Sri Saraswati Kavacham

Sri Saraswati Kavacham is a protective prayer that places Saraswati, goddess of learning and speech, as a guard over each part of the body and each direction. It is found in the fourth chapter of the ninth book of the Devi Bhagavatam, and the same kavacha appears in the Brahmavaivarta Purana, where it is called the Vishvajaya Kavacha. This page gives the core of the kavacha in thirteen verses. Each line opens with a mantra such as "om shrim hrim sarasvatyai svaha" and ends with "sadavatu", may she always protect.

Verse by verse

Verses 1 to 3: Saraswati protects the head, the goddess of speech the forehead, and Saraswati the ears. Bhagavati Saraswati guards the eyes, Vagvadini the nose, and the presiding goddess of learning the lips.

Verses 4 to 7: Brahmi protects the teeth, and the single-syllable mantra "aim" guards the throat. Neck, shoulders, chest, navel, hands and feet are entrusted one by one to her names, and in the seventh verse the goddess of speech protects the whole body. The throat, tongue, ears and eyes, the organs of speech and study, receive special attention.

Verses 8 to 12: The directions follow. She who lives in every throat guards the east, she who lives on the tip of every tongue the south-east, the mantra of the mother of the wise the south, and the three-syllable "aim hrim shrim" the south-west. She who lives on the tongue guards the west, Sarvambika the north-west, she who dwells in prose the north and she who dwells in all the shastras the north-east, and the one worshipped by all protects from above.

Verse 13: She who dwells in books protects from below, and she who is the seed of all scriptures from every side.

Significance

Students, teachers, writers and musicians seek Saraswati's grace for clear speech, memory and focus. The Purana says one who holds this kavacha becomes eloquent like Brihaspati.

How and when to chant

It is commonly recited during the Saraswati puja days of Navaratri, beginning on Moola nakshatra when books are placed before the Goddess, on Vasanta Panchami and before examinations. Bathe in the morning, offer white flowers, akshata and milk or sweet pongal, and recite once or three times. Because the kavacha contains bija mantras, the Purana itself says it should be received from a guru for japa; reading it with devotion is open to all.