Hayagreeva Kavacham

Hayagreeva Kavacham
[Armour of Hayagreeva]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[Hayagreeva is a horse faced form of Lord Vishnu. There are several stories about the origin of this God. He is included in the minor incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is known that he killed as asura called Hayagreeva who had a horse's head. People who follow Vaishavism believe that he is the God of knowledge. This Kavacham is from Atharva Veda.]

Asya Sri Hayagreeva kavacha maha manthrasya, Hayagreeva Rishi, Anushtup Chanda, Sri Hayageevo Paramathma devatha.

For the great manthra called "the armour of Hayagreeva", the sage is Hayagreeva, the meter is Anushtup and God addressed is the divine God Hayagreeva.

Om sreem (Hreem) Vageeswaraya nama ithi Bheejam
OmkleemVidhyadharaya nama ithi Sakthi
Om Sou Vedhanidhaye nama ithi keelakam
Om nama Hayagreevaya Shukla varnaya Vidhyamoorthaye, jnanamoorthaye, omkarachyuthaya brahma vidhya pradhaya swaha.

The seed is "Om sreem (Hreem) salutations to the God of words."
The power is "Om kleem salutations to one who carries knowledge."
The nail is "Om Sou salutations to the treasure house of Vedas."
Om salutations to Hayagreeva who is white coloured, who is the form of knowledge, who is the form of wisdom, Who is Achyutha with Om, God who gives knowledge of Brahman Swaha.

Dhyanam

1. Kalasambudhi sangasa, kamalayatha lochanam,
Kalanidhi kruthaa vasam. karnikanthara vasinam.

One who is in the water of sacred water pot, One who has eyes like lotus flowers,
One who lives in the works of treasures of art, who lives in the pericarp of lotus.

2. Jnana mudraksha layam, Sankha chakra sathkaram,
Bhoosha kirana sandhoha, virajitha digantharam.

He who is merged with the seal of wisdom, Who holds in his hands the conch and the wheel,
Who shines in all directions due to the very many ornaments he wears.

3. Vakthrabja nirgatho dhama, vani santhana shobitham,
DEvatha sarva bhoumam tham dhyayeth abheeshtartha sidhaye.

You can see a garland around his neck and he shines along with Goddess Saraswathi and children,
He is the greatest among Devas and so I meditate on him to fulfill all my desires.

Kavacham

4. Hayagreeva sira pathu, lalatam Chandra madhyaga,
Sasthra drushtir drusou pathu, sabdha brahmathmaka sruthi.

Let Hayagreeva protect my head, and let my forehead be protected by one who is in the middle of the moon,
Let the one with scientific vision protect my eyes and the soul of sound of Brahma protect my hearing.

5. Granam gandhathmaka pathu vadanam yajna sambhava,
Jihwaam vageeswara pathu, mukundo dantha samhathee

The soul of scents protect the nose and let the face be protected by the soul of Yajna,
Let the tongue be protected by God of speech and let Mukunda protect the row of teeth.

6. Oshtam Brahmathmaka pathu, pathu Narayano adharam,
Shivathmaka chibukam pathu kapolou kamala parbhu.

Let my upper lips be protected by soul of Brahma, and let Narayana protect my lower lip,
Let my chin be protected by soul of Shiva and cheeks by the Lord of Goddess Lakshmi.

7. Vidhyatma peetakam pathu, kantam nadathmako mama,
Bhujou chathur bhuja pathu karou daithyendra mardhana.

Let the soul of knowledge protect my seat, let my neck be protected by the soul of voice,
Let my arm be protected by the one with four hands, let my hand be protected by one who killed the king of Daithyas.

8. Jnanathma hrudayam pathu, viswathma thu kucha dwayam,
Madhyamam pathu sarvathma, pathu peethmabara katim.

Let the soul of wisdom protect my chest, let the soul of universe protect both my breasts,
Let my middle be protected by the soul of everything, let my waist be protected by him who wears yellow silk.

9. Kukshim kukshistha viswo may,
Bali bango valithrayam,
Nabhim padmanabho avyadh,
Guhyam guhartha bodha kruth.

Let me belly be protected by him who has the universe in his belly,
Let those three rinkles be protected by him who stopped Mahabali,
Let the belly button be protected by Padmanabha,
Let the private parts be protected by him who makes us understand the secret meanings.

10. Ooru Damodhara pathu, Janhuni Madhusoodana,
Pathu Janghe Maha Vishnu, gulphou pathu Janardhana.

Let my thighs be protected by Damodhara, let my knee be protected by killer of Madhu,
Let my shanks be protected by Mahavishnu, let my ankles be protected by Janardhana,

11, Dhathoon Nadigatha pathu, Bharyaam Lakshmipathir mama,
Puthraan Viswakudumbi may pathu, Bandhun Sureswara.

Let secretions of my body be protected by one who goes to the pulses.
Let my wife be protected by consort of Lakshmi,
Let my son be protected by him to whom world is his family,
Let my relatives be protected y God of devas.

13. Mithram mithrathmaka pathu vahnyathma sathru samhathi,
Praanaan vayvathmaka pathu kshethram viswambrathmaka.

Let the soul of Sun God protect my friends, let the soul of fire protect against the collection of enemies,
Let the soul of wind protect my soul, let my body be protected by the soul of the sky.

14, Varunathma rasaan pathu, Vyomathma hrud guhantharam,
Diva rathram Hrishikesa, pathu sarvam Jagad guru.

Let the soul of Varuna protect your juices, let the soul of the sky protect the inside of your heart,
Let Hrishikesa protect me day and night and let the teacher of the world protect everything.

15. Vishame sankate chaiva pathu kshemam karo mama,
Sachidananda roopaa may jnanam rakshathu sarvadaa.

When I am in trouble or sorrow, please make me pleasurable,
Oh God of the form of divine joy, let my wisdom protect me always.

16. Prachyam rakshathu Sarvathma, Agneyaam Jnana deepika,
Yamyam bodha pradhaapathu nairyathyaam chidghana prabha.

Let the soul of all protect the east, let south east be protected by the light of wisdom,
Let south be protected by one who brings us to consciousness,
Let south west be protected by the heavy divine light.

17. Vidhya nidhisthu varunyaam, vayavyaam chinmayo aavathu,
Kaubheryaam vithadha pathu aiswaryaam cha jagad guru.

Let the west be protected by treasure of knowledge,
Let North west be protected by the all pervading divine,
Let North be protected by the one who gives wealth,
And the North east be protected by the teacher of the world.

18. Oordhwam pathu Jagatswami, pathwadathath parapara,
Raksha heenam thu yath sthanam rakshathwa Akhila Nayaka

Let the upper side be protected by God of the world.
The direction towards our feet be protected by the most divine among divines.
And let all those spots where there is no protection,
Let all those spots be protected by the Lord of everything.

19. Yevam nyastha sareero asou sakshad Vageeswara bhaved,
Ayur arogyam aiswaryam sarva sasthra pravaktharam.

This body when given up would become the real God of speech,
And would get long life, health, wealth and expertise in all Sasthras.

20. Labhathe naathra sandeho, haya greeva prasadatha,
Itheedham keerthitham divyam kavacham deva poojitham.

Without any doubt they would get, the grace of God Hayagreeva
If they sing this divine armour which is worshipped by devas.

Ithya atharvana vede, Manthra khande, poorva samhithayam, Hayagreeva kavacham samaptham.

Thus ends the armour of Hayagreva which occurs in the Poorva Samhitha (Early Collection) on the book of Manthras which occurs in Atharva Veda.