Sri Batuk Bhairava Brahma Kavacham
श्रीबटुकभैरवब्रह्मकवचम्
Sanskrit
॥ श्रीगणेशाय नमः ॥ ॥ श्रीउमामहेश्वराभ्यां नमः ॥ ॥ श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ ॥ श्रीभैरवाय नमः ॥ श्रीदेव्युवाच । भगवन्सर्ववेत्ता त्वं देवानां प्रीतिदायकम् । भैरवं कवचं ब्रूहि यदि चास्ति कृपा मयि ॥१॥ प्राणत्यागं करिष्यामि यदि नो कथयिष्यसि । सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं सत्यमेव न संशयः ॥२॥
Transliteration
|| śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ || || śrīumāmaheśvarābhyāṃ namaḥ || || śrīgurave namaḥ || || śrībhairavāya namaḥ || śrīdevyuvāca | bhagavansarvavettā tvaṃ devānāṃ prītidāyakam | bhairavaṃ kavacaṃ brūhi yadi cāsti kṛpā mayi ||1|| prāṇatyāgaṃ kariṣyāmi yadi no kathayiṣyasi | satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ satyaṃ satyameva na saṃśayaḥ ||2||
Translation
Salutations to Ganesha, to Uma and Maheshvara, to the Guru, to Bhairava. The Goddess said: O Lord, you are the knower of all, the giver of joy to the gods. Tell me the Bhairava kavach, if you have grace towards me. I shall give up my very life if you do not tell it, truly, truly, again truly, truly indeed, there is no doubt.
Deep Meaning
The kavach opens with the auspicious invocations and the Goddess's impassioned plea. Her vow to give up her life if refused (prāṇatyāgaṃ kariṣyāmi) and the fourfold "satyam" express the supreme sacredness and secrecy of this armor, it is granted only to the utterly earnest.
Sanskrit
इत्थं देव्या वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्यातिशयं प्रभुः । उवाच वचनं तत्र देवदेवो महेश्वरः ॥३॥ ईश्वर उवाच । बाटुकं कवचं दिव्यं शृणु मत्प्राणवल्लभे । चण्डिकातन्त्रसर्वस्वं बटुकस्य विशेषतः ॥४॥
Transliteration
itthaṃ devyā vacaḥ śrutvā prahasyātiśayaṃ prabhuḥ | uvāca vacanaṃ tatra devadevo maheśvaraḥ ||3|| īśvara uvāca | bāṭukaṃ kavacaṃ divyaṃ śṛṇu matprāṇavallabhe | caṇḍikātantrasarvasvaṃ baṭukasya viśeṣataḥ ||4||
Translation
Hearing the Goddess's words thus, the Lord, God of gods, Maheshvara, smiled greatly and spoke these words there. Ishvara said: Listen, O beloved of my life, to the divine kavach of Batuka, the very essence of the Chandika Tantra, and especially of Batuka.
Deep Meaning
Moved by her devotion, Maheshvara consents. He calls the kavach the "sarvasva" (entire essence) of the Chandika Tantra, placing this Batuka armor at the heart of the Shakta-tantric tradition.
Sanskrit
तत्र मन्त्राद्यक्षरं तु वासुदेवस्वरूपकम् । शङ्खवर्णद्वयो ब्रह्मा बटुकश्चन्द्रशेखरः ॥५॥ आपदुद्धारणो देवो भैरवः परिकीर्तितः । प्रवक्ष्यामि समासेन चतुर्वर्गप्रसिद्धये ॥६॥
Transliteration
tatra mantrādyakṣaraṃ tu vāsudevasvarūpakam | śaṅkhavarṇadvayo brahmā baṭukaścandraśekharaḥ ||5|| āpaduddhāraṇo devo bhairavaḥ parikīrtitaḥ | pravakṣyāmi samāsena caturvargaprasiddhaye ||6||
Translation
Therein the first syllable of the mantra is of the nature of Vasudeva; the twin conch-coloured (syllables) are Brahma, and Batuka is the moon-crested one. The deity Bhairava is proclaimed as Apaduddharana (rescuer from calamity). I shall declare it in brief, for the attainment of the four goals of life (chatur-varga).
Deep Meaning
These verses begin the esoteric decoding of the mantra's syllables, each identified with a cosmic principle (Vasudeva, Brahma, the moon-crested Batuka). The stated purpose is the chatur-varga, dharma, artha, kama, and moksha.
Sanskrit
प्रणवः कामदं विद्या लज्जाबीजं च सिद्धिदम् । बटुकायेति विज्ञेयं महापातकनाशनम् ॥७॥ आपदुद्धारणायेति त्वापदुद्धारणं नृणाम् । कुरुद्वयं महेशानि मोहने परिकीर्तितम् ॥८॥ बटुकाय महेशानि स्तम्भने परिकीर्तितम् । लज्जाबीजं तथा विद्यान्मुक्तिदं परिकीर्तितम् ॥९॥
Transliteration
praṇavaḥ kāmadaṃ vidyā lajjābījaṃ ca siddhidam | baṭukāyeti vijñeyaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam ||7|| āpaduddhāraṇāyeti tvāpaduddhāraṇaṃ nṛṇām | kurudvayaṃ maheśāni mohane parikīrtitam ||8|| baṭukāya maheśāni stambhane parikīrtitam | lajjābījaṃ tathā vidyānmuktidaṃ parikīrtitam ||9||
Translation
The Praṇava (Om) grants desires; the Vidya (Kāma-bīja) and the Lajjā-bīja (Hrīṃ) grant accomplishment. "Batukāya" is to be known as the destroyer of the greatest sins. "Āpaduddhāraṇāya" removes the calamities of men. The two "Kuru" (Kuru Kuru), O Maheshani, are proclaimed for enchanting (mohana). "Batukāya," O Maheshani, is proclaimed for stopping/paralysing (stambhana); and the Lajjā-bīja is to be known as the giver of liberation.
Deep Meaning
Each portion of the root mantra is assigned its ritual power (viniyoga): the Praṇava for desires, the bijas for siddhi, "Batukāya" for destroying great sins, "Āpaduddhāraṇāya" for rescue from calamity, "Kuru Kuru" for mohana, and the Lajjā-bīja (Hrīṃ) for mukti. This is the tantric key to how the mantra is applied.
Sanskrit
द्वाविंशत्यक्षरो मन्त्रः क्रमेण जगदीश्वरि । ॥ ॐ ह्रीं बटुकाय आपदुद्धारणाय कुरु कुरु बटुकाय ह्रीं ॥ (इसका जप कवच से पहले और बाद में ११ या २१ बार करें ॥) ॐ अस्य श्रीबटुकभैरवब्रह्मकवचस्य भैरव ऋषिः । अनुष्टुप् छन्दः । श्रीबटुकभैरवो देवता । मम श्रीबटुकभैरवप्रसादसिद्धयर्थे जपे विनियोगः ॥
Transliteration
dvāviṃśatyakṣaro mantraḥ krameṇa jagadīśvari | || oṃ hrīṃ baṭukāya āpaduddhāraṇāya kuru kuru baṭukāya hrīṃ || (isakā japa kavaca se pahale aura bāda meṃ 11 yā 21 bāra kareṃ ||) oṃ asya śrībaṭukabhairavabrahmakavacasya bhairava ṛṣiḥ | anuṣṭup chandaḥ | śrībaṭukabhairavo devatā | mama śrībaṭukabhairavaprasādasiddhayarthe jape viniyogaḥ ||
Translation
Thus in order, O Mistress of the universe, is the twenty-two syllable mantra: "Om Hrīṃ Batukāya Āpaduddhāraṇāya Kuru Kuru Batukāya Hrīṃ." (One should japa this 11 or 21 times before and after the kavach.) Viniyoga: Of this Sri Batuk Bhairava Brahma Kavach, the seer is Bhairava, the meter is Anuṣṭubh, the deity is Sri Batuk Bhairava; it is applied in recitation for the attainment of Sri Batuk Bhairava's grace.
Deep Meaning
The 22-syllable mula-mantra is given, framed by its recitation rule (11 or 21 japas), followed by the formal viniyoga. Note the seer (ṛṣi) is **Bhairava**, this is the authentic reading; the earlier published version wrongly gave "Brahma" as the rishi.
Sanskrit
अथ पाठः । ॐ पातु नित्यं शिरसि पातु ह्रीं कण्ठदेशके ॥१०॥ बटुकाय पातु नाभौ चापदुद्धारणाय च । कुरुद्वयं लिङ्गमूले त्वाधारे वटुकाय च ॥११॥ सर्वदा पातु ह्रीं बीजं बाह्वोर्युगलमेव च । षडङ्गसहितो देवो नित्यं रक्षतु भैरवः ॥१२॥
Transliteration
atha pāṭhaḥ | oṃ pātu nityaṃ śirasi pātu hrīṃ kaṇṭhadeśake ||10|| baṭukāya pātu nābhau cāpaduddhāraṇāya ca | kurudvayaṃ liṅgamūle tvādhāre vaṭukāya ca ||11|| sarvadā pātu hrīṃ bījaṃ bāhvoryugalameva ca | ṣaḍaṅgasahito devo nityaṃ rakṣatu bhairavaḥ ||12||
Translation
Now the recitation: May "Om" ever protect on the head, may "Hrīṃ" protect at the throat. May "Batukāya" protect at the navel, and "Āpaduddhāraṇāya" as well. May the two "Kuru" protect at the root of the linga, and "Vaṭukāya" at the Adhara (muladhara). May the "Hrīṃ" bija always protect the pair of arms. May the deity Bhairava, together with the six limbs (ṣaḍaṅga), ever protect.
Deep Meaning
The nyasa begins: each syllable of the mula-mantra is installed on a specific body part, Om on the head, Hrīṃ at the throat, Batukāya at the navel, and so on down through the muladhara, sealing the practitioner within the mantra itself, guarded by Bhairava with his six limbs.
Sanskrit
ॐ ह्रीं बटुकाय सततं सर्वाङ्गं मम सर्वदा । ॐ ह्रीं पादौ महाकालः पातु वीरासनो हृदि ॥१३॥ ॐ ह्रीं कालः शिरः पातु कण्ठदेशे तु भैरवः । गणराट् पातु जिह्वायामष्टाभिः शक्तिभिः सह ॥१४॥ ॐ ह्रीं दण्डपाणिर्गुह्यमूले भैरवीसहितस्तथा । ॐ ह्रीं विश्वनाथः सदा पातु सर्वाङ्गं मम सर्वदः ॥१५॥
Transliteration
oṃ hrīṃ baṭukāya satataṃ sarvāṅgaṃ mama sarvadā | oṃ hrīṃ pādau mahākālaḥ pātu vīrāsano hṛdi ||13|| oṃ hrīṃ kālaḥ śiraḥ pātu kaṇṭhadeśe tu bhairavaḥ | gaṇarāṭ pātu jihvāyāmaṣṭābhiḥ śaktibhiḥ saha ||14|| oṃ hrīṃ daṇḍapāṇirguhyamūle bhairavīsahitastathā | oṃ hrīṃ viśvanāthaḥ sadā pātu sarvāṅgaṃ mama sarvadaḥ ||15||
Translation
Om Hrīṃ Batukāya, ever protect all my limbs at all times. Om Hrīṃ, may Mahakala protect my feet, may the hero-seated one (Vīrāsana) protect the heart. Om Hrīṃ, may Kala protect the head, Bhairava the throat-region; may Ganaraja (Ganesha) protect the tongue, together with the eight Shaktis. Om Hrīṃ, may Dandapani protect the root of the secret parts, together with Bhairavi; Om Hrīṃ, may Vishvanatha ever protect all my limbs at all times.
Deep Meaning
The nyasa continues with the great guardians: Mahakala at the feet, Kala at the head, Bhairava at the throat, Ganaraja with the eight Shaktis on the tongue, Dandapani with Bhairavi at the root, and Vishvanatha (the Lord of Kashi) protecting the whole body, layering the sadhaka in Shiva-Shakti protection.
Sanskrit
ॐ ह्रीं अन्नपूर्णा सदा पातु चांसौ रक्षतु चण्डिका । आसिताङ्गः शिरः पातु ललाटं रुरुभैरवः ॥१६॥ ॐ ह्रीं चण्डभैरवः पातु वक्त्रं कण्ठं श्रीक्रोधभैरवः । उन्मत्तभैरवः पातु हृदयं मम सर्वदा ॥१७॥ ॐ ह्रीं नाभिदेशे कपाली च लिङ्गे भीषणभैरवः । संहारभैरवः पातु मूलाधारं च सर्वदा ॥१८॥
Transliteration
oṃ hrīṃ annapūrṇā sadā pātu cāṃsau rakṣatu caṇḍikā | āsitāṅgaḥ śiraḥ pātu lalāṭaṃ rurubhairavaḥ ||16|| oṃ hrīṃ caṇḍabhairavaḥ pātu vaktraṃ kaṇṭhaṃ śrīkrodhabhairavaḥ | unmattabhairavaḥ pātu hṛdayaṃ mama sarvadā ||17|| oṃ hrīṃ nābhideśe kapālī ca liṅge bhīṣaṇabhairavaḥ | saṃhārabhairavaḥ pātu mūlādhāraṃ ca sarvadā ||18||
Translation
Om Hrīṃ, may Annapurna ever protect, may Chandika guard the shoulders. May Asitanga protect the head, Ruru Bhairava the forehead. Om Hrīṃ, may Chanda Bhairava protect the face, Sri Krodha Bhairava the throat; may Unmatta Bhairava protect my heart always. Om Hrīṃ, may Kapali (protect) the navel-region and Bhishana Bhairava the linga; may Samhara Bhairava ever protect the muladhara.
Deep Meaning
Now the Ashta Bhairavas themselves are installed across the body, Asitanga, Ruru, Chanda, Krodha, Unmatta, Kapali, Bhishana, Samhara, alongside Annapurna and Chandika. The eight directional guardians of the cosmos become the eight guardians of the practitioner's own body.
Sanskrit
ॐ ह्रीं बाहुयुग्मं सदा पातु भैरवो मम केवलम् । हंसबीजं पातु हृदि सोऽहं रक्षतु पादयोः ॥१९॥ ॐ ह्रीं प्राणापानौ समानं च उदानं व्यानमेव च । रक्षतु द्वारमूले च दशदिक्षु समन्ततः ॥२०॥ ॐ ह्रीं प्रणवं पातु सर्वाङ्गं लज्जाबीजं महाभये । इति श्रीब्रह्मकवचं भैरवस्य प्रकीर्तितम् ॥२१॥
Transliteration
oṃ hrīṃ bāhuyugmaṃ sadā pātu bhairavo mama kevalam | haṃsabījaṃ pātu hṛdi so'haṃ rakṣatu pādayoḥ ||19|| oṃ hrīṃ prāṇāpānau samānaṃ ca udānaṃ vyānameva ca | rakṣatu dvāramūle ca daśadikṣu samantataḥ ||20|| oṃ hrīṃ praṇavaṃ pātu sarvāṅgaṃ lajjābījaṃ mahābhaye | iti śrībrahmakavacaṃ bhairavasya prakīrtitam ||21||
Translation
Om Hrīṃ, may Bhairava alone ever protect both arms; may the Haṃsa-bija protect the heart, may "So'ham" protect the feet. Om Hrīṃ, may (the deity) protect the prana, apana, samana, udana, and vyana (the five vital airs), the root of the doors (senses), and in all ten directions all around. Om Hrīṃ, may the Praṇava protect all limbs, the Lajjā-bija in great fear. Thus is proclaimed the Brahma Kavach of Bhairava.
Deep Meaning
The armor is completed: the Haṃsa / So'ham breath-mantra guards the heart and feet, the five pranas and the sense-gates and all ten directions are sealed, and the Praṇava and Lajjā-bija (Hrīṃ, protecting from great fear) close the shield. Verse 21 formally declares the Brahma Kavach complete.
Sanskrit
चतुवर्गप्रदं नित्यं स्वयं देवप्रकाशितम् । यः पठेच्छृणुयान्नित्यं धारयेत्कवचोत्तमम् ॥२२॥ सदानन्दमयो भूत्वा लभते परमं पदम् । यः इदं कवचं देवि चिन्तयेन्मन्मुखोदितम् ॥२३॥ कोटिजन्मार्जितं पापं तस्य नश्यति तत्क्षणात् । जलमध्येऽग्निमध्ये वा दुर्ग्रहे शत्रुसङ्कटे ॥२४॥
Transliteration
catuvargapradaṃ nityaṃ svayaṃ devaprakāśitam | yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyānnityaṃ dhārayetkavacottamam ||22|| sadānandamayo bhūtvā labhate paramaṃ padam | yaḥ idaṃ kavacaṃ devi cintayenmanmukhoditam ||23|| koṭijanmārjitaṃ pāpaṃ tasya naśyati tatkṣaṇāt | jalamadhye'gnimadhye vā durgrahe śatrusaṅkaṭe ||24||
Translation
Ever granting the four goals, revealed by the deity himself, whoever daily recites, hears, or wears this supreme kavach becomes filled with eternal bliss and attains the supreme state. O Goddess, for whoever contemplates this kavach as spoken from my own mouth, the sin gathered over ten million births is destroyed that very instant, in the midst of water, in the midst of fire, in planetary affliction, in danger from enemies.
Deep Meaning
The phalashruti begins: the kavach grants the chatur-varga, is deva-prakashita (self-revealed by God), and, practised by reciting, hearing, or wearing, destroys the sins of a crore of births instantly, protecting even amid drowning, fire, malefic grahas, and enemy attack.
Sanskrit
कवचस्मरणाद्देवि सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत् । भक्तियुक्तेन मनसा कवचं पूजयेद्यदि ॥२५॥ कामतुल्यस्तु नारीणां रिपूणां च यमोपमः । तस्य पादाम्बुजद्वन्दं राज्ञां मुकुटभूषणम् ॥२६॥ तस्य भूतिं विलोक्यैव कुबेरोऽपि तिरस्कृतः । यस्य विज्ञानमात्रेण मन्त्रसिद्धिर्न संशयः ॥२७॥
Transliteration
kavacasmaraṇāddevi sarvatra vijayī bhavet | bhaktiyuktena manasā kavacaṃ pūjayedyadi ||25|| kāmatulyastu nārīṇāṃ ripūṇāṃ ca yamopamaḥ | tasya pādāmbujadvandaṃ rājñāṃ mukuṭabhūṣaṇam ||26|| tasya bhūtiṃ vilokyaiva kubero'pi tiraskṛtaḥ | yasya vijñānamātreṇa mantrasiddhirna saṃśayaḥ ||27||
Translation
By remembering this kavach, O Goddess, one becomes victorious everywhere, if one worships the kavach with a devotion-filled mind. For women he becomes like Kamadeva, for enemies like Yama; his pair of lotus-feet become the crown-ornament of kings. Merely seeing his splendour, even Kubera is outshone; by mere understanding of it, mantra-siddhi comes without doubt.
Deep Meaning
The fruits continue: universal victory through mere remembrance (with devotion), irresistible charisma, dominion so great that kings bow and Kubera is eclipsed. Crucially, "vijñāna-mātreṇa", by true understanding alone, mantra-siddhi arises: comprehension itself is the shortcut.
Sanskrit
इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा यो जपेद्बटुकं नरः । न चाप्नोति फलं तस्य परं नरकमाप्नुयात् ॥२८॥ मन्वन्तरत्रयं स्थित्वा तिर्यग्योनिषु जायते । इह लोके महारोगी दारिद्र्येणातिपीडितः ॥२९॥ शत्रूणां वशगो भूत्वा करपात्री भवेज्जडः । देयं पुत्राय शिष्याय शान्ताय प्रियवादिने ॥३०॥
Transliteration
idaṃ kavacamajñātvā yo japedbaṭukaṃ naraḥ | na cāpnoti phalaṃ tasya paraṃ narakamāpnuyāt ||28|| manvantaratrayaṃ sthitvā tiryagyoniṣu jāyate | iha loke mahārogī dāridryeṇātipīḍitaḥ ||29|| śatrūṇāṃ vaśago bhūtvā karapātrī bhavejjaḍaḥ | deyaṃ putrāya śiṣyāya śāntāya priyavādine ||30||
Translation
The man who chants the Batuka mantra without knowing this kavach does not obtain its fruit and may reach the lowest hell. Dwelling there for three Manvantaras, he is born in animal wombs; in this world he becomes greatly diseased, sorely tormented by poverty, subservient to enemies, a begging-bowl in hand, dull-witted. It should be given (only) to a son, to a disciple, to one who is peaceful and speaks kindly,
Deep Meaning
A stern warning: practising the mantra without its protective kavach yields no fruit and courts spiritual ruin, because the mantra without its container awakens forces the unprepared cannot hold. The verse then turns to transmission: the kavach is given only to worthy recipients, son, initiated disciple, the peaceful and kindly-spoken.
Sanskrit
कार्पण्यरहितायालं बटुकभक्तिरताय च । योऽपरागे प्रदाता वै तस्य स्यादतिसत्वरम् ॥३१॥ आयुर्विद्या यशो धर्मं बलं चैव न संशयः । इति ते कथितं देवि गोपनीयं स्वयोनिवत् ॥३२॥ ॥ इति श्रीरुद्रयामलोक्तं श्रीबटुकभैरवब्रह्मकवचं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration
kārpaṇyarahitāyālaṃ baṭukabhaktiratāya ca | yo'parāge pradātā vai tasya syādatisatvaram ||31|| āyurvidyā yaśo dharmaṃ balaṃ caiva na saṃśayaḥ | iti te kathitaṃ devi gopanīyaṃ svayonivat ||32|| || iti śrīrudrayāmaloktaṃ śrībaṭukabhairavabrahmakavacaṃ sampūrṇam ||
Translation
To one free of miserliness and devoted to Batuka, the one who bestows it (rightly, without ill-favour) attains, very swiftly, longevity, learning, fame, righteousness, and strength, without doubt. Thus it has been told to you, O Goddess, to be guarded as secret as one's own origin. Thus ends the Sri Batuk Bhairava Brahma Kavacham as told in the Rudra Yamala.
Deep Meaning
The closing verses complete the transmission rule and promise the giver longevity, learning, fame, dharma, and strength. The final injunction, "gopanīyaṃ svayonivat" (guard it as secret as your own source), and the colophon place the kavach firmly in the Rudra Yamala Tantra.
Benefits of Recitation
- ✦The supreme protective armor of Batuk Bhairava from the Rudra Yamala Tantra
- ✦Installs Batuka, the Ashta Bhairavas, and the great guardians across the entire body
- ✦Destroys the sins of ten million births instantly
- ✦Protection amid water, fire, malefic planets, and enemies
- ✦Grants the four goals of life (dharma, artha, kama, moksha)
- ✦Decodes the viniyoga of each portion of the Batuka mula-mantra
- ✦Grants longevity, learning, fame, righteousness, and strength
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