Shree dakshinakaal'ee kavacham'
Bhairava uvaacha |
Kaal'ikaa yaa mahaavidyaa kathitaa bhuvi durlabhaa |
Tathaa'pi hri'daye shalyamasti devi kri'paam' kuru || 1 ||
Kavachastu mahaadevi kathayasvaanukampayaa |
Yadi no kathyate maatarvimunchaami tadaa tanum || 2 ||
Shreedevyuvaacha |
Shankaapi jaayate vatsa tava snehaat prakaashitam |
Na vaktavyam' na drasht'avyamatiguhyataram' mahat || 3 ||
Kaal'ikaa jagataam' maataa shokaduh'khavinaashinee |
Visheshatah' kaliyuge mahaapaatakahaarinee || 4 ||
Atha kavacham –
Kaal'ee me puratah' paatu pri'sht'hatashcha kapaalinee |
Kullaa me dakshine paatu kurukullaa tathottare || 5 ||
Virodhinee shirah' paatu viprachittaa tu chakshushee |
Ugraa me naasikaam' paatu karnau chograprabhaa mataa || 6 ||
Vadanam' paatu me deeptaa neelaa cha chibukam' sadaa |
Ghanaa greevam' sadaa paatu balaakaa baahuyugmakam || 7 ||
Maatraa paatu karadvandvam' vaksho mudraa sadaavatu |
Mitaa paatu stanadvandvam' yonimand'aladevataa || 8 ||
Braahmee me jat'haram' paatu naabhim' naaraayanee tathaa |
Ooroo maaheshvaree nityam' chaamund'aa paatu lingakam || 9 ||
Kaumaaree cha kat'im' paatu tathaiva jaanuyugmakam |
Aparaajitaa cha paadau me vaaraahee paatu chaangul'een || 10 ||
Sandhisthaanam' naarasim'hee patrasthaa devataavatu |
Rakshaaheenam' tu yat sthaanam' varjitam' kavachena tu || 11 ||
Tatsarvam' raksha me devi kaal'ike ghoradakshine |
Oordhvamadhastathaa dikshu paatu devee svayam' vapuh' || 12 ||
Him'srebhyah' sarvadaa paatu saadhakam' cha jalaadhikaat |
Dakshinaakaal'ikaa devee vyaapakatve sadaavatu || 13 ||
Idam' kavachamajnyaatvaa yo japeddevadakshinaam |
Na poojaaphalamaapnoti vighnastasya pade pade || 14 ||
Kavachenaavri'to nityam' yatra yatraiva gachchhati |
Tatra tatraa'bhayam' tasya na kshobham' vidyate kvachit || 15 ||
Iti kaal'eekulasarvasve shree dakshinakaal'ikaa kavacham |
Meaning
The Dakshina Kali Kavacham is a short protective hymn whose colophon places it in the Kalikula Sarvasva, a tantric text of the Kali tradition. It opens as a conversation. Bhairava tells the Goddess that although Kali, the great vidya, has been taught to him, a doubt remains lodged in his heart like a thorn, and he asks for the kavacham, saying in verse 2 that he will give up his body if she refuses. The Goddess agrees out of affection, but warns that the teaching is too secret to be spoken of or shown.
The armour, verse by verse
The kavacham proper runs from verse 5 to verse 13. It starts with the four quarters: Kali me puratah patu, Kali in front, Kapalini behind, Kulla on the right and Kurukulla to the north. The head, eyes, nose, ears, face, chin, neck, arms, hands and chest are then given to Virodhini, Viprachitta, Ugra, Ugraprabha, Deepta, Neela, Ghana, Balaka, Matra and Mudra, with Mita following. From verse 9 the Matrikas take over: Brahmi for the belly, Narayani for the navel, Maheshwari for the thighs, Chamunda, Kaumari for the waist and knees, Aparajita for the feet, Varahi for the fingers and Narasimhi for the joints.
Verses 11 and 12 close any gap. Whatever place has been left without protection, the devotee asks Kalike Ghoradakshine to guard it, above, below and in every direction. Verse 13 asks Dakshina Kalika to protect the practitioner from violent creatures and from danger by water.
What the closing verses say
The last two verses are the phala shruti. Verse 14 warns that japa of Dakshina Kali done without knowing this kavacham bears no fruit and meets obstacles at each step. Verse 15 says that one covered by the kavacham is without fear wherever he goes. Kali upasakas therefore recite it before mantra japa.
Frequently asked questions
Which text does the Dakshina Kali Kavacham come from?
Why does Bhairava threaten to give up his body in the Dakshina Kali Kavacham?
Which forms of Kali guard the body in the Dakshina Kali Kavacham?
What does the Dakshina Kali Kavacham say about chanting the Kali mantra without it?
How many verses does the Dakshina Kali Kavacham have and how long does it take?
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