Kali · Kavacham
Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
The “Armour that is Auspicious for the World” — taught by Bhairava to Bhairavi — in which Kali’s seed syllables and great mantras are placed over every part of the body, and her many forms and the eight mother goddesses stand guard in every direction.
From the Bhairava Tantra, taught by Bhairava to Bhairavi
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Jaganmangala Kali Kavacham
Son of Kali · Power of Kali
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
कालीपूजा श्रुता नाथ भावाश्च विविधाः प्रभो ॥
Kalipuja Shruta Natha Bhavashcha Vividhah Prabho
kālīpūjā śrutā nātha bhāvāśca vividhāḥ prabho
Bhairavi said: I have heard the worship of Kali, Lord, and its many feelings and ways;
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कवचं पूर्वसूचितम् ॥ १ ॥
Idanim Shrotumicchami Kavacham Purvasuchitam
idānīṃ śrotumicchāmi kavacaṃ pūrvasūcitam
now I wish to hear the armour you spoke of before.
त्वमेव स्रष्टा पाता च संहर्ता च त्वमेव हि ।
Tvameva Srashta Pata Cha Samharta Cha Tvameva Hi
tvameva sraṣṭā pātā ca saṃhartā ca tvameva hi
You alone are the creator, the protector and the destroyer;
त्वमेव शरणन्नाथ त्राहिमां दुःखसङ्कटात् ॥ २ ॥
Tvameva Sharanannatha Trahimam Duhkhasankatat
tvameva śaraṇannātha trāhimāṃ duḥkhasaṅkaṭāt
you alone are the refuge, Lord — save me from the straits of sorrow.
रहस्यं शृणु वक्ष्यामि भैरवि प्राणवल्लभे ।
Rahasyam Shrinu Vakshyami Bhairavi Pranavallabhe
rahasyaṃ śṛṇu vakṣyāmi bhairavi prāṇavallabhe
Bhairava said: Listen, Bhairavi, dear as my life, I shall tell you the secret —
श्रीजगन्मङ्गलन्नाम कवचं मन्त्रविग्रहम् ॥ ३ ॥
Shrijaganmangalannama Kavacham Mantravigraham
śrījaganmaṅgalannāma kavacaṃ mantravigraham
the armour named Jaganmangala, the body of the mantras.
पठित्वा धारयित्वा च त्रैलोक्यं मोहयेत्क्षणात् ।
Pathitva Dharayitva Cha Trailokyam Mohayetkshanat
paṭhitvā dhārayitvā ca trailokyaṃ mohayetkṣaṇāt
By reading it and wearing it, one can enchant the three worlds in a moment;
नारायणोऽपि यद्धृत्वा नारी भूत्वा महेश्वरम् ॥ ४ ॥
Narayanopi Yaddhritva Nari Bhutva Maheshvaram
nārāyaṇo'pi yaddhṛtvā nārī bhūtvā maheśvaram
wearing it, even Narayana became a woman and stirred the great Lord,
योगिनङ्क्षोभमनयद्यद्धृत्वा च रघूत्तमः ।
Yoginankshobhamanayadyaddhritva Cha Raghuttamah
yoginaṅkṣobhamanayadyaddhṛtvā ca raghūttamaḥ
the yogi, from his stillness; and wearing it, the best of the Raghus,
वरतृप्तो जघानैव रावणादिनिशाचरान् ॥ ५ ॥
Varatripto Jaghanaiva Ravanadinishacharan
varatṛpto jaghānaiva rāvaṇādiniśācarān
strengthened by its boon, slew Ravana and the other night-walkers.
यस्य प्रसादादीशोऽहं त्रैलोक्यविजयी विभुः ।
Yasya Prasadadishoham Trailokyavijayi Vibhuh
yasya prasādādīśo'haṃ trailokyavijayī vibhuḥ
By its grace I became the Lord, the all-pervading conqueror of the three worlds;
धनाधिपः कुबेरोऽपि सुरेशोऽभूच्छचीपतिः ॥ ६ ॥
Dhanadhipah Kuberopi Sureshobhucchachipatih
dhanādhipaḥ kubero'pi sureśo'bhūcchacīpatiḥ
Kubera became lord of wealth, and Indra, husband of Shachi, king of the gods.
एवं हि सकला देवास्सर्वसिद्धीश्वराः प्रिये ।
Evam Hi Sakala Devassarvasiddhishvarah Priye
evaṃ hi sakalā devāssarvasiddhīśvarāḥ priye
So all the gods became masters of every power, beloved.
श्रीजगन्मङ्गलस्यास्य कवचस्य ऋषिः शिवः ॥ ७ ॥
Shrijaganmangalasyasya Kavachasya Rishih Shivah
śrījaganmaṅgalasyāsya kavacasya ṛṣiḥ śivaḥ
Of this Jaganmangala armour the seer is Shiva,
छन्दोऽनुष्टुप्देवता च कालिका दक्षिणेरिता ।
Chhhandonushtupdevata Cha Kalika Dakshinerita
chando'nuṣṭupdevatā ca kālikā dakṣiṇeritā
the metre anushtubh, and the deity is called Dakshina Kalika;
जगतां मोहने दुष्टविजये भुक्तिमुक्तिषु ॥ ८ ॥
Jagatam Mohane Dushtavijaye Bhuktimuktishu
jagatāṃ mohane duṣṭavijaye bhuktimuktiṣu
it is used for enchanting the worlds, for victory over the wicked, for enjoyment and liberation,
योषिदाकर्षणे चैव विनियोगः प्रकीर्तितः ।
Yoshidakarshane Chaiva Viniyogah Prakirtitah
yoṣidākarṣaṇe caiva viniyogaḥ prakīrtitaḥ
and for attraction — so its use is declared.
शिरो मे कालिका पातु क्रीङ्कारैकाक्षरी परा ॥ ९ ॥
Shiro Me Kalika Patu Krinkaraikakshari Para
śiro me kālikā pātu krīṅkāraikākṣarī parā
May Kalika, the supreme one-syllable “Krim”, protect my head.
क्रीङ्क्रीङ्क्रीं मे ललाटञ्च कालिका खड्गधारिणी ।
Krinkrinkrim Me Lalatancha Kalika Khadgadharini
krīṅkrīṅkrīṃ me lalāṭañca kālikā khaḍgadhāriṇī
“Krim Krim Krim” — may Kalika, bearing the sword, protect my forehead;
हूं हूं पातु नेत्रयुगं ह्रीं ह्रीं पातु श्रुती मम ॥ १० ॥
Hum Hum Patu Netrayugam Hrim Hrim Patu Shruti Mama
hūṃ hūṃ pātu netrayugaṃ hrīṃ hrīṃ pātu śrutī mama
may “Hum Hum” protect my two eyes, and “Hrim Hrim” my ears.
दक्षिणे कालिका पातु घ्राणयुग्मं महेश्वरी ।
Dakshine Kalika Patu Ghranayugmam Maheshvari
dakṣiṇe kālikā pātu ghrāṇayugmaṃ maheśvarī
May Dakshina Kalika, the great goddess, protect my nostrils;
क्रीङ्क्रीङ्क्रीं रसनाम्पातु हूं हूं पातु कपोलकम् ॥ ११ ॥
Krinkrinkrim Rasanampatu Hum Hum Patu Kapolakam
krīṅkrīṅkrīṃ rasanāmpātu hūṃ hūṃ pātu kapolakam
may “Krim Krim Krim” protect my tongue, and “Hum Hum” my cheeks.
वदनं सकलम्पातु ह्रीं ह्रीं स्वाहास्वरूपिणी ।
Vadanam Sakalampatu Hrim Hrim Svahasvarupini
vadanaṃ sakalampātu hrīṃ hrīṃ svāhāsvarūpiṇī
May she whose form is “Hrim Hrim Svaha” protect my whole face;
द्वाविंशत्यक्षरी स्कन्धौ महाविद्या सुखप्रदा ॥ १२ ॥
Dvavimshatyakshari Skandhau Mahavidya Sukhaprada
dvāviṃśatyakṣarī skandhau mahāvidyā sukhapradā
may the twenty-two-syllable great mantra, giver of happiness, protect my shoulders.
खड्गमुण्डधरा काली सर्वाङ्गमभितोऽवतु ।
Khadgamundadhara Kali Sarvangamabhitovatu
khaḍgamuṇḍadharā kālī sarvāṅgamabhito'vatu
May Kali, holding sword and head, guard my whole body on every side;
क्रींह्रूंह्रीं त्र्यक्षरी पातु चामुण्डा हृदयं मम ॥ १३ ॥
Krimhrumhrim Tryakshari Patu Chamunda Hridayam Mama
krīṃhrūṃhrīṃ tryakṣarī pātu cāmuṇḍā hṛdayaṃ mama
may Chamunda, the three syllables “Krim Hrum Hrim”, protect my heart.
ऐंहूंओंऐं स्तनद्वन्द्वं ह्रीम्फट्स्वाहा ककुत्स्थलम् ।
Aimhumomaim Stanadvandvam Hrimphatsvaha Kakutsthalam
aiṃhūṃoṃaiṃ stanadvandvaṃ hrīmphaṭsvāhā kakutsthalam
“Aim Hum Om Aim” my breasts, “Hrim Phat Svaha” my shoulder blades;
अष्टाक्षरी महाविद्या भुजौ पातु सकर्तृका ॥ १४ ॥
Ashtakshari Mahavidya Bhujau Patu Sakartrika
aṣṭākṣarī mahāvidyā bhujau pātu sakartṛkā
may the eight-syllable great mantra, holding the cleaver, protect my arms.
क्रीङ्क्रींहूंहूंह्रींह्रीङ्कारी पातु षडक्षरी मम ।
Krinkrimhumhumhrimhrinkari Patu Shadakshari Mama
krīṅkrīṃhūṃhūṃhrīṃhrīṅkārī pātu ṣaḍakṣarī mama
May the six-syllable mantra “Krim Krim Hum Hum Hrim Hrim” protect me;
क्रीं नाभिं मध्यदेशञ्च दक्षिणे कालिकाऽवतु ॥ १५ ॥
Krim Nabhim Madhyadeshancha Dakshine Kalikavatu
krīṃ nābhiṃ madhyadeśañca dakṣiṇe kālikā'vatu
may Dakshina Kalika guard my navel and middle with “Krim”.
क्रींस्वाहा पातु पृष्ठञ्च कालिका सा दशाक्षरी ।
Krimsvaha Patu Prishthancha Kalika Sa Dashakshari
krīṃsvāhā pātu pṛṣṭhañca kālikā sā daśākṣarī
May “Krim Svaha” protect my back — Kalika, the ten-syllabled one;
क्रीं मे गुह्यं सदा पातु कालिकायै नमस्ततः ॥ १६ ॥
Krim Me Guhyam Sada Patu Kalikayai Namastatah
krīṃ me guhyaṃ sadā pātu kālikāyai namastataḥ
may “Krim, salutations to Kalika” always protect my private parts.
सप्ताक्षरी महाविद्या सर्वतन्त्रेषु गोपिता ।
Saptakshari Mahavidya Sarvatantreshu Gopita
saptākṣarī mahāvidyā sarvatantreṣu gopitā
The seven-syllable great mantra, hidden in all the tantras —
ह्रींह्रीं दक्षिणे कालिके हूंहूं पातु कटिद्वयम् ॥ १७ ॥
Hrimhrim Dakshine Kalike Humhum Patu Katidvayam
hrīṃhrīṃ dakṣiṇe kālike hūṃhūṃ pātu kaṭidvayam
“Hrim Hrim, O Dakshina Kalike, Hum Hum” — may it protect my hips.
काली दशाक्षरी विद्या स्वाहा मामूरुयुग्मकम् ।
Kali Dashakshari Vidya Svaha Mamuruyugmakam
kālī daśākṣarī vidyā svāhā māmūruyugmakam
May the ten-syllable mantra of Kali with “Svaha” protect my thighs;
ॐ क्रीङ्क्रीं मे स्वाहा पातु कालिका जानुनी सदा ॥ १८ ॥
Om Krinkrim Me Svaha Patu Kalika Januni Sada
oṃ krīṅkrīṃ me svāhā pātu kālikā jānunī sadā
may Kalika, “Om Krim Krim Svaha”, always protect my knees.
कालीहृन्नामविद्येयञ्चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदा ।
Kalihrinnamavidyeyanchaturvargaphalaprada
kālīhṛnnāmavidyeyañcaturvargaphalapradā
This is the heart-name mantra of Kali, which grants the four aims of life;
क्रींह्रींह्रीं पातु सा गुल्फन्दक्षिणे कालिकाऽवतु ॥ १९ ॥
Krimhrimhrim Patu Sa Gulphandakshine Kalikavatu
krīṃhrīṃhrīṃ pātu sā gulphandakṣiṇe kālikā'vatu
may “Krim Hrim Hrim” protect my ankles; may Dakshina Kalika guard me.
क्रींह्रूंह्रीं स्वाहा पदम्पातु चतुर्द्दशाक्षरी मम ।
Krimhrumhrim Svaha Padampatu Chaturddashakshari Mama
krīṃhrūṃhrīṃ svāhā padampātu caturddaśākṣarī mama
May the fourteen-syllable “Krim Hrum Hrim Svaha” protect my feet;
खड्गमुण्डधरा काली वरदाभयधारिणी ॥ २० ॥
Khadgamundadhara Kali Varadabhayadharini
khaḍgamuṇḍadharā kālī varadābhayadhāriṇī
may Kali, holding sword and head and showing the gestures of boon and fearlessness,
The Jaganmangala Kavacham — also called the Shyama Kavacham — is a tantric armour of Kali preserved in the Bhairava Tantra (and in the Shakta Pramoda compilation). Bhairavi, the Goddess, asks her consort Bhairava for the armour he had promised, and he reveals it as “the body of the mantras”: whoever reads or wears it can enchant the three worlds.
Bhairava gives its power through stories: wearing it, Narayana took the form of the enchantress Mohini; wearing it, Rama killed Ravana; by its grace Bhairava himself conquered the three worlds, Kubera became lord of wealth and Indra king of the gods.
The armour itself is built from mantra. Kali’s seed syllables — Krim, Hum, Hrim, Aim — and her famous mantras of one, three, six, seven, eight, ten, fourteen and twenty-two syllables are placed on the head, forehead, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, face, shoulders, heart, arms, navel, back and legs. Then her forms — Kapalini, Kulla, Kurukulla, Viprachitta, Ugra and the rest — and the eight Matrikas (Brahmi, Narayani, Maheshvari, Chamunda, Kaumari, Aparajita, Varahi and Narasimhi) guard every direction with their weapons.
In tantra, a bija (seed) syllable is the sound-form of a deity — Krim for Kali, Hrim for the Goddess as cosmic power, Hum for protective fire, Aim for wisdom. Placing these sounds on the body (nyasa) is believed to make the body itself a dwelling of the deity.
That is why this armour is called “mantra-vigraha”, the body of the mantras: rather than asking a goddess to protect from outside, it builds her protection out of sound, part by part.
When to chant
How many times
Once, three times, or more; the text speaks of fifty recitations for its full power.
Begin by honouring your teacher, as the text instructs.
Sit before an image of Dakshina Kali and light a lamp.
Chant each seed syllable clearly while touching the part of the body it protects.
End by offering a flower to Kali.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
krīṃ
kreem — Kali’s seed syllable.
hūṃ
hoom — the protective seed syllable.
jaganmaṅgala
ja-gun-mun-ga-la — “auspicious for the world.”
What does Jaganmangala mean?
“Auspicious for the world.” The kavacham is also called the Shyama Kavacham, Shyama being a name of Dakshina Kali.
Where does it come from?
From the Bhairava Tantra, as a dialogue between Bhairava and Bhairavi; it is also preserved in the Shakta Pramoda.
Is it different from the Dakshina Kali Kavacham?
Yes. Both protect the devotee through Kali, but this one is built from her seed syllables and mantras and calls on the eight mother goddesses to guard the directions.
Who may recite it?
The text says it should be given to sincere, devoted students; in practice many devotees recite it with a teacher’s blessing.