so, success will certainly be attained.

Having said this, Shiva revealed this supreme and auspicious secret to Gauri; whoever recites this Vajra Kavacham becomes equal to Dattatreya.

Thus, what was spoken by Shiva to the daughter of the Himalayas, and previously revealed by the son of Atri to the sage Dalada; whoever in this world recites this Vajra Kavacham, becomes equal to Dattatreya, moves as a supreme yogi, and lives a long life.