Śrīkālikākavacam athavā śrītrailokya vijaya kavacam (श्रीकालिकाकवचम् अथवा श्रीत्रैलोक्य विजय कवचम्)

Prologue – This kavacam is associated with the primordial form of the Divine Mother called Śrī Ādyā Kālikā. As the name implies, this is for obtaining victory over all the three realms and triads. One can recite this kavacam mentally during the day time and also while offering the ritualistic worship (pūjā). It is short and can be recited in a few minutes. Those having immense faith in the Divine Mother Kāli, should strongly consider reciting this kavacam.

śrīsadāśiva uvāca (श्रीसदाशिव उवाच) -

kathitaṃ paramaṃ brahma prakṛteḥ stavanaṃ mahat ।

ādyāyāḥ śrī-kālikāyāḥ kavacaṃ śṛṇu sāmpratam ॥ 1 ॥

कथितं परमं ब्रह्म प्रकृतेः स्तवनं महत् ।

आद्यायाः श्रीकालिकायाः कवचं शृणु साम्प्रतम् ॥ १ ॥

Lord Śrī Sadāśiva spoke – Oh my dear Devi! Please listen attentively. Among the most auspicious and sacred stotras (hymns) promulgated by the Creator Lord Brahma, this Śrī Ādyā Kālikā Kavacam, stands forth amongst them as one among the best and is also the most relevant for the present times.

Śrī Ādi Kālikā is the primordial form of the Divine Mother Kālikā Devi.

trailokya-vijayasyāsya kavacasya ṛṣiḥ śivaḥ ।

chando'nuṣṭub-devatā ca ādyā kālī prakīrtitā ॥ 2 ॥

त्रैलोक्यविजयस्यास्य कवचस्य ऋषिः शिवः ।

छन्दोऽनुष्टुब्देवता च आद्या काली प्रकीर्तिता ॥ २ ॥

The ṛṣiḥ (sage) for the three realm conquering trailokya vijayasya kavaca, is Lord Śiva Himself. The meter (chandas) for this hymn is Anuṣṭup and the deity for the kavaca is the most famous primordial Ādyā Kālī.

māyā-bījaṃ bījamiti ramā śakttir-udāhṛtā ।

krīṃ kīlakaṃ kāmya-siddhau viniyogaḥ prakīrtitaḥ ॥ 3 ॥

मायाबीजं बीजमिति रमा शक्त्तिरुदाहृता ।

क्रीं कीलकं काम्यसिद्धौ विनियोगः प्रकीर्तितः ॥ ३ ॥

The seed (bīja) for the kavaca is the māyābīja, which is hrīm̐. The power (śakti) to the kavaca is the prosperity granting Divine Mother Ramā, who is represented by the seed (bīja) śrīm̐. The key (kīlaka), to unlock the kavaca is krīm̐, which is the Kāli bīja. The objective and purpose (viniyoga) for the kavaca, is to accomplish every single task that we have set forth upon and also to achieve great glory, accomplishments and carve a name for ourselves in the society.

viniyogaḥ (विनियोगः) :-

om̐ asya srī ādyā kālī trailokya vijayasya kavaca mantrasya ।

śrī śiva ṛṣiḥ ।

anuṣṭup chandaḥ ।

ādyā kālī devatā ।

hrīm̐ bījaṃ ।

śrīm̐ śaktiḥ ।

krīm̐ kīlakam ।

sarvakāmya siddhyarthe jape viniyogaḥ ॥

ॐ अस्य स्री आद्या काली त्रैलोक्य विजयस्य कवच मन्त्रस्य ।

श्री शिव ऋषिः ।

अनुष्टुप् छन्दः ।

आद्या काली देवता ।

ह्रीँ बीजं ।

श्रीँ शक्तिः ।

क्रीँ कीलकम् ।

सर्वकाम्य सिद्ध्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः ॥

Meaning:- The purpose of reciting this kavacam and the details are mentioned above in verses 2 and 3.

ṛṣyādi nyāsa (ऋष्यादि न्यास) :-

S.no.

IAST

Devanāgari

Procedure

1

om̐ śrī śiva ṛṣaye namaḥ śirasi

ॐ श्री शिव ऋषये नमः शिरसि

Open the right palm and touch the top of the forehead with the ring and thumb fingers joined at the top.

2

anuṣṭup chandase namaḥ mukhe

अनुष्टुप् छन्दसे नमः मुखे

Now touch the lips of the mouth with the above mudrā.

3

śrī ādyā kālī devatābhyo namaḥ hṛdi

श्री आद्या काली देवताभ्यो नमः हृदि

Touch the heart with the right palm.

4

hrīm̐ bījāya namaḥ guhye

ह्रीँ बीजाय नमः गुह्ये

Touch the genitalia with the right ring finger and thumb joined together.

5

śrīm̐ śaktaye namaḥ pādayoḥ

श्रीँ शक्तये नमः पादयोः

Touch the feet with the right ring finger and thumb joined together.

6

krīm̐ kīlakāya namaḥ nābhau

क्रीँ कीलकाय नमः नाभौ

Touch the navel area with the right ring finger and thumb joined together.

7

sarvakāmya siddhyarthe prakīrtaye jape viniyogāya namaḥ sarvāṅge

सर्वकाम्य सिद्ध्यर्थे प्रकीर्तये जपे विनियोगाय नमः सर्वाङ्गे

Run both the palms all over the body.

8

iti ṛṣyādi nyāsaḥ

इति ऋष्यादि न्यासः

 

karanyāsaḥ (करन्यासः) :-

S.no.

IAST

Devanāgari

Procedure

1

krām̐ aṅguṣṭhābhyāṃ namaḥ

क्राँ अङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नमः

Use both the index fingers and run them on both the thumbs.

2

krīm̐ tarjanībhyāṃ namaḥ

क्रीँ तर्जनीभ्यां नमः

Use both the thumbs and run them on both the index fingers.

3

krūm̐ madhyamābhyāṃ namaḥ

क्रूँ मध्यमाभ्यां नमः

Use both the thumbs on the middle fingers.

4

kraim̐ anāmikābhyāṃ namaḥ

क्रैँ अनामिकाभ्यां नमः

Use both the thumbs on the ring fingers.

5

kraum̐ kaniṣṭhikābhyāṃ namaḥ

क्रोँ कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां नमः

Use both the thumbs on the little fingers.

6

kraḥ karatalakarapṛṣṭhābhyāṃ namaḥ

क्रः करतलकरपृष्ठाभ्यां नमः

Open both the palms; run the opened palms of the right hand on the front and back sides of the left palm and repeat the same for the other palm.

7

iti kara nyāsaḥ

इति कर न्यासः

 

 

aṅganyāsaḥ (अङ्गन्यासः) :-

S.no.

IAST

Devanāgari

Procedure

1

krām̐ hṛdayāya namaḥ

क्राँ हृदयाय नमः

Open index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand and place them on the heart chakra.

2

krīm̐ śirase svāhā

क्रीँ शिरसे स्वाहा

Open middle and ring fingers of the right hand and touch the top of the forehead.

3

krūm̐ śikhāyai vaṣaṭ

क्रूँ शिखायै वषट्

Open the right thumb and touch the back of the head. This is the point where the tuft of hair, is kept.

4

kraim̐ kavacāya hum̐

क्रैँ कवचाय हुँ

Cross both the hands and run the fully opened palms from shoulders to finger tips.

5

kraum̐ netratrayāya vauṣaṭ

क्रोँ नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट्

Touch the eyes with the right index and ring fingers, with the middle finger touching the ājña cakra.

6

kraḥ astrāya phaṭ

क्रः अस्त्राय फट्

Open up the left palm and strike it three times with index and middle fingers of the right hand.

7

iti ṣaḍaṅga nyāsaḥ

इति षडङ्ग न्यासः

 

bhūr-bhuva-ssuvarom-iti digbandhaḥ ॥

भूर्भुवस्सुवरोमिति दिग्बन्धः॥

May all the directions be sealed and may no thoughts or disturbances impact our ability to recite the hymn.

 

kavacamārambham (कवचमारम्भम्) :-

hrīmādyā me śiraḥ pātu śrīṃ kālī vadanaṃ mama ।

hṛdayaṃ krīṃ parā śakttiḥ pāyāt-kaṇṭhaṃ parātparā ॥ 4 ॥

ह्रीमाद्या मे शिरः पातु श्रीं काली वदनं मम ।

हृदयं क्रीं परा शक्त्तिः पायात्कण्ठं परात्परा ॥ ४ ॥

The virtual reality bestowing Mahāmāyā bīja hrīm̐, combined with the primordial Divine Mother Ādyā Kālī, who is none other the divine super-consciousness Śakti, protects the head. The prosperity bestowing Śrī Lakṣmī bīja śrīm̐ combined with the destruction and transformation heralding Divine Mother Kālī, protects the face. The heart is protected by the Kālī bīja krīm̐ combined with the Divine Mother the dynamic super-consciousness Parā Śakti Herself. The throat is protected by the Supreme Divine Mother Parātparā.

The activation of the Sahasrāra (crown), the third-eye (Ājñā), the throat (viśuddha) and the heart (anāhata), cakras are signified. One experiences auspiciousness all around, great accumulation of knowledge, outpouring of love as well as, the experience of perceiving everything in a new light.

netre pātu jagad-dhātrī karṇau rakṣatu śaṅkarī ।

ghrāṇaṃ pātu mahāmāyā rasanāṃ sarva-maṅgalā ॥ 5 ॥

नेत्रे पातु जगद्धात्री कर्णौ रक्षतु शङ्करी ।

घ्राणं पातु महामाया रसनां सर्वमङ्गला ॥ ५ ॥

The eyes are protected by the ruler of the entire Creation, the Divine Mother Jagad-dhātrī. The ears are protected by the blissful and auspiciousness bestowing Divine Mother Śaṅkarī. The nostrils are protected by the cosmic virtual reality bestowing Divine Mother Mahāmāyā. The tongue and mouth are protected by the auspiciousness and victory bestowing Divine Mother Sarvamaṅgalā.

dantān rakṣatu kaumārī kapolau kamalālayā ।

oṣṭhādharau kṣamā rakṣec-cibukaṃ cāruhāsinī ॥ 6 ॥

दन्तान् रक्षतु कौमारी कपोलौ कमलालया ।

ओष्ठाधरौ क्षमा रक्षेच्चिबुकं चारुहासिनी ॥ ६ ॥

The teeth are protected by the youthful and dashing Divine Mother Kaumārī. The cheeks are protected by the consciousness expanding Divine Mother Kamalālayā. The upper and lower lips are protected by the forgiving Divine Mother Kṣamā. The chin is protected by the sweet smiling Divine Mother Cāruhāsinī.

grīvāṃ pāyāt-kuleśānī kakut-pātu kṛpāmayī ।

dvau bāhū bāhudā rakṣet-karau kaivalyadāyinī ॥ 7 ॥

ग्रीवां पायात्कुलेशानी ककुत्पातु कृपामयी ।

द्वौ बाहू बाहुदा रक्षेत्करौ कैवल्यदायिनी ॥ ७ ॥

The neck region is protected by the chief Divine Mother Kuleśānī. The hump (base) of the neck is protected by the forgiving and largesse-bestowing Divine Mother Kṛpāmayī. Both the arms are protected by the multi-armed Divine Mother Bāhudā. Both the hands are protected by the liberation and eternal happiness granting Divine Mother Kaivalyadāyinī.

skandhau kapardinī pātu pṛṣṭhaṃ trailokya-tāriṇī ।

pārśve pāyād-aparṇā me kaṭiṃ me kamaṭhāsanā ॥ 8 ॥

स्कन्धौ कपर्दिनी पातु पृष्ठं त्रैलोक्यतारिणी ।

पार्श्वे पायादपर्णा मे कटिं मे कमठासना ॥ ८ ॥

The shoulders are protected by the braided and knotted Divine Mother Kapardinī, representing all the relationships and bonds. The back side is protected by the triad conquering Divine Mother Trailokya-tāriṇī. The sides of the body are protected by the leafless, requiring no sustenance Divine Mother Aparṇā. The waist region is protected by the all burden bearing and sustaining Divine Mother Kamaṭhāsanā.

nābhau pātu viśālākṣī praja-sthānaṃ prabhāvatī ।

ūrū rakṣatu kalyāṇī pādau me pātu pārvatī ॥ 9 ॥

नाभौ पातु विशालाक्षी प्रजस्थानं प्रभावती ।

ऊरू रक्षतु कल्याणी पादौ मे पातु पार्वती ॥ ९ ॥

The navel is protected by the all-seeing Divine Mother Viśālākṣī. The reproductive parts are protected by the illuminating Divine Mother Prabhāvatī. The thighs are protected by the auspicious and desire fulfilling Divine Mother Kalyāṇī. The feet are protected by the most powerful Divine Mother Pārvatī.

jaya-durgāvatu prāṇān-sarvāṅgaṃ sarva-siddhidā ।

rakṣā-hīnaṃ tu yat-sthānaṃ varjitaṃ kavacena ca ॥ 10 ॥

जयदुर्गावतु प्राणान्सर्वाङ्गं सर्वसिद्धिदा ।

रक्षाहीनं तु यत्स्थानं वर्जितं कवचेन च ॥ १० ॥

The victory bestowing Divine Mother Jayadurgā, ensures the flow of the essential life sustaining breath prāṇa and all the organs, internal and external. She also bestows and ensures success in all undertakings. All other unprotected and unmentioned parts are protected by the kavaca itself. One is always assured of protection from all types of influences.   

tatsarvaṃ me sadā rakṣed-ādyā kālī sanātanī ।

iti te kathitaṃ divyaṃ trailokya-vijayābhidham ॥ 11 ॥

तत्सर्वं मे सदा रक्षेदाद्या काली सनातनी ।

इति ते कथितं दिव्यं त्रैलोक्यविजयाभिधम् ॥ ११ ॥

Everything is protected by the primordial Divine Mother Ādyā Kālī at all times without any breaks.

This is the divine all realms and triad conquering Trailokya Vijaya kavacam of Śrī Ādyā Kālī.

kavacaṃ kālikā-devyā ādyāyāḥ paramādbhutam ।

pūjā-kāle paṭhet-yastu ādyādhi-kṛta-mānasaḥ ॥ 12 ॥

कवचं कालिकादेव्या आद्यायाः परमाद्भुतम् ।

पूजाकाले पठेत्यस्तु आद्याधिकृतमानसः ॥ १२ ॥

This kavacam of Śrī Ādyā Kālī, is very mystical and highly coveted. It is capable of fulfilling all wishes and bestowing the grace of the Divine Mother. One may recite this kavacam during the daily ritualistic pūjā worship and may also recite in the mind silently, early in the morning.

iti mahā-nirvāṇa-tantre saptama ullāse 55-66 śloka-paryantaṃ

śrī-kālikā-kavacam sampūrṇam ।

इति महानिर्वाणतन्त्रे सप्तम उल्लासे ५५-६६ श्लोकपर्यन्तं

श्रीकालिकाकवचम् सम्पूर्णम् ।

This kavacam has been derived from the Mahā Nirvāṇa tantra and specifically the seventh chapter containing the verses 55 to 66. Thus ends the Śrī Kālikā Kavacam.