Sri Matangi Kavacham

shree maatangee kavacham' (sumukhee kavacham')

shreepaarvatyuvaacha |
devadeva mahaadeva sri'sht'isam'haarakaaraka |
maatangyaah' kavacham' broohi yadi sneho'sti te mayi || 1 ||

shiva uvaacha |
atyantagopanam' guhyam' kavacham' sarvakaamadam |
tava preetyaa mayaa''khyaatam' naanyeshu kathyate shubhe || 2 ||

shapatham' kuru me devi yadi kinchitprakaashase |
anayaa sadri'shee vidyaa na bhootaa na bhavishyati || 3 ||

dhyaanam |
shavaasanaam' raktavastraam' yuvateem' sarvasiddhidaam |
evam' dhyaatvaa mahaadeveem' pat'hetkavachamuttamam || 4 ||

kavacham |
uchchhisht'am' rakshatu shirah' shikhaam' chand'aalinee tatah' |
sumukhee kavacham' raksheddevee rakshatu chakshushee || 5 ||

mahaapishaachinee paayaannaasikaam' hreem' sadaa'vatu |
t'hah' paatu kant'hadesham' me t'hah' paatu hri'dayam' tathaa || 6 ||

t'ho bhujau baahumoole cha sadaa rakshatu chand'ikaa |
aim' cha rakshatu paadau me sauh' kukshim' sarvatah' shivaa || 7 ||

aim' hreem' kat'idesham' cha aam' hreem' sandhishu sarvadaa |
jyesht'hamaatangyanguleerme angulyagre namaami cha || 8 ||

uchchhisht'achaand'aali maam' paatu trailokyasya vashankaree |
shive svaahaa shareeram' me sarvasaubhaagyadaayinee || 9 ||

uchchhisht'achaand'aali maatangi sarvavashankari namah' |
svaahaa stanadvayam' paatu sarvashatruvinaashinee || 10 ||

atyantagopanam' devi devairapi sudurlabham |
bhrasht'ebhyah' saadhakebhyo'pi drasht'avyam' na kadaachana || 11 ||

dattena siddhihaanih' syaatsarvathaa na prakaashyataam |
uchchhisht'ena balim' datvaa shanau vaa mangale nishi || 12 ||

rajasvalaabhagam' spri'sht'vaa japenmantram' cha saadhakah' |
rajasvalaayaa vastrena homam' kuryaatsadaa sudheeh' || 13 ||

siddhavidyaa ito naasti niyamo naasti kashchana |
asht'asahasram' japenmantram' dashaam'sham' havanaadikam || 14 ||

bhoorjapatre likhitvaa cha raktasootrena vesht'ayet |
praanapratisht'haamantrena jeevanyaasam' samaacharet || 15 ||

svarnamadhye tu sam'sthaapya dhaarayeddakshine kare |
sarvasiddhirbhavettasya achiraatputravaanbhavet || 16 ||

streebhirvaamakare dhaaryam' bahuputraa bhavettadaa |
vandhyaa vaa kaakavandhyaa vaa mri'tavatsaa cha saanganaa || 17 ||

jeevadvatsaa bhavetsaapi samri'ddhirbhavati dhruvam |
shaktipoojaam' sadaa kuryaachchhivaabalim' pradaapayet || 18 ||

idam' kavachamajnyaatvaa maatangee yo japetsadaa |
tasya siddhirna bhavati purashcharanalakshatah' || 19 ||

iti shreerudrayaamalatantre maatangee sumukhee kavacham |

Meaning

The Sri Matangi Kavacham (Sumukhi Kavacham) is a secret and powerful hymn revealed by Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvati in the Rudra Yamala Tantra. It is a mystical protective shield invoking the fierce yet compassionate Goddess Matangi — the giver of speech, beauty, and mastery over all.

The Goddess is visualized as a youthful, red-clad form seated upon a corpse — symbolizing transcendence of worldly impurities. Each part of the devotee’s body is guarded by one of her potent aspects: Uchchhishta Chandali protects the head, Sumukhi guards the eyes, Mahapishachini the throat, Chandika the arms, and Shiva the feet. The sacred syllables “AIM,” “HRĪM,” and “SAUH” act as divine mantric seals of protection.

The kavacham is strictly secret and never to be revealed to the uninitiated. Ritual practices, including symbolic offerings, are prescribed for success. When written on birch bark, tied with red thread, and worn reverently, it brings fulfillment, progeny, eloquence, and divine favor.

Summary:
Sumukhi Kavacham is not just a protective hymn — it is the invocation of Matangi’s transformative power. It cleanses the devotee of impurity, fortifies the aura, and fills life with spiritual magnetism. It grants success in speech, attraction, and attainment of all goals through the grace of the Mother Goddess.

Frequently asked questions

Which text does the Sri Matangi Kavacham (Sumukhi Kavacham) come from?

Its closing line places it in the Rudra Yamala Tantra. It is set as a dialogue in which Parvati asks Shiva for Matangi's kavacha, and Shiva reveals it as a closely guarded armour that grants every wish.

Why is Matangi called Sumukhi in this kavacham?

Sumukhi, the fair-faced one, is a name of Uchchhishta Matangi, the form this kavacham addresses. Verse 5 asks Uchchhishta and Chandalini to guard the head and the tuft of hair, and Sumukhi to guard the kavacha itself and the eyes.

How is the goddess visualised in the dhyana of the Matangi Sumukhi Kavacham?

Verse 4 pictures her as a young woman in red garments, seated on a corpse, and calls her the giver of all siddhis. Only after holding this image in mind does the text ask the reader to recite the kavacham.

Which bija syllables appear in the Sumukhi Kavacham, and what do they guard?

Hreem guards the nose, thah the throat and heart, aim the feet, sauh the belly and aim hreem the waist. Verses 7 and 8 also ask Chandika to protect the arms and Jyeshtha Matangi the fingers.

What does the Matangi Sumukhi Kavacham say about chanting the Matangi mantra without it?

Verse 19 says that a person who chants the Matangi mantra without knowing this kavacham gains no siddhi, even after a purascharana of a lakh repetitions. Shiva repeatedly insists it be kept secret, so in practice it is learnt from a guru within Matangi upasana.

Sri Matangi Kavacham (Sumukhi Kavacham)

shree maatangee kavacham' (sumukhee kavacham')

Meaning

Frequently asked questions

Related stotras

Sri Kali Ekakshari Beeja Mantra (Chintamani)

Tripura Sundari Ashtakam

Sri Tara Ashtottara Shatanamavali

Sri Bhuvaneshwari Ashtottara Shatanamavali

Sri Matangi Ashtottara Shatanamavali

Sri Matangi Sahasranama Stotram

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