Narayan Kavach

The Narayan Kavach appears in the sixth ‘skandh’ of the eighth ‘adhyaaya’ verses 36-46 in the Shrimad Bhaagvad.  The Narayan Kavach was taught by Vishvaroopa to Lord Indra.

Narayan Kavach literally means the armor of Lord Narayan.  An armor protects one from blows and adversities.  That is exactly what this prayer is meant to do.

It is a fascinating prayer as you will learn if you, at least will read the translation that is rendered. All the possible situations, times, circumstances are covered. The more ambitious ones could recite it everyday for themselves or/and their loved ones. It is believed to be very powerful. I would recommend that the ‘less ambitious ones’ recite or learn the last 4 lines.

From ‘Vidikshu dikshu…….samast tejaha’

Before commencing the recital, chant ’Om Namo Naraayanaya’ or ‘Om Namo Bhagvadey Vaasudey Vaaya (‘ey’ pronounced as Whey) or your favourite mantra 12 times.

Visualize yourself and/or your loved ones, totally protected. My favourite way of doing it is by visualizing a family portrait. You could ‘see’ them dressed in an armor. You could see them immersed in white or violet light. You could see them in a tube of Light. You could see an impenetrable ring of white Light around them.

‘Sound’ started with the chanting of Om. The entire SamVeda was transferred through the notes of the ‘sargam’ Music commenced with the recitation of Mantras and Shlokas. There is Spiritual strength in it.

(One must remember that this prayer was granted for Victory in the battlefield. Hence it asks for destruction of enemies, I would prefer to pray for the destruction of enmity rather than the enemies, Shakun)

I am presenting to you the translation first. The original follows:

May the Lord Hari protect you from all sides.

Shree Hari has placed His ‘Charan Kamal’ (Lotus feet)

On the back of Shree Garuda (The vehicle of Lord Vishnu)

All the 8 ‘Siddhis’ (Miraculous Powers) serve Him..

On His 8 hands, He Holds 8 weapons.

(Shankh, Chakra, Dhaal, Talvaar, Gada, Baan, Dhanush and Paash)

May the Lord protect me in the water as Matsya-Murtir (The Fish Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) from all the Water Creatures.

May the Lord protect me from the Fury of Typhoons.

On the Earth, may the Lord Vaaman (Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) protect me.

Lord Trivikrama should protect me in the sky.

May Lord Narasimha (The half-Man and Half-Lion Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) by whose Mighty roar, all the four directions shook, and pregnant demonesses lost their children in their wombs, protect me in forts, jungles, battlefields and dangerous places.

May Varaaha (The Boar Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) who saved the earth with the help of His tusk, and who symbolises ‘Yagna’ (Sacrifice, effort) protect me when I am going my way.

May Parshurama (The Incarnation of Lord Vishnu who cleansed the earth of power hungry corrupt warriors), protect me on mountain-peaks.

May Sri Laxman, together with Sri Bharat’s elder brother Shri Ram, protect me whenever I travel.

May the Lord Narayan protect me from wrong thoughts, deeds (whenever I may act against ‘Dharma’, my duties)

May the ‘Rishi Shreshta’ protect me from (the disease of ) the Human ego.

Lord Dattatreya! Please protect me from the obstacles that one generally encounters when one goes to pray, or for Spiritual gatherings.

May the Lord Kapil protect me from the bondage of karmas.

May Sanat Kumara protect me from the God of Passion.

May HayaSheersha, protect me from the offense of not paying obeisance to the Dev Murtis (Temples) that one encounters on the way.

May the Dev-Rishi Naarad protect me from (‘Seva-Apraadh) My shortcomings in service (to the Celestial Beings).

May the Tortoise Avtaar of the Lord protect me from all kinds of health problems.

May the Lord Dhanvantari protect me from unhealthy food items.

May RishabhDev protect me from ‘dualities’ (ie. Joy, sorrow, pleasure, pain, Like, Dislike etc)

May Yagna Bhagwan (The Lord Of Yagna or Sacrifices) protect me from social stigmas.

May Lord Sheshya (Snake) protect me from all kinds of snakes of anger.

May Ved- Vyaasji protect me from ignorance.

May Lord Buddha protect me from hypocrisy and laziness.

May Lord Kalki protect me from all the evil prevalent in Kaliyuga.

May Lord Keshav protect me in the morning with His ‘Gada’ (weapon)

May Lord Govind protect me with His flute after dawn.

Before noon may Lord Narayana protect me with His strength.

At noon, may Lord Vishnu protect me with His Sudarshan Chakra (weapon)

During the afternoon, may Lord Madhusudan protect me with His Mighty ‘Dhanush’ (weapon, Bow)

May Tri-Murti-Dhaari protect me during the evening.

After sunset may Lord Rishikesh protect me.

At midnight I seek protection from Bhagwan Padmanaabha.

After midnight may Shree Hari protect me.

At Dawn may Bhagwan Janaardan, who holds the sword protect me.

Before Sunrise may Shree Damodara protect me.

And may Bhagwan Vishweshwara also protect me.

O Sudarshan (weapon of the Lord) You appear like a wheel of a chariot.

Your edges are sharp like a devastating fire.

By instructions from Your Lord, you move on all sides

Just like fire, with the help of the wind, burns dry grass,

Similarly you destroy the army of my enemies (enmity).

O Gada! (weapon) the sparks that emanate from you, are unbearable to the touch.

You are the beloved of Lord Ajit (Invincible)

Hence you destroy the evil spirits as well as my enemies (enmity).

O Shankha! (Conch) May my enemies (and evil tendencies) get frightened, when they hear your sound as Lord Krishna blows upon you.

Make their hearts tremble and cause the demons and evil spirits to flee.

O Mighty Talvaar (Sword) of the Lord whose edge is so sharp.

You destroy my enemies (enmity)

O Great Dhaal of the Lord, which is adorned with countless moons,

You forever close the eyes of my sinful enemies (evil, enmity)

May all those (that) be destroyed, who (which is, an) are an obstacle to my well being.

May all my enemies (enmity) be destroyed by the strength of my chanting and prayers.

May the Lord’s name, form, vehicle and helpers protect our intellect, mind, breath and senses.

God is in reality the ‘Action’ and the ‘Reason for all Creation’

By the Strength of the above Truth, may all my obstacles cease to exist.

Those who have realised ‘Brahma’ or become Enlightened, have realised that the Lord is without form.

Yet by the Power of the Lord’s ‘Maya’ it is true, that the Lord does assume an appearance, and owns (acquires) Jewels, Weapons, Attributes.

That is why, may the Omni- Present God Shree Hari always protect me with His Form.

May the Lord NaraSimha ( The Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Half Lion, Half Man) , Whose Mighty Roar, makes flee the fear of everyone, and by whose effulgence, (enemy's) brightness is devoured, May He always protect me.

Follows, the original in Sanskrit:

Om Hareer vida-dhyaan mama sarva rakshaam

Nyastaangni padmah patgendra prishtey

Daraari charmaasi gadeshu chaapo

Paashaan dadhaanoshta gunoshta vaahu

Jaleshu maam rakshatu matsya murtir

Yaado ganebhyo varunasya paashaat

Sthaleshu maaya vatu vaamano vyaat

Trivikramaha khevatu vishwaroopaha

Durgeshu atavyaaji mukhaadishu Prabhu

Paayaan Nrasimho asurayoothpaarih

Vimunchato yasya mahaat haasam

Disho vinedur nyapatanshcha garbhaah

Rakshatvasao Maadhvani yagnakalpah

Svadanshtrayo nneet dhavo varaaha

Ramo adrikuteshu atha vipravaase

Sa Laxmano avyaad Bharataagrajo smaan

Maam ugra dharmaad akhilaat pramaadaat

Naaraayanah paatu narashcha haasaat

Dattastu ayogaat atha yognaatha

Paayaad Gunesha Kapilaha karmabandhaat

Sanat Kumaro avatu kaamdevaad

Haya sheershaa maam pathi devahelnaat

Devarishi varyaha purushaarcha naantaraat

Koormo Hareer maam niryaa dasheshaat

Dhanvantarir Bhagwan paatu apathyaad

Dwandwaad bhayaad Rishabho nirjitaatmaa

Yagnashcha lokaa davtaad janaantaad

Balo ganaat krodha vashaa daheendraha

Dvaipaayano Bhagwaan aprabodhaad

Budhastu Paakhand Ganaat Pramaadaat

Kalkih kaley kaalmalaat prapaatu dharmaa-vanaayo rukrutaa vataaraha

Maam Keshavo gadayaa praata ravyaad

Govind aasangava Maatra venu

Naraayanah praahna udaatta Shaktir madhyam diney Vishnu ravindra paanihi

Devo aparaahney madhuhogra dhanvaa

Saayam tridhaama vatu Madhavo maam

Doshey Rishikesha utaardha raatrey

Nisheetha eko avatu Padmanaabhah

Shreevatsa dhaama para-raatra Eeshah

Pratyoosha Eesho asidharo Janaardanaha

Daamodaro avyaada nu sandhyam prabhatey

Vishweshwaro Bhagwan kaalmurtih

Chakram Yugaantaanal tigmanemi

Bhramat samantaad Bhagavat prayuktam

Dandhagdhee dandagdhya arisainya maashu

Kaksham yathaa vaata sakho hutaashah

Gadey shani sparshan visphulindey

Nishpindee nishpindhya ajita priyaasi

Kooshmanda vainaayaka yaksha raksho

Bhoota grahaam schoornaya schoornaya reen

Tvam yaatu dhaana pramatha preta maatru

Pishaacha vipra graha ghora drishteen

Darendra vidraavaya Krishna poorito

Bheema svanorarer rdyaani kampayan

Tvam tigmadhaara Sivaraari sainya

Meesha prayukto mama chhindi chhindi

Chakshoom shi charman chhat chandra chhaadaya

Dwishaam aghonaam hara paapa chakshushaam

Yanno bhayam grahebhyo bhoot

Ketubhyo nrubhya eva cha

Sareesru pebhyo damshthrubhyo bhootebhyo hobhya eva va

Sarvaani etaani Bhagwan naam roopaastra keertanaat

prayaantu sankshayam sadyo ye naha shreyah prateepaka

Garudo Bhagwaan stotra stobha rachhando mayaha prabhuh

Rakshatva shesha kruchhebhyo vishwaksenaha svanaamabhi

Sarvaa padbhyo Hareer naama roopa yaanaayu dhaani naha

Budhi indriya manah praanaan

Paantu paarshad Bhooshanaaha

Yathaa hi Bhagwaaneva vastutaha sadasachayat

Satyenaa nena naha sarve yaantu naashamupadra vaaha

Yathei kaatmya nubhaavaanaam vikalpa rahitaha svayam

Bhooshnaa yudha lingaakhyaa dhatey shakteeh svamaayaya

Teneiva satyamaanena sarvagyo Bhagwan Hareeh

Paatu sarvai svaroopairna sadaa sarvatra sarvagaha

Vidikshu dikshu urdhwa madhaha samantaad

Antar baahir Bhagwaan Narasimhaha

Prahaapayan loka bhayan svanena

Svatejasaa grasta samasta tejaaha

Do complete the above prayer by chanting

HARAYE NAMAH three times, as that corrects whichever words may have been mispronounced or any other mistake that may have been committed during the chant.