Sri Gayatri Kavacham
shree gaayatree kavacham'
shreeganeshaaya namah' |
yaajnyavalkya uvaacha |
svaamin sarvajagannaatha sam'shayo'sti mahaanmama |
chatuh'shasht'hikalaanam' cha paatakaanaam' cha tadvada || 1||
muchyate kena punyena brahmaroopam' katham' bhavet |
deham' cha devataaroopam' mantraroopam' visheshatah' || 2||
kramatah' shrotumichchhaami kavacham' vidhipoorvakam' |
brahmovaacha |
gaayatryaah' kavachasyaasya brahmaa vishnuh' shivo ri'shih' || 3||
ri'gyajuh'saamaatharvaani chhandaam'si parikeertitaah' |
parabrahmasvaroopaa saa gaayatree devataa smri'taa || 4||
rakshaaheenam' tu yatsthaanam' kavachena vinaa kri'tam' |
sarvam' sarvatra sam'rakshetsarvaangam' bhuvaneshvaree || 5||
beejam' bhargashcha yuktishcha dhiyah' keelakameva cha |
purushaarthaviniyogo yo nashcha parikeerttitah' || 6||
ri'shim' moordhni nyasetpoorvam' mukhe chhanda udeeritam' |
devataam' hri'di vinyasya guhye beejam' niyojayet || 7||
shaktim' vinyasya padayornaabhau tu keelakam' nyaset |
dvaatrim'shattu mahaavidyaah' saankhyaayanasagotrajaah' || 8||
dvaadashalakshasam'yuktaa viniyogaah' pri'thakpri'thak |
evam' nyaasavidhim' kri'tvaa karaangam' vidhipoorvakam' || 9||
vyaahri'titrayamuchchaarya hyanulomavilomatah' |
chaturaksharasam'yuktam' karaanganyaasamaacharet || 10||
aavaahanaadibhedam' cha dasha mudraah' pradarshayet |
saa paatu varadaa devee angapratyangasangame || 11||
dhyaanam' mudraam' namaskaaram' gurumantram' tathaiva cha |
sam'yogamaatmasiddhim' cha shad'vidham' kim' vichaarayet || 12||
asya shreegaayatreekavachasya brahmavishnurudraa ri'shayah',
ri'gyajuh'saamaatharvaani chhandaam'si, parabrahmasvaroopinee
gaayatree devataa, bhoorbeejam', bhuvah' shaktih', svaahaa keelakam',
shreegaayatreepreetyarthe jape viniyogah' ||
om bhoorbhuvah' svah' tatsavituriti hri'dayaaya namah' |
om bhoorbhuvah' svah' varenyamiti shirase svaahaa |
om bhoorbhuvah' svah' bhargo devasyeti shikhaayai vashat' |
om bhoorbhuvah' svah' dheemaheeti kavachaaya hum' |
om bhoorbhuvah' svah' dhiyo yo nah' iti netratrayaaya vaushat' |
om bhoorbhuvah' svah' prachodayaaditi astraaya phat' ||
varnaastraam' kund'ikaahastaam' shuddhanirmalajyotisheemm |
sarvatattvamayeem' vande gaayatreem' vedamaataram' || 13||
atha dhyaanam' |
muktaa vidrumahemaneeladhavalachchhaayairmukhaistreekshanai-
ryuktaamindunibaddharatnamukut'aam' tattvaarthavarnaatmikaam' |
gaayatreem' varadaabhayaankushakashaam' shoolam' kapaalam' gunam'
shankham' chakramathaaravindayugalam' hastairvahanteem' bhaje || 14||
om gaayatree poorvatah' paatu saavitree paatu dakshine |
brahmavidyaa cha me pashchaaduttare maam' sarasvatee || 15||
paavakee me disham' rakshetpaavakojjvalashaalinee |
yaatudhaaneem' disham' rakshedyaatudhaanaganaardinee || 16||
paavamaaneem' disham' rakshetpavamaanavilaasinee |
disham' raudreemavatu me rudraanee rudraroopinee || 17||
oordhvam' brahmaanee me rakshedadhastaadvaishnavee tathaa |
evam' dasha disho rakshet sarvato bhuvaneshvaree || 18||
brahmaastrasmaranaadeva vaachaam' siddhih' prajaayate |
brahmadand'ashcha me paatu sarvashastraastrabhakshakrah' || 19||
brahmasheershastathaa paatu shatroonaam' vadhakaarakah' |
sapta vyaahri'tayah' paantu sarvadaa bindusam'yutaah' || 20||
vedamaataa cha maam' paatu sarahasyaa sadaivataa |
deveesooktam' sadaa paatu sahasraaksharadevataa || 21||
chatuh'shasht'ikalaa vidyaa divyaadyaa paatu devataa |
beejashaktishcha me paatu paatu vikramadevataa || 22||
tatpadam' paatu me paadau janghe me savituh'padam' |
varenyam' kat'idesham' tu naabhim' bhargastathaiva cha || 53||
devasya me tu hri'dayam' dheemaheeti galam' tathaa |
dhiyo me paatu jihvaayaam' yah'padam' paatu lochane || 24||
lalaat'e nah' padam' paatu moordhaanam' me prachodayaat |
tadvarnah' paatu moordhaanam' sakaarah' paatu bhaalakam' || 25||
chakshushee me vikaarastu shrotram' rakshettu kaarakah' |
naasaaput'ervakaaro me rekaarastu kapolayoh' || 26||
nikaarastvadharosht'he cha yakaarastoordhva osht'hake |
aatyamadhye bhakaarastu gokaarastu kapolayoh' || 27||
dekaarah' kant'hadeshe cha vakaarah' skandhadeshayoh' |
syakaaro dakshinam' hastam' dheekaaro vaamahastakam' || 28||
makaaro hri'dayam' raksheddhikaaro jat'haram' tathaa |
dhikaaro naabhidesham' tu yokaarastu kat'idvayam' || 29||
guhyam' rakshatu yokaara ooroo me nah' padaaksharam' |
prakaaro jaanunee rakshechchokaaro janghadeshayoh' || 30||
dakaaro gulphadesham' tu yaatkaarah' paadayugmakam' |
jaatavedeti gaayatree tryambaketi dashaaksharaa || 31||
sarvatah' sarvadaa paatu aapojyoteeti shod'ashee |
idam' tu kavacham' divyam' baadhaashatavinaashakam' || 32||
chatuh'shasht'hikalaavidyaasakalaishvaryasiddhidam' |
japaarambhe cha hri'dayam' japaante kavacham' pat'het || 33||
streegobraahmanamitraadidrohaadyakhilapaatakaih' |
muchyate sarvapaapebhyah' param' brahmaadhigachchhati || 34||
pushpaanjalim' cha gaayatryaa moolenaiva pat'hetsakri't |
shatasaahasravarshaanaam' poojaayaah' phalamaapnuyaat || 35||
bhoorjapatre likhitvaitat svakant'he dhaarayedyadi |
shikhaayaam' dakshine baahau kant'he vaa dhaarayedbudhah' || 36||
trailokyam' kshobhayetsarvam' trailokyam' dahati kshanaat |
putravaan dhanavaan shreemaannaanaavidyaanidhirbhavet || 37||
brahmaastraadeeni sarvaani tadangasparshanaattatah' |
bhavanti tasya tuchchhani kimanyatkathayaami te || 38||
abhimantritagaayatreekavacham' maanasam' pat'het |
tajjalam' pibato nityam' purashcharyaaphalam' bhavet || 39||
laghusaamaanyakam' mantram', mahaamantram' tathaiva cha |
yo vetti dhaaranaam' yunjan, jeevanmuktah' sa uchyate || 40||
saptaavyaahri'tiviprendra saptaavasthaah' prakeertitaah' |
saptajeevashataa nityam' vyaahri'tee agniroopinee || 41||
pranave nityayuktasya vyaahri'teeshu cha saptasu |
sarveshaameva paapaanaam' sankare samupasthite || 42||
shatam' sahasramabhyarchya gaayatree paavanam' mahat |
dashashatamasht'ottarashatam' gaayatree paavanam' mahat || 43||
bhaktiyukto bhavedviprah' sandhyaakarma samaacharet |
kaale kaale prakartavyam' siddhirbhavati naanyathaa || 44||
pranavam' poorvamuddhri'tya bhoorbhuvasvastathaiva cha |
turyam' sahaiva gaayatreejapa evamudaahri'tam' || 45||
tureeyapaadamutsri'jya gaayatreem' cha japeddvijah' |
sa mood'ho narakam' yaati kaalasootramadhogatih' || 46||
mantraadau jananam' proktam' matraante mri'tasootrakam' |
ubhayordoshanirmuktam' gaayatree saphalaa bhavet || 47||
matraadau paashabeejam' cha mantraante kushabeejakam' |
mantramadhye tu yaa maayaa gaayatree saphalaa bhavet || 48||
vaachikastvahameva syaadupaam'shu shatamuchyate |
sahasram' maanasam' proktam' trividham' japalakshanam' || 49||
akshamaalaam' cha mudraam' cha gurorapi na darshayet |
japam' chaakshasvaroobhenaanaamikaamadhyaparvani || 50||
anaamaa madhyayaa heenaa kanisht'haadikramena tu |
tarjaneemoolaparyantam' gaayatreejapalakshanam' || 51||
parvabhistu japedevamanyatra niyamah' smri'tah' |
gaayatree vedamoolatvaadvedah' parvasu geeyate || 52||
dashabhirjanmajanitam' shatenaiva puraa kri'tam' |
triyugam' tu sahasraani gaayatree hanti kilbisham' || 53||
praatah'kaaleshu kartavyam' siddhim' vipro ya ichchhati |
naadaalaye samaadhishcha sandhyaayaam' samupaasate || 54||
angulyagrena yajjaptam' yajjaptam' merulanghane |
asankhyayaa cha yajjaptam' tajjaptam' nishphalam' bhavet || 55||
vinaa vastram' prakurveeta gaayatree nishphalaa bhavet |
vastrapuchchham' na jaanaati vri'thaa tasya parishramah' || 56||
gaayatreem' tu parityajya anyamantramupaasate |
siddhaannam' cha parityajya bhikshaamat'ati durmatih' || 57||
ri'shishchhando devataakhyaa beejam' shaktishcha keelakam' |
niyogam' na cha jaanaati gaayatree nishphalaa bhavet || 58||
varnamudraadhyaanapadamaavaahanavisarjanam' |
deepam' chakram' na jaanaati gaayatree nishaphalaa bhavet || 59||
shaktirnyaasastathaa sthaanam' mantrasambodhanam' param' |
trividham' yo na jaanaati gaayatree tasya nishphalaa || 60||
panchopachaarakaam'shchaiva homadravyam' tathaiva cha |
panchaangam' cha vinaa nityam' gaayatree nishphalaa bhavet || 61||
mantrasiddhirbhavejjaatu vishvaamitrena bhaashim' |
vyaaso vaachaspatirjeevastutaa devee tapah'smri'tau || 62||
sahasrajaptaa saa devee hyupapaatakanaashinee |
lakshajaapye tathaa tachcha mahaapaatakanaashinee |
kot'ijaapyena raajendra yadichchhati tadaapnuyaat || 63||
na deyam' parashishyebhyo hyabhaktebhyo visheshatah' |
shishyebhyo bhaktiyuktebhyo hyanyathaa mri'tyumaapnuyaat || 64||
iti shree madvasisht'hasam'hitoktam' gaayatree kavacham' sampoornam' ||
Meaning
1. Yājñavalkya’s inquiry: the text opens noting sins and the need for a protective kavach for removal of faults.
2. The kavach makes the body into a deity-form and the mantra into embodied protection — it is the means to become mantra-form.
3. Brahmā explains: the Gayatri kavach is taught by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva as the rishi — it is a supreme revelation.
4. The Gayatri is identified with Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma, Atharva and their metres — she is the Para-Brahman deity.
5. Without the kavach a place is unprotected; with this kavach Bhavaneshvari (the Goddess) protects all limbs and the entire being.
6. It lists micro-components — bija(s), bharga, dhī, and the key (kīlaka) — essential secret elements of the armor.
7. Prescribe the rishi-nıyāsa on the head, chant the meter on the face, and place the secret bija in the heart (internal ajña).
8. Place the kīlaka at the navel and the thirty-two mahāvidyās in their respective seats — symbolic empowerment.
9. Twelve-lakh usages and other enumerations: repeat the nyāsa rites and distinct applications for limbs.
10. Perform karmanūṣṭhāna with correct vāyus and phonetics (vāhṛtti, hanuloma-viloma) for the finger-nyāsa.
11. Display invocation and ten mudrās — with these the Devi becomes the granter and protector of limbs.
12. The combination of dhyāna, mudrā, namaskāra and the guru-mantra produces sixfold siddhi (ṣaḍ-vidha).
13. Mantra formulae: Om bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ etc. with placements — bija and key for heart, śikhā, eyes, weapons.
14. Visual dhyāna image: the Goddess with ornaments, weapons, and lotus — meditate on this form for protection.
15. Directions: Gayatri/Savitri/Sarasvatī guard different sides — invoke them for east/west/north/south protection.
16. Fire-aspect and guardian directions — protective forms for each quarter.
17. Fierce aspects for hostile quarters, pacific aspects for beneficent quarters — harmonize the directions.
18. Thus the ten directions are secured by the Goddess in her multiple forms.
19. Remembrance of Brahmāstra and mantra use grants weapon-protection and mastery over harmful forces.
20. Protection against enemies — seven vyāhṛti and bindu-seeded recitations destroy foes and obstacles.
21. Vedic Mother (Vedamātā) protects the practitioner — the thousand-letter Devi always guards the mantra reciter.
22. Sixty-four arts, bija-shakti, and deity-valor blessings — the kavach secures learning and courage.
23. Recite prescribed syllables over feet, thighs, sides and navel — each line assigns a protecting syllable to an organ.
24. Place dhī in the heart and protect tongue and vision with assigned syllables.
25. Protect the forehead and crown by placing the syllables of action and sound as instructed.
26. Specific phonemes safeguard eye, ear, nostril and cheek regions (letter correspondences are prescribed).
27. Assignments to lips, palate, middle mouth regions by specific sounds — the kavach maps phonemes to body-regions.
28. Assignments continue: throat, shoulders, chest, hands — each receives a protecting phoneme or bija.
29. Heart and abdomen protection, and navel placements are given with particular akṣaras.
30. Place secret letters to protect the genital and thigh regions — mapping continues to all limbs.
31. The Gayatri’s ten-syllable (daśākṣara) and the name Tryambake indicate specific protective formulas.
32. The divine light (āpōjyotī) will guard everywhere; the kavach destroys many forms of suffering.
33. Practical ritual rule: begin japa with heart-recitation, end by reading the kavach for completion.
34. Purificatory promise: women, cows, brāhmaṇas, friends — removal of grave faults and attainment of Brahman.
35. An offering of flowers from the Gayatri source yields the fruit of hundreds of thousands of worships.
36. If written on birch/leaves and worn, or tied at śikhā, corners or the neck, benefits accrue by correct placement.
37. Effects: world-power, progeny, wealth, victory in learning; the kavach inflames higher spiritual attainments.
38. Mundane weapons and brahmastra lose their force when in contact with the kavach’s power — so it is supreme.
39. Reciting the mantra-armour mentally daily, and micro-purification (drinking sacred water) yields results.
40. The kavach is a brief, great mantra and one who knows its appropriation and practices it may be said to live liberated.
41. Versified pronunciations, vyāhṛti recitations, and sevenfold practices for sustained power.
42. Pranava-rooted recitation and vyāhṛtīs neutralize sins en masse when properly executed.
43. Repetition counts: hundreds, thousands, crores — specified counts give proportionate purification.
44. Regularity: schedule the practice at appropriate times; discipline makes the sādhanā effective.
45. Instruction to relinquish turyāpad and recite the Gayatri properly — avoiding mistaken practices.
46. Warning: improper practice brings adverse results; correct transmission and sequence are crucial.
47. Gayatri neutralises both maternal-birth faults and death-string faults when performed correctly.
48. Seed-mantras (pāśa, kuśa) placement through the mantra’s stages grants success; mid-mantra māyā is crucial.
49. Vocal, mental and inner thousand-fold recitation modes — threefold manner of japa described.
50. Guru should show the rosary and mudrā; recitation is timed to fingers and syllabic positions.
51. Exact order: from little-finger to index, from tārjani to mūla — the japa marks and sequence are specified.
52. The Gayatri’s Vedic root makes it authoritative; it’s to be sung in the Vedic recitations on festival days.
53. Historic promise: many lifetimes’ sins are burned by Gayatri; she conquers three yugas of faults.
54. Morning duties and meditative seat for the brāhmaṇa — sādhanā prerequisites for siddhi.
55. Japa counts and modes — reckless, excessive, or mechanical japa without proper care becomes ineffective.
56. Dress, ritual accoutrements, and external aids (cloth, tail of garment) are necessary; missing them reduces efficacy.
57. Abandoning Gayatri and practicing foreign mantras causes perverted pursuits; fidelity to the tradition is required.
58. Without knowledge of rishi, chanda, deity, bija and key, the Gayatri practice is fruitless.
59. Failure to follow visualization, mudrā, invocation, lamp and chakra rites yields null results.
60. If shakti-nyāsa, seat, and mantra-activation are unknown, results will not appear.
61. Without five-fold upachāra, homa materials and the five limbs, the practice of Gayatri is incomplete.
62. Tradition of transmission: Vyāsa, Viśvāmitra and others ascribe the mantra’s siddhi to proper disciplic lineage.
63. Results scale: from hundreds to crores of recitations — the cosmic and purifying rewards are declared.
64. Warning: do not give this to students indiscriminately; only devotees with bhakti may be initiated; otherwise it can be harmful.
Summary:
The Sri Gayatri Kavach is a complete ritual-manual: it prescribes nyāsa (placement of letters) on head, limbs and organs; assigns bija, bindu and kīlaka; maps phonemes to body-regions; secures ten directions; and gives procedural rules for japa, mudrā, homa and daily discipline. When performed with correct initiation, sequence, and purity it promises protection from sins, enemies and disease, bestows learning, wealth and spiritual success, and leads to highest results including Brahman-attainment. The text repeatedly warns that correct guru transmission, dress, sequence, and upachāra are indispensable — performed incorrectly it is fruitless or harmful.
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