ശ്രീ സുബ്രഹ്മണ്യ കവച സ്തോത്രമ്

Viniyoga — Of this great mantra, the Śrī Subrahmaṇya Kavaca Stotram: Brahmā is the seer (ṛṣi); Anuṣṭubh is the metre (chandas); Śrī Subrahmaṇya is the deity (dēvatā). “Oṃ namaḥ” is the seed (bīja), “bhagavatē” is the power (śakti), “subrahmaṇyāya” is the pin that holds it fast (kīlaka). It is applied in recitation for the winning of Śrī Subrahmaṇya’s grace.

Placing upon the hands (kara-nyāsa): Om sāṃ — salutation with the thumbs. Om sīṃ — with the forefingers. Om sūṃ — with the middle fingers. Om saiṃ — with the ring fingers. Om sauṃ — with the little fingers. Om saḥ — with the palms and the backs of the hands.

Aṅga Nyāsa — Assignment of the seed-syllables to the body: Oṃ Sāṃ — to the heart, salutations; Oṃ Sīṃ — to the head, svāhā; Oṃ Sūṃ — to the crown-lock, vaṣaṭ; Oṃ Saiṃ — to the armour, hum; Oṃ Sauṃ — to the three eyes, vauṣaṭ; Oṃ Saḥ — to the weapon, phaṭ. With “bhūr bhuvas suvar oṃ” the quarters are bound about (dig-bandha).

Meditation: We worship Subrahmaṇya, his face vermilion-red with the beauty of the moon, adorned with armlets, necklaces and divine ornaments, granting the joys of heaven and of what lies beyond it; holding the lotus, the gesture of refuge, the spear and the cock, resplendent with red unguent — the giver of every good to those who bow to him.

Kavacham begins — May Subrahmanya protect me from the front! May the great general Sēnānī guard my back! May Guha protect me on the right! May the fire-born son (Vahnija) guard me on the left! Thus the four directions of my body are shielded by the divine names of the lord.

May Mahāsēna protect my head! May Skanda guard my forehead! May the twelve-eyed one (Dvādaśākṣa) protect my eyes! May Viśvabhṛt (the sustainer of the universe) guard my ears! So may these divine names armour every feature of my face.

May the six-faced Ṣaṇmukha protect my face! May Śaṅkarātmaja (son of Śaṅkara) guard my nose! May Vallīpati (lord of Vaḷḷī) protect my lips! May Ṣaḍānana (the six-faced lord) guard my tongue! Thus may every feature of my face be encased in his armour.

May Dēvasēnapati (commander of the divine armies) protect my teeth! May the many-born Kārttikēya (Bahulōdbhava) guard my chin! May Tārakajit (conqueror of the demon Tāraka) protect my throat! May the twelve-armed one (Dvādaśabāhuka) guard my arms! So may my entire upper body be shielded.

May Śaktidhara (the spear-bearer) protect my hands! May Śarōdbhava (born in the sacred reeds) guard my chest! May Vahnibhū (the fire-born) protect my heart! May Ambikāsuta (son of Ambikā / Pārvatī) guard my belly! Thus may the lord's sacred names form an unbreakable shield over my vital regions.

May Śambhusuta (son of Śambhu / Śiva) protect my navel! May Harātmaja (son of Hara) guard my waist! May Gajārūḍha (the mighty, elephant-conquering lord) protect my thighs! May Jāhnavīsuta (son of the Gaṅgā) guard my knees! Thus may the lower body too be armoured in the lord's divine protection.

May Viśākha protect my calves! May Śikhivāhana (the peacock-vehicled lord) guard my feet! May Bhūtēśa (lord of all beings) protect all my limbs! May Pāvaki (son of fire, Agni's son) protect every tissue and substance of my body! Thus the entire body, from crown to sole, is clad in Subrahmanya's divine armour.

At twilight, at midnight, in daytime and at dawn — in water, in fire, in impassable terrain, in great forests, at the doors of kings, in moments of great danger — may the lord's kavaca protect me in all these circumstances.

In tumult and in battle — against all ferocious beasts — in the fear of thieves and robbers, in impenetrable situations, in the suffering of fever and all other diseases — may the armour of Subrahmanya's names be my protection.

In fear of the malefic influence of evil planets — in the terror of ill omens and inauspicious signs — when assailed by missiles and weapons — may the piercer of Krauñcha mountain (Krauñcharandhrakṛt) protect me! His armour is my refuge in every danger.

Whoever recites this Subrahmanya Kavaca, the granter of all desired perfections — for that person, the three kinds of suffering (ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika and ādhidaivika) cease to exist entirely. Truly, truly I declare this — this is no exaggeration.

The seeker of dharma attains dharma; the seeker of wealth attains wealth; the seeker of desires has them fulfilled; and the seeker of liberation (mokṣa) attains liberation. This kavaca grants all four aims of life (puruṣārthas) to the devoted reciter.

Wherever one recites this kavaca with devotion, there Guha himself is present (sannihita). One should recite this at the time of worship (pūjā), at the time of consecration (pratiṣṭhā) and at the time of japa — at each of these sacred moments, the lord's presence is assured.

The full fruit of all that worship, consecration and japa is attained, and the great sins (mahāpātaka) are undone — for whoever recites or listens to this kavaca with devotion, day after day, in the presence of the deity. Having obtained here every desire, at the end he goes to Skanda’s own city.

Uttara Nyāsa — the closing assignment, made once the hymn is finished. Placing upon the hands: Oṃ Sāṃ — with the thumbs; Oṃ Sīṃ — with the forefingers; Oṃ Sūṃ — with the middle fingers; Oṃ Saiṃ — with the ring fingers; Oṃ Sauṃ — with the little fingers; Oṃ Saḥ — with the palms and the backs of the hands.

Placing upon the body: Oṃ Sāṃ — to the heart, salutations; Oṃ Sīṃ — to the head, svāhā; Oṃ Sūṃ — to the crown-lock, vaṣaṭ; Oṃ Saiṃ — to the armour, hum; Oṃ Sauṃ — to the three eyes, vauṣaṭ; Oṃ Saḥ — to the weapon, phaṭ. With “bhūr bhuvas suvar oṃ” the quarters that were bound are now released (dig-vimōka).