pañcamukhī hanumāna kavacam

Salutations to Lord Ganesha.

Salutations to Shri Uma and Maheshvara.

Salutations to Shri Sita and Ramachandra.

Salutations to the five-faced Hanuman.

Here begins the Sri Panchamukha Hanumat Kavacham.

Shri Parvati said:

O Sadashiva, O Lord of boons, O bestower of knowledge, O giver of affection, I have heard from you all the protective charms (kavaca) and other things pertaining to the gods, O beloved.

Now, O Treasure of Compassion, I wish to hear that armor of the Son of Vayu, by which nothing else remains to be sought, which is the all-in-all of the practitioners, and which increases the devotion of Hanuman.

Lord Shiva said:

O Goddess of gods, O large-eyed one, whose body is radiant with initiation, O lady of beautiful hips, you ask me that which has been told by me to no one else.

How can the armor of Hanuman, which is like the wish-fulfilling tree, be described? You, in the form of a woman, are the one whose body is adorned with various divine attributes.

Wherever you speak of that profound secret which is accessible only through a master, O woman with the gait of an elephant, therein, on the contrary, sins are born.

Therefore, O beloved Maheshani, this Kavacha should not be spoken of.

Shri Parvati said:

There is nothing in this world that cannot be given by a generous person; my lord, who is the limit of generosity, is always the one who fulfills my desires.

And now I shall tell you what has been given to me by you: the best of the Ganapatya, Shakta, Saura, Shaiva, and Vaishnava traditions.

Whatever net of mantras, yantras, and the like has been given by you to me in general, I shall tell you all that specifically.

The Rama-taraka mantra is dear to me, as is the Kodanda (the bow of Rama). O sweet-spoken one, the Samaraja mantra of Nrihari is also dear, as are those of Kalika and others.

By the specific knowledge of the ten stages, O King, the sixteen-syllabled mantra is the leader; another king of mantras is known as Dakshinamurti.

Even the mantras of Sahasrarjuna and those of Hanuman, which are not to be given away, O Lord of Gods, those too have been surrendered to me.

What more need be said, O Girisha, to You whose heart is bound by love? Having given even half of Your body to me, what can I say to You? O Lord of my life, I did not even consider beforehand that this was a feminine form.

Shri Shiva said:

O beautiful one, verily, verily, all that I possess has been given to you; however, O daughter of the mountain, hear now what I say to you.

In the Kali age, men will be full of hypocrisy and will assume various guises; they will be devoid of knowledge, greedy, and outside the fold of the varnashrama system.

O beautiful-faced one, some are known for their devotion to Vishnu, others for their devotion to Shiva, O Queen of the Gods, and others still for their devotion to Shakti or to the Sun.

O Girije, those who are excluded from the knowledge of the scriptures under the guise of being Ganapatas, will roam the earth known as gurus.

Wherever they are intent on gathering disciples, O Ambika, they lack the capacity for the recitation of mantras and the like.

And yet, O daughter of the mountain, their disciples in this world will always be those who are intent on hating the learned.

Those who are intent on hating the twice-born surely fall into hell; O daughter of the mountain, I am stating the same fact that was spoken by me previously.

This world is of various forms and adorned with various peaks; now listen attentively, O Maheshani, to the answer regarding that.

O Goddess, when I relate to you this auspicious armor, which is composed of various secret mantras, then you also, out of love, should hold it dear.

That which is to be spoken will indeed wander somewhere in the world, O noble one, provided it reaches the ears of good and virtuous people who exist within the universe.

O beloved, O fair-faced one, for those who are purified by a genuine tradition and possess the initiation mantra, (this is) especially for the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas.

For those who are capable in pronunciation and ever devoted to the scriptures, O noble one, then that supreme merit shall be within their grasp.

O Great Goddess, otherwise for those of the Shudra caste mentioned before, who are devoid of purity of speech and are hypocrites, O Goddess of the gods.

When that comes into your hands, then it will be your great sin; therefore, O Goddess, O Mother, bestow it only upon one who is qualified, after careful consideration.

There is no doubt that this must be spoken; otherwise, one would fall into hell. What must be done by me is told to you out of love, O beloved. This should also be kept secret by you, especially like your own origin.

Om. Salutations to the five-faced Anjaneya. Om. For this mantra of the five-faced Hanuman, Brahma is the seer. Gayatri is the meter. The five-faced virat Hanuman is the deity. Hrim is the seed. Shrim is the power. Kraum is the pin. Krum is the armor. Kraim is the weapon, phat.

Thus the sealing of the directions. Sri Garuda said.

Now I shall describe the meditation, listen, O beautiful one of perfect limbs, which is the meditation dear to Hanuman, practiced by the God of gods.

Five-faced, most terrible, endowed with fifteen eyes, possessed of ten arms, and the bestower of the fulfillment of all desires and purposes.

First, a monkey face, brilliant as ten million suns, with a mouth rendered formidable by tusks, and eyes made crooked by furrowed brows.

His right face is that of Narasimha, most wondrous, possessing a form of intense brilliance, terrifying, and the destroyer of fear.

The western face is that of Garuda, with a curved beak and great strength; it is the pacifier of all serpents and the destroyer of poison, evil spirits, and the like.

The northern face is that of a boar, black and radiant like the sky; it is the destroyer of the Patala (netherworld) demons, spirits, fevers, and diseases.

Above is the fierce horse-faced [form], the supreme destroyer of the Danavas, by which face, O best of Brahmins, [He destroyed] the great demon named Taraka.

Taking refuge in Him destroys all enemies; having meditated upon the five-faced Rudra, Hanuman, the treasure-house of compassion.

Bearing a sword, a trident, a khatvanga, a noose, a goad, a mountain, a fist, the Kaumodaki mace, a tree, and a water-pot.

I worship Him who bears the Bhindipala, the Jnanamudra, and these multitudes of weapons—the foremost among sages—with ten arms.

Seated upon a corpse, adorned with all manner of ornaments, wearing divine garlands and garments, and anointed with celestial perfumes.

I constantly meditate in my mind upon that Lord Hanuman, who is full of all wonders, who faces in all directions, who has five faces, who is eternal, whose many faces are of varied colors, who has the crescent moon on his head, who is the best among the king of monkeys, whose limbs are adorned with yellow garments and a crown, and who is the primordial monkey with tawny eyes.

O Lord of monkeys, possessor of great energy, the supreme destroyer of all enemies, destroy my enemies, protect me, O auspicious one, and deliver me from this calamity.

O Hari-markata (O Monkey-God Hari), if one writes or causes to be written this mantra on the palm of the left hand, the entire lineage of enemies is destroyed; if one releases it (the hand), the bondage of the enemy is released.

Om, obeisance to the Monkey-God Hari, Svaha. Om, salutations to the five-faced Lord, whose eastern face is that of a monkey, the destroyer of all enemies, Svaha. Om, salutations to the five-faced Lord, whose southern face is that of the fierce-visaged Narasimha, the destroyer of all evil spirits, Svaha. Om, salutations to the five-faced Lord, whose western face is that of Garuda, the destroyer of all poisons, Svaha. Om, salutations to the five-faced Lord, whose northern face is that of the primordial Varaha, the bestower of all prosperity, Svaha. Om, salutations to the five-faced Lord, whose upward-facing face is that of Hayagriva, the subduer of all beings, Svaha. For this mantra of the five-faced Hanuman, the seer is Sri Ramachandra; the meter is Anushtubh; the deity is the heroic five-faced Hanuman. "Hanuman" is the seed; "Son of the Wind" is the power; "Son of Anjana" is the pin. The recitation of this mantra is engaged for the attainment of the grace of Hanuman, the messenger of Sri Rama.

Thus, one should perform the nyāsa of the sage and others.

Om Salutations to the son of Anjana with the thumbs. Om Salutations to the embodiment of Rudra with the index fingers. Om Salutations to the son of Vayu with the middle fingers. Om Salutations to the one who contains fire within with the ring fingers. Om Salutations to the messenger of Rama with the little fingers. Om Salutations to the five-faced Hanuman with the palms and backs of the hands.

Thus, the Karanyasa.

Om, salutations to the son of Anjana for the heart. Om, to the form of Rudra, unto the head, svaha. Om, to the son of Vayu, for the tuft of hair, vashat. Om, to the one who contains fire in his womb, for the armor, hum. Om, to the messenger of Rama, for the three eyes, vaushat. Om, to the five-faced Hanuman, for the weapon, phat. To the five-faced Hanuman, svaha.

Thus is the sealing of the directions.

Now, meditation.

I bow to the Lord who possesses the faces of a monkey, a lion, a bird-king (Garuda), a boar, and a horse; who is adorned with divine ornaments, possesses fifteen eyes, and shines with brilliance. With His lotus-like hands, He holds a sword, a shield, a book, a nectar-pot, a goad, a mountain, a plough, a khatvanga (club), a serpent, and a tree. He is ten-armed and the destroyer of all enemy warriors.

Now, the mantra.

Om. Salutations to the messenger of Sri Rama, the son of Anjana, the son of Vayu, he who possesses immense strength and valor, the remover of Sita’s sorrow, the cause of the burning of Lanka, he who is immensely powerful and fierce, the friend of Phalguna (Arjuna), he who pervades the entire universe with his cosmic form, he who leapt across the seven oceans, he who has tawny eyes and infinite prowess, he who consumed the sun as if it were a fruit, the remover of the wicked, he who is adorned with a divine gaze, he who restored life to the army of monkeys and to Lakshmana (through the Sanjivani herb), the destroyer of the ten-headed Ravana, the beloved of Rama, the great friend of Phalguna, and the bestower of the boon of Rama accompanied by Sita—this mantra japa is for the sake of the five-faced heroic Hanuman, utilizing the six applications of the scripture.

Om. To the Hari-monkey, the monkey, Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam, Vaushat, Svaha. Om. To the Hari-monkey, the monkey, Pham Pham Pham Pham Pham, Phat, Svaha. Om. To the Hari-monkey, the monkey, Khem Khem Khem Khem Khem, for destruction, Svaha. Om. To the Hari-monkey, the monkey, Lum Lum Lum Lum Lum, to the attractor of all wealth, Svaha. Om. To the Hari-monkey, the monkey, Dham Dham Dham Dham Dham, for the paralyzing of enemies, Svaha. Om. Tam Tam Tam Tam Tam, to the Tortoise-formed, the five-faced heroic Hanuman, for the uprooting of others' mystic machines and spells, Svaha. Om. Kam Kham Gam Gham Ngam Cham Chham Jam Jham Nyam Tam Tham Dam Dham Nam Tam Tham Dam Dham Nam Pam Pham Bam Bham Mam Yam Ram Lam Vam Sham Sham Sam Ham Lam Ksham, Svaha.

Thus, the directions are sealed.

Om! To the East-facing monkey-faced Five-faced Hanuman, Tam, Tam, Tam, Tam, Tam, for the destruction of all enemies, Svaha. Om! To the South-facing Five-faced Hanuman, with a fierce face, Narasimha, Om, Hram, Hrim, Hrum, Hraim, Hraum, Hrah, for the subduing of all ghosts and spirits, Svaha. Om! To the West-facing Garuda-faced Five-faced Hanuman, Mam, Mam, Mam, Mam, Mam, for the removal of all poisons, Svaha. Om! To the North-facing Primeval Boar (Adi-Varaha), Lam, Lam, Lam, Lam, Lam, to Narasimha, to the Blue-throated form, to the Five-faced Hanuman, Svaha. Om! To the Upward-facing Hayagriva, Rum, Rum, Rum, Rum, Rum, to the Rudra form, for the accomplishment of all purposes, Svaha.

Om. Salutations to the son of Anjana, the son of the wind, the possessor of great strength, the dispeller of Sita's sorrow, the one who is the sandals of Sri Ramachandra's grace, the destroyer of great prowess, the lord of the universe, the fulfiller of desires, the five-faced heroic Hanuman.

Svaha to the removal of ghosts, spirits, demons, brahmarakshasas, female ogres, female ghouls, and celestial influences, as well as the spells and subjugation rituals of others.

To the accomplisher of all purposes, to the five-faced heroic Hanuman, the recipient of the supreme grace of Shri Ramachandra, Jam Jam Jam Jam Jam, Svaha.

Having recited this armor, a man should then recite the great armor; by chanting this hymn even once, all enemies are warded off.

He who recites this daily twice will increase his sons and grandsons; he who recites it daily thrice will gain all prosperity and auspiciousness.

Reading it four times daily removes all diseases; reading it five times daily brings all people under one's influence.

He who recites it six times daily brings all deities under his control; he who recites it seven times daily gains all good fortune.

Reading it eight times daily grants the fulfillment of desired goals; reading it nine times daily leads to the attainment of royal enjoyments.

He who reads this daily ten times attains the knowledge and vision of the three worlds. By reading this Rudra-hymn daily, all accomplishments are undoubtedly attained.

The weak, the diseased, and those afflicted by severe illnesses obtain great strength simply by remembering this armor.

Thus ends the Shri Panchamukha Hanumat Kavacham, as spoken by Shri Ramachandra and Sita, from the Shri Sudarshana Samhita.