Durga Kavach is a sacred collection of special shlokas from the Markandeya Purana (one of the eighteen major Puranas) and is part of the Durga Saptashti.
Whoever practices this mantra gets blessings from Mother Durga, all the hindrances of his/her life are removed thereby granting the practitioner with overall success and prosperity in life.
Shri Durga is a unified symbol of all divine forces and is said to have manifested when Mahishasura threatened the very existence of humans and gods.
Since time immemorial, the Goddess has been worshiped as the supreme power of the Supreme Being and has been mentioned in many Hindu scriptures – Vajasaneyi Samhita, Yajur Veda, and Taittareya Brahman.
She is the Shakti and in Her different manifestations and forms, She oversees the functioning of our universe. She is supported by 8 demonesses (yoginī).
Additionally, Durga is usually shown carrying a variety of weapons and accompanied by her vehicle, a tiger or a lion, representing her aggression and ferocity.
Shri Durga Kavach – Complete Lyrics:
Markandeya Uvacha
”Yath guhyam paramam loke sarva rakshakaram nrunam,
Yanna kasya Chidagyatham, thanme bruhi pithamaha.”
Brahmo Uvacha
”Asthi guhya thamam vipra, Sarva bhoothopakaarakam,
Devyasthu kavacham punyam tachrunushwa maha mune.
Pradhamam Sailaputhreethi, dwitheeyam Brahma Charini,
Treetheeyam Chadra Gandethi Koosmandethi Chathurthakam.
Panchamam Skanda Matheti shashtam Kathyayaneethi cha.
Sapthamam Kala Rathreethi Maha Goureethi Chasthamam.
Navamam Sidhitha proktha Nava Durga prakeerthitha,
Ukthanyethani naamani Brahmanaiva Maahaathmana.
Agnina dahyamanasthu Sathru madhye Gatho rane,
Vishame durgame Chaiva bhayartha saranam Gatha,
Na Thesham jayathe kinchid asubham rana sankate,
Naapadam thasya pasyami soka dukha bhayam nahi.
Yaisthu bhakthya smrutha noonam teshamrudhi prajayathe.
Pretha Samstha thu Chamunda varahi Mahishasna,
Indri Gaja Samaruda Vaishnavi Garudasana,
Maheswari vrushabarooda Kaumari Shikhi vahana,
Brahmi hamsa samarooda sarvabharana Bhooshitha,
Nanabharana Shobhadya Nano rathnopa Shobitha,
Drusyanthe Radhamarooda Devya Kopa Samanvitha.
Samkham Chakram, Gadham, Shakthim, Halancha, musalayudham,
Gedagam, thomaram chaiva parasum pasameva cha,
Kunthayudham, trishoolan cha Sarngayudhamuthamam,
Daithyanam deha nasaya bakthanam abhayaya cha,
Darayanthyudhanetham devanamcha hithaya vai.
Mahabale, mahothsahe, Maha bhaya vinasini,
Trahi maam dushprekshya, Sathrunam Bhaya vardhini.
Prachyam Rakshathi mamaindri, agneyam agni devatha,
Dakshine raksha Vaarahi, Nairythyam thwam Gadga Dharinim.
Pradeechyam varuni Rakshed vayavyam Mruga Vahini,
Raksed udecchyam Kaumari and easanyam Soola Dharini.
Urdhwam Brahmani mey rakshed adhsthad vaishnavi Thadha,
Evam dasa disa Rakshe Chamunda Sava Vahana.
Jayame Chagradha sthadhu, vijaya sthadu Prushtatha,
Ajitha vama parswe sthu Dakshine chaparajitha.
Shikhamudhyothini rakshedhuma moordhni vyavasthidha,
Maladhari lalate cha brovow rakshed yasawini.
Trinethra cha bruvor madhye yamaganda cha Nasike,
Sankhini chakshshor madhye, srothrayor vindhya vasini.
Kapalow kalika rakshed, kana moole thu sankari,
Nasikayam sugandha cha utharoshta cha charchika.
Adhare Cha amrutha kala, jihwayam thu saraswathi,
Dandhan rakshathu Kaumari, kanda madhye thu Chandika.
Gandikam chithraganda, cha mahamaya cha thaluke,
Kamakshim Chibukam raksseth, vacham me sarva mangala.
Greevayam Badhrakali cha prushtavamse danurdhari,
Neelagreeva bahikante nalikam nalakoobhari.
Gadga dharinyobhou skandow bahu me vajra dharini,
Hasthayor dhandini rakshed ambika cha anguleeshu cha.
Nakham sooleswari raksheth kukshow rakshet naleswari,
Sthanou rakshet mahadevi mana soka nasini.
Hrudayam lalitha devi hydhare shoola dharini,
Nabhim cha kamini raksheth, guhyam guhyeswari thadha,
Bhoothanatha cha medram cha gudham mahisha vahini,
Katyam bhagagavathi rakshed januni vindhya vasini.
Jange mahabala proktha janumadhye vinayaki,
Gulphayor narasimhi cha padha prushte amithoujasi.
Padamanguli sreedhari cha padadasthalavasini,
Nakhan damshtra karali cha kesamscaivordhwa kesini.
Roma koopani Kaubheri twacham Vageeswari Thadha,
Raktha majjavasa mamsanya asthi medhamsi parvathi.
Andhrani kala Rathrischa, piuthancha makuteswari,
Padmavathi padma kose kaphe choodamani sthadha.
Jwalamukhi nakha jwalam abhedya sarva sandhishu,
Shukram brahmani me rakshed chayam chathreswari Thadha.
Ahankaram Mano budhim rakjsha me dharma charini,
Pranapanou thadha vyana samana dhanameva cha,
Yasa keerthim cha Lakshmin cha Sadha rakshathu Chakrini,
Gothram Indrani me raksheth pasunme raksha Chandika.
Puthran Rakshed Mahalakshmi, Bharyam Rakshadu Bhairavi,
Margam Kshemakari rakshed dwijaya sarvatha sthitha.
Raksha heenanthu yath sthanam varjitham kavachena thu,
Thad sarvam raksha me devi jayanthi papa nasini.
Padamekam na Gachethu yadi chedh cha Shubatmana,
Kavachenavyatho nithyam yathra yathra hi gachathi.
Thathra thathratha labascha vijaya saarva kamika,
Yam yam chinthayathe kamam tham tham prapnothi nischitham.
Paramaiswaryamathulam prapsyathe bhoothale pumaan,
Nirbhayo jayathe marthya samgrameswaparajitha.
Trilokye thu bhaveth poojya kavachenavutha puman,
Idanthu devya kavacham devanam abhi durlabham.
Ya padeth prayatho nithyam trisandhyam sradhayan witha,
Daivikale bavethasya trilokye cha aparajitha.
Jived varsha satham sagramapamruthyu vivarjitha,
Nasyanthi vyadhaya sarve lutha visphotakadhaya.
Sthavaram jangamam chapi kruthrimam chapi yadvisham,
Abhicharani sarvani manthra yanthrani bhoothale,
Bhoochara khecharas chaiva jalajaschoupadashika,
Sahaja kulaja mala dakini sakini sthadha,
Antharikshachara ghora dakinyancha maha bala,
Gruha bhootha pisachascha yaksha gandarwa rakshasa.
Brahma rakshasa vethala Koosmanda bhairavadhaya,
Nasyanthi darsanathasya kavache hrudhi samsthithe.
Manonathir bhavedragna thejovrudhi karam param,
Yasahasa vardhathe sopi keerthi manditha bhoothale.
Japeth sapthasathim chandim kruthwa thu kavacham pura,
Yavad bhoomandalam dathe sasaila vana kananam.
Thavathistathi medhinyam santhathi puthra pouthriki,
Dehanthe paramam sthanam yath surair abhi durlabham.
Prapnothi purusho nithyam mahamaya prasadatha.”
Image source – httpspixabay.comphotosdurga-statue-hinduism-sculpture-6647827
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