Sri Mahakala Bhairava Kavach
श्रीमहाकालभैरवकवचम्
Sanskrit
श्रीदेव्युवाच । देवदेव महाबाहो भक्तानां सुखवर्धन । केन सिद्धिं ददात्याशु काली त्रैलोक्यमोहन ॥ १॥ तन्मे वद दयाऽऽधार साधकाभीष्टसिद्धये । कृपां कुरु जगन्नाथ वद वेदविदां वर ॥ २॥
Transliteration
śrīdēvyuvāca | dēvadēva mahābāhō bhaktānāṁ sukhavaradhana | kēna siddhiṁ dadātyāśu kālī trailōkyamōhana || 1 || tanmē vada dayā'dhāra sādhakābhīṣṭasiddhayē | kṛpāṁ kuru jagannātha vada vēdavidāṁ vara || 2 ||
Translation
Sri Devi said: O God of gods, mighty-armed one, increaser of devotees' happiness, by what means does Kali quickly grant siddhi, O enchanter of the three worlds? Tell me that, O ocean of mercy, for the fulfillment of practitioners' desires. Be gracious, O Lord of the world, speak, O best among knowers of the Vedas.
Sanskrit
श्रीभैरव उवाच । गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन तत्त्वात् तत्त्वं परात्परम् । एष सिद्धिकरः सम्यक् किमथो कथयाम्यहम् ॥ ३॥
Transliteration
śrībhairava uvāca | gōpanīyaṁ prayatnēna tattvāt tattvaṁ parātparam | ēṣa siddhikaraḥ samyak kimathō kathayāmyaham || 3 ||
Translation
Sri Bhairava said: This must be kept secret with great effort, the truth beyond all truths, the highest of the high. This is the perfect bestower of siddhi, what more shall I say?
Sanskrit
महाकालमहम् वन्दे सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायकम् । देवदानवगन्धर्वकिन्नरपरिसेवितम् ॥ ४॥ कवचं तत्त्वदेवस्य पठनाद् घोरदर्शने । सत्यं भवति सान्निध्यं कवचस्तवनान्तरात् ॥ ५॥
Transliteration
mahākālamaham vandē sarvasiddhipradāyakam | dēvadānavagandharvakinnaraparisēvitam || 4 || kavacaṁ tattvadēvasya paṭhanād ghōradarśanē | satyaṁ bhavati sānnidhyaṁ kavacastavanāntarāt || 5 ||
Translation
I salute Mahakala, bestower of all siddhis, served by Devas, Danavas, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras. By reciting the kavach of this supreme deity, even in terrifying visions, his true presence manifests after the kavach recitation.
Sanskrit
सिद्धिं ददाति सा तुष्टा कृत्वा कवचमुत्तमम् । साम्राज्यत्वं प्रियं दत्वा पुत्रवत् परिपालयेत् ॥ ६॥ कवचस्य ऋषिर्देवी कालिका दक्षिणा तथा विराट्छन्दः सुविज्ञेयं महाकालस्तु देवता । कालिका साधने चैव विनियोगः प्रकीर्त्तितः ॥ ७॥
Transliteration
siddhiṁ dadāti sā tuṣṭā kṛtvā kavacamuttamam | sāmrājyatvaṁ priyaṁ datvā putravat paripālayēt || 6 || kavacasya ṛṣirdēvī kālikā dakṣiṇā tathā virāṭcchandaḥ suvijñēyaṁ mahākālastu dēvatā | kālikā sādhanē caiva viniyōgaḥ prakīrttitaḥ || 7 ||
Translation
When pleased, she grants siddhi upon performing this supreme kavach. Granting sovereignty lovingly, she protects like a mother. The sage of this kavach is Devi Dakshina Kalika. The meter is Virat. The deity is Mahakala. The application is proclaimed for Kalika sadhana.
Sanskrit
ॐ श्मशानस्थो महारुद्रो महाकालो दिगम्बरः । कपालकर्तृका वामे शूलं खट्वाङ्गम् दक्षिणे ॥ ८॥ भुजङ्गभूषिते देवि भस्मास्थिमणिमण्डितः । ज्वलत्पावकमध्यस्थो भस्मशय्याव्यवस्थितः ॥ ९॥
Transliteration
oṁ śmaśānasthō mahārudrō mahākālō digambaraḥ | kapālakartrukā vāmē śūlaṁ khaṭvāṅgam dakṣiṇē || 8 || bhujaṅgabhūṣitē dēvi bhasmāsthimaṇimaṇḍitaḥ | jvalatpāvakamadhyasthō bhasmaśayyāvyavasthitaḥ || 9 ||
Translation
Om, The great Rudra dwelling in the cremation ground, Mahakala, sky-clad. Skull and chopper in the left hands, trident and khatvanga in the right. O Goddess, adorned with serpent ornaments, decorated with ash, bones, and gems. Stationed in the midst of blazing fire, reclining upon an ash-bed.
Sanskrit
विपरीतरतां तत्र कालिकां हृदयोपरि । पेयं खाद्यं च चोष्यं च तौ कृत्वा तु परस्परम् । एवं भक्त्या यजेद् देवं सर्वसिद्धिः प्रजायते ॥ १०॥
Transliteration
viparītaratāṁ tatra kālikāṁ hṛdayōpari | pēyaṁ khādyaṁ ca cōṣyaṁ ca tau kṛtvā tu parasparam | ēvaṁ bhaktyā yajēd dēvaṁ sarvasiddhiḥ prajāyatē || 10 ||
Translation
Kali in viparita-rati upon his heart, partaking of drink, food, and sustenance together reciprocally. Thus worshipping the deity with devotion, all siddhis are born.
Sanskrit
प्रणवं पूर्वमुच्चार्य महाकालाय तत्पदम् । नमः पातु महामन्त्रः सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः ॥ ११॥ अष्टक्षरो महा मन्त्रः सर्वाशापरिपूरकः । सर्वपापक्षयं याति ग्रहणे भक्तवत्सले ॥ १२॥
Transliteration
praṇavaṁ pūrvamuccārya mahākālāya tatpadam | namaḥ pātu mahāmantraḥ sarvaśāstrārthapāragaḥ || 11 || aṣṭakṣarō mahāmantraḥ sarvāśāparipūrakaḥ | sarvapāpakṣayaṁ yāti grahaṇē bhaktavatsalē || 12 ||
Translation
First uttering Pranava (Om), then "Mahakalaya" and "Namah", may this great mantra protect, which encompasses all scriptural meanings. This eight-syllable great mantra fulfills all hopes. All sins are destroyed upon receiving it, O lover of devotees.
Sanskrit
कूर्चद्वन्द्वं महाकाल प्रसीदेति पदद्वयम् । लज्जायुग्मं वह्निजाया स तु राजेश्वरो महान् ॥ १३॥ मन्त्रग्रहणमात्रेण भवेत सत्यं महाकविः । गद्यपद्यमयी वाणी गङ्गानिर्झरिता तथा ॥ १४॥
Transliteration
kūrcadvandvaṁ mahākāla prasīdēti padadayam | lajjāyugmaṁ vahnijāyā sa tu rājēśvarō mahān || 13 || mantragrahaṇamātrēṇa bhavēta satyaṁ mahākaviḥ | gadyapadyamayī vāṇī gaṅgānirjharitā tathā || 14 ||
Translation
Twin Kurcha-bijas, "Mahakala Prasida" (be pleased) as two words, twin Lajja-bijas, Vahnijaya, that is the great Rajeshvara mantra. Merely by receiving this mantra, one truly becomes a great poet. One's speech flows with prose and verse like the cascading Ganga.
Sanskrit
तस्य नाम तु देवेशि देवा गायन्ति भावुकाः । शक्तिबीजद्वयं दत्वा कूर्चं स्यात् तदनन्तरम् ॥ १५॥ महाकालपदं दत्वा मायाबीजयुगं तथा । कूर्चमेकं समुद्धृत्य महामन्त्रो दशाक्षरः ॥ १६॥
Transliteration
tasya nāma tu dēvēśi dēvā gāyanti bhāvukāḥ | śaktibījadvayaṁ datvā kūrcaṁ syāt tadanantaram || 15 || mahākālapadaṁ datvā māyābījayugaṁ tathā | kūrcamēkaṁ samuddhṛtya mahāmantrō daśākṣaraḥ || 16 ||
Translation
The devotional gods sing his name, O goddess of gods. Place twin Shakti-bijas, then Kurcha after that. Then the word "Mahakala," then twin Maya-bijas. Drawing out one Kurcha, this is the ten-syllable great mantra.
Sanskrit
राजस्थाने दुर्गमे च पातु मां सर्वतो मुदा । वेदादिबीजमादाय भगमान् तदनन्तरम् ॥ १७॥ महाकालाय सम्प्रोच्य कूर्चं दत्वा च ठद्वयम् । ह्रींकारपूर्वमुद्धृत्य वेदादिस्तदनन्तरम् ॥ १८॥
Transliteration
rājasthānē durgamē ca pātu māṁ sarvatō mudā | vēdādibījamādāya bhagamān tadanantaram || 17 || mahākālāya samprōcya kūrcaṁ datvā ca ṭhadvayam | hrīṁkārapūrvamuddhṛtya vēdādistadanantaram || 18 ||
Translation
May he protect me joyfully in royal courts and dangerous places everywhere. Taking the Veda-adi bija, then Bhagaman after that. Having proclaimed "Mahakalaya," giving Kurcha and twin Tha. Drawing out Hrimkara first, then Veda-adi after that.
Sanskrit
महाकालस्यान्तभागे स्वाहान्तमनुमुत्तमम् । धनं पुत्रं सदा पातु बन्धुदारानिकेतनम् ॥ १९॥ पिङ्गलाक्षो मञ्जुयुद्धे युद्धे नित्यं जयप्रदः । सम्भाव्यः सर्वदुष्टघ्नः पातु स्वस्थानवल्लभः ॥ २०॥
Transliteration
mahākālasyāntabhāgē svāhāntamanumuttamam | dhanaṁ putraṁ sadā pātu bandhudārānikētanam || 19 || piṅgalākṣō mañjuyuddhē yuddhē nityaṁ jayapradaḥ | sambhāvyaḥ sarvaduṣṭaghnaḥ pātu svasthānavallabhaḥ || 20 ||
Translation
At the end of "Mahakala," ending with Svaha, the supreme mantra. May it always protect wealth, children, relatives, wife, and home. The amber-eyed one, giver of eternal victory in battle. The revered destroyer of all evil, may the lord of his domain protect.
Sanskrit
इति ते कथितं तुभ्यं देवानामपि दुर्लभम् । अनेन पठनाद् देवि विघ्ननाशो यथा भवेत् ॥ २१॥ सम्पूजकः शुचिस्नातः भक्तियुक्तः समाहितः । सर्वव्याधिविनिर्मुक्तः वैरिमध्ये विशेषतः ॥ २२॥ महाभीमः सदा पातु सर्वस्थान वल्लभम् । कालीपार्श्वस्थितो देवः सर्वदा पातु मे मुखे ॥ २३॥
Transliteration
iti tē kathitaṁ tubhyaṁ dēvānāmapi durlabham | anēna paṭhanād dēvi vighnanāśō yathā bhavēt || 21 || sampūjakaḥ śucisnātaḥ bhaktiyuktaḥ samāhitaḥ | sarvavyādhivinirmuktaḥ vairimadhyē viśēṣataḥ || 22 || mahābhīmaḥ sadā pātu sarvasthāna vallabham | kālīpārśvasthitō dēvaḥ sarvadā pātu mē mukhē || 23 ||
Translation
Thus I have told you what is rare even among the gods. By this recitation, O Goddess, all obstacles are destroyed. The worshipper who is pure, bathed, endowed with devotion and concentration, freed from all diseases, especially among enemies. May the greatly fearsome one always protect the beloved of all places. May the deity stationed beside Kali always protect my face.
Sanskrit
॥ फल श्रुति॥ पठनात् कालिकादेवी पठेत् कवचमुत्तमम् । श्रुणुयाद् वा प्रयत्नेन सदाऽऽनन्दमयो भवेत् ॥ १॥ श्रद्धयाऽश्रद्धया वापि पठनात् कवचस्य यत् । सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति यद्यन्मनसि वर्तते ॥ २॥ बिल्वमूले पठेद् यस्तु पठनाद् कवचस्य यत् । त्रिसन्ध्यं पठनाद् देवि भवेन्नित्यं महाकविः ॥ ३॥ कुमारीं पूजयित्वा तु यः पठेद् भावतत्परः । न किञ्चिद् दुर्लभं तस्य दिवि वा भुवि मोदते ॥ ४॥
Transliteration
|| phala śruti || paṭhanāt kālikādēvī paṭhēt kavacamuttamam | śruṇuyād vā prayatnēna sadā'nandamayō bhavēt || 1 || śraddhayā'śraddhayā vāpi paṭhanāt kavacasya yat | sarvasiddhimavāpnōti yadyanmanasi vartatē || 2 || bilvamūlē paṭhēd yastu paṭhanāt kavacasya yat | trisandhyaṁ paṭhanād dēvi bhavēnnityaṁ mahākaviḥ || 3 || kumārīṁ pūjayitvā tu yaḥ paṭhēd bhāvatatparaḥ | na kiñcid durlabhaṁ tasya divi vā bhuvi mōdatē || 4 ||
Translation
By reciting Kalika Devi's supreme kavach, or even by hearing it with effort, one becomes perpetually blissful. Whether with faith or without faith, by reciting this kavach, one attains all siddhis, whatever dwells in the mind is fulfilled. One who recites it at the base of a Bilva tree at the three twilights, O Goddess, one becomes a great poet forever. Having worshipped Kumari and reciting with devotion, nothing remains unattainable, one rejoices in heaven or on earth.
Sanskrit
दुर्भिक्षे राजपीडायां ग्रामे वा वैरिमध्यके । यत्र यत्र भयं प्राप्तः सर्वत्र प्रपठेन्नरः ॥ ५॥ तत्र तत्राभयं तस्य भवत्येव न संशयः । वामपार्श्वे समानीय शोभितां वरकामिनीम् ॥ ६॥ श्रद्धयाऽश्रद्धया वापि पठनात् कवचस्य तु । प्रयत्नतः पठेद् यस्तु तस्य सिद्धिः करे स्थिता ॥ ७॥ इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा कालं यो भजते नरः । नैव सिद्धिर्भवेत् तस्य विघ्नस्तस्य पदे पदे । आदौ वर्म पठित्वा तु तस्य सिद्धिर्भविष्यति ॥ ८॥
Transliteration
durbhikṣē rājapīḍāyāṁ grāmē vā vairimadhyakē | yatra yatra bhayaṁ prāptaḥ sarvatra prapaṭhēnnaraḥ || 5 || tatra tatrābhayaṁ tasya bhavatyēva na saṁśayaḥ | vāmapārśvē samānīya śōbhitāṁ varakāminīm || 6 || śraddhayā'śraddhayā vāpi paṭhanāt kavacasya tu | prayatnataḥ paṭhēd yastu tasya siddhiḥ karē sthitā || 7 || idaṁ kavacamajñātvā kālaṁ yō bhajatē naraḥ | naiva siddhirbhavēt tasya vighnastasya padē padē | ādau varma paṭhitvā tu tasya siddhirbhaviṣyati || 8 ||
Translation
During famine, royal oppression, in a village or among enemies, wherever fear is encountered, one should recite it everywhere. There, fearlessness is certain, without doubt. Whether with faith or without, by reciting this kavach, one who recites with effort, siddhi rests in their hand. One who worships Kala without knowing this kavach, siddhi will never come, obstacles arise at every step. But first reciting this armor, siddhi shall surely manifest.
Benefits of Recitation
- ✦Grants all siddhis, whether recited with faith or without, the kavach works unfailingly
- ✦Teaches the construction of the 8-syllable and 10-syllable Mahakala mantras
- ✦One becomes a great poet, speech flows like the Ganga with prose and verse
- ✦Recitation at the base of a Bilva tree at three twilights grants eternal poetic mastery
- ✦Without this kavach, all Mahakala worship faces obstacles at every step
- ✦Grants sovereignty, protects wealth, children, relatives, and home
- ✦Protects in royal courts, dangerous places, famine, and among enemies
- ✦Creates fearlessness in all situations, without doubt
- ✦Rare even among the gods, supreme tantric protection from Rudra Yamala
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