devī kavacam

Om. Of this Sri Chandi Kavacham...

Brahma is the Rishi, Anushtup is the meter, Chamunda is the deity. The mothers mentioned in the Anganyasa are the seed (Bija), the Digbandha deities are the principle (Tattva). It is chanted as an integral part of the recitation of the Durga Saptashati for the pleasure of Sri Jagadamba.

Om. Salutations to Goddess Chandika. Markandeya said: Om. O Grandfather (Brahma), please tell me that which is the most secret in the world, which protects all human beings, and which has not been revealed to anyone yet. (1)

Brahma said: O Brahmin, there is the most secret and auspicious Kavacham (armor) of the Goddess, which brings welfare to all beings. Listen to it, O great sage. (2)

First is Shailaputri, and second is Brahmacharini; third is Chandraghanta, and fourth is Kushmanda. (3)

Fifth is Skandamata, and sixth is Katyayani; seventh is Kalaratri, and eighth is Mahagauri. (4)

Ninth is Siddhidatri. These are famously known as the Navadurga. These names have been declared by the great soul, Brahma Himself. (5)

Those who are burning in fire, or surrounded by enemies in the battlefield, or in a terrible crisis, or frightened and seeking refuge... (6)

...no inauspiciousness or danger happens to them even in the midst of a fierce battle. I see no calamity, sorrow, grief, or fear for them. (7)

Those who remember You with devotion, their prosperity certainly increases. O Supreme Goddess, those who remember You, You undoubtedly protect them. (8)

Chamunda sits on a corpse, Varahi is seated on a buffalo, Aindri is mounted on an elephant, and Vaishnavi is seated on Garuda. (9)

Maheshwari rides a bull, Kaumari rides a peacock. Goddess Lakshmi is seated on a lotus and holds a lotus in her hand, she is beloved to Hari. (10)

Goddess Ishwari, wearing white garments, rides a bull. Brahmi rides a swan and is adorned with all ornaments. (11)

All these Mothers are endowed with all yogic powers. They look beautiful with various ornaments and are adorned with various jewels. (12)

They are seen riding their chariots, filled with anger (against demons), holding conch, discus, mace, spear, plough, and club as weapons... (13)

...along with shield, javelin, axe, noose, spear, trident, and the excellent Sharnga bow. (14)

They carry these weapons for the destruction of the bodies of demons, for giving fearlessness to devotees, and for the welfare of the gods. (15)

Salutations to You, O Goddess of fierce form and terrible valor! O You of great strength and enthusiasm, the destroyer of great fear! (16)

Protect me, O Goddess, who is difficult to look at and who increases the fear of enemies. May Aindri protect me in the east, and Agni Devata (Goddess of Fire) in the southeast. (17)

May Varahi protect me in the south, and Khadgadharini (wielder of the sword) in the southwest. May Varuni protect me in the west, and Mrigavahini (rider of the deer) in the northwest. (18)

May Kaumari protect me in the north, and Shuladharini (wielder of the trident) in the northeast. May Brahmani protect me from above, and Vaishnavi from below. (19)

Thus, may Chamunda, who rides a corpse, protect all ten directions. May Jaya protect me from the front, and Vijaya from the back. (20)

May Ajita protect my left side, and Aparajita my right. May Shikhamudyotini protect my topknot, and Uma sit on my head to protect it. (21)

May Maladhari protect my forehead, and Yashaswini my eyebrows. May Trinetra protect the space between my eyebrows, and Yamaghanta my nose. (22)

May Shankhini protect the space between my eyes, and Dwaravasini my ears. May Kalika protect my cheeks, and Shankari the roots of my ears. (23)

May Sugandha protect my nose, and Charchika my upper lip. May Amrutakala protect my lower lip, and Saraswati my tongue. (24)

May Kaumari protect my teeth, and Chandika my throat. May Chitraghanta protect my Adam's apple, and Mahamaya my palate. (25)

May Kamakshi protect my chin, and Sarvamangala my speech. May Bhadrakali protect my neck, and Dhanurdhari my spine. (26)

May Neelagreeva protect the outer part of my throat, and Nalakubari my windpipe. May Khadgini protect my shoulders, and Vajradharini my arms. (27)

May Dandini protect my hands, and Ambika my fingers. May Shuleshwari protect my nails, and Kuleshwari my abdomen. (28)

May Mahadevi protect my breasts, and Manashokavinashini (destroyer of mental sorrow) protect my mind. May Lalita Devi protect my heart, and Shuladharini my stomach. (29)

May Kamini protect my navel, and Guhyeshwari my hidden parts. May Putana and Kamika protect my reproductive organs, and Mahishavahini my rectum. (30)

May Bhagavati protect my waist, and Vindhyavasini my knees. May Mahabala, the fulfiller of all desires, protect my calves. (31)

May Narasimhi protect my ankles, and Taijasi the top of my feet. May Shri protect my toes, and the one residing at the bottom of the feet protect my soles. (32)

May Danshtrakarali protect my nails, and Urdhvakeshini my hair. May Kauberi protect my pores, and Vagishwari my skin. (33)

May Parvati protect my blood, marrow, fat, flesh, bones, and meda. May Kalaratri protect my intestines, and Mukuteshwari my bile. (34)

May Padmavati protect the lotus of my heart, and Chudamani my phlegm. May Jwalamukhi protect the luster of my nails, and Abhedya protect all my joints. (35)

May Brahmani protect my semen/energy, and Chhatreshwari my shadow. May Dharmadharini protect my ego, mind, and intellect. (36)

May Vajrahasta protect my vital breaths—Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, and Samana. May Kalyana Shobhana protect my life force. (37)

May Yogini protect the senses of taste, form, smell, sound, and touch. May Narayani always protect my Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas qualities. (38)

May Varahi protect my lifespan, and Vaishnavi protect my Dharma. May Chakrini protect my fame, glory, wealth, knowledge, and prosperity (Lakshmi). (39)

May Indrani protect my lineage, and Chandika protect my cattle. May Mahalakshmi protect my sons, and Bhairavi protect my wife. (40)

May Supatha protect my journey, and Kshemakari the path. May Mahalakshmi protect me at the royal court, and Vijaya who stands everywhere protect me all around. (41)

O Goddess Jayanti, destroyer of sins, whichever place is unguarded and unprotected by this Kavacham, please protect all those places! (42)

One who desires his own welfare should not take even a single step without it. Wherever a person goes covered with this Kavacham continuously... (43)

...there he gains wealth, universal victory, and all desires. Whatever desire he contemplates, he certainly attains it, and he achieves unparalleled supreme sovereignty on this earth. (44)

That mortal becomes fearless and is never defeated in battles. Covered with this Kavacham, a person becomes worthy of worship in all the three worlds. (45)

This Kavacham of the Goddess is difficult even for the gods to obtain. He who reads it with effort and devotion daily, during the three Sandhyas (morning, noon, evening)... (46)

...attains divine art and remains undefeated in the three worlds. He lives for a full hundred years, free from accidental or untimely death. (47)

All his diseases, such as skin infections, tumors, etc., are destroyed. Any poison—whether from immovable things, moving things, or artificially made... (48)

...all black magic, mantras, and yantras on earth, spirits that move on earth, in the sky, or in water, those created by instructions... (49)

...those born naturally, born of lineage, wearing garlands, Dakini, Shakini, fierce spirits wandering in space, and immensely powerful Dakinis... (50)

...evil planets, ghosts, Pishachas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, Brahmarakshasas, Vetalas, Kushmandas, Bhairavas, etc. ... (51)

...they all are destroyed just by looking at him when this Kavacham is established in his heart. It elevates his honor by the king and supremely increases his radiance. (52)

His fame also grows, adorning the earth with glory. One should first recite this Kavacham and then chant the Saptashati (Chandi). (53)

As long as the earth, with its mountains, forests, and woods, is sustained, so long does his lineage of sons and grandsons remain on earth. (54)

At the end of his life, by the grace of Mahamaya, the person attains that supreme abode which is difficult even for the gods to reach. (55)

He attains a supreme form and rejoices together with Lord Shiva. Om. (56)