Sumukhī athavā mātaṅgī kavacam  ( सुमुखी अथवा मातङ्गीकवचम्  )

Prologue :- Śrī Mātaṅgī Kavacam (armor) is an essential part of worshipping and obtaining Her divine grace and is an addendum to the mantra japa. It is very effective in obtaining success in all undertakings and grants many benefits, if one were to recite it 1008 times and also perform the homa fire ritual with a hundred and eight (108) recitations. Childless couples, or those looking to beget more children, can benefit from this kavacam. She is also very mysterious in Her manifestation as one of the ten wisdom goddesses called the Daśa-mahā-vidyā-s and is associated with all the supernatural magical powers called siddhis. One may even obtain these powers as per this kavacam and is therefore considered to be very secretive and should not be revealed to one and all. There is also a curse that one who reveals it to the undeserving, may also lose all his/her powers obtained through Her worship. There are no restrictions in reciting this kavacam and no strict procedures to follow during the recitation period either. Those who are attracted strongly towards the Divine Mother Śrī Mātaṅgī and also initiated into any of Her mantras, may certainly recite and gain the benefits of this kavacam. She is Ucchiṣṭa, meaning “ritually impure” and therefore has very few rituals associated with Her. There are no pre-requisites or qualifications required, in order to seek Her grace. All that She requires from the devotee is pure devotion and nothing else!

The kavacam uses the syllables of the mantras of Śrī Mātaṅgī’s aspects, Sumukhī and Jyeṣṭha Mātaṅgī. It is for this reason, it is considered very effective for the mantra japa and sādhana (worship). It protects the devotees (sādhakās) reciting these mantras as well as, opens up their cakras and other mental faculties, facilitating a deep spiritual awakening and knowledge of the mystical realms.

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ ।

श्रीगणेशाय नमः ।

Salutations to Lord Gaṇeśa. May He bless us and reveal the secrets of the kavacam and grant us all the benefits.

śrīpārvatyuvāca (श्रीपार्वत्युवाच) :-

devadeva mahādeva sṛṣṭi-saṃhāra-kāraka ।

mātaṅgyāḥ kavacaṃ brūhi yadi sneho'sti te mayi ॥ 1 ॥

देवदेव महादेव सृष्टिसंहारकारक ।

मातङ्ग्याः कवचं ब्रूहि यदि स्नेहोऽस्ति ते मयि ॥ १ ॥

Śrī Pārvati (Devi) spoke – Oh Lord of all Creation, Oh Mahādeva, You are the very cause of the manifestation of the entire Creation, it’s Sustenance and Destruction. Oh Dear Lord, please shower your grace and affection towards me and kindly narrate the revered Śrī Mātaṅgī Kavacam.

śiva uvāca (शिव उवाच) :-

atyanta-gopanaṃ guhyaṃ kavacaṃ sarva-kāmadam ।

tava prītyā mayā''khyātaṃ nānyeṣu kathyate śubhe ॥ 2 ॥

अत्यन्तगोपनं गुह्यं कवचं सर्वकामदम् ।

तव प्रीत्या मयाऽऽख्यातं नान्येषु कथ्यते शुभे ॥ २ ॥

Lord Śiva spoke – Oh my dear Devi, Śrī Mātaṅgī Kavacam is highly revered and extremely secretive. It is also the fulfiller of all wishes. It is also unlimited in its magical prowess. For your pleasure, I shall narrate the same. May it bring immense auspiciousness everywhere!

śapathaṃ kuru me devi yadi kiñcit-prakāśase ।

anayā sadṛśī vidyā na bhūtā na bhaviṣyati ॥ 3 ॥

शपथं कुरु मे देवि यदि किञ्चित्प्रकाशसे ।

अनया सदृशी विद्या न भूता न भविष्यति ॥ ३ ॥

Oh Dear Devi, this is my pledge to you. Let me throw some light on this kavacam and in general about Śrī Mātaṅgī. There is no Vidyā (knowledge bestowing goddess) who matches up to, or can rival Śrī Mātaṅgī. Neither in the past, nor in the future, will there by anyone to rival Her greatness. This is the plain Truth.

Dhyānam (ध्यानम्) :-

śavāsanāṃ rakta-vastrāṃ yuvatīṃ sarva-siddhidām ।

evaṃ dhyātvā mahā-devīṃ paṭhet-kavacam-uttamam ॥ 4 ॥

शवासनां रक्तवस्त्रां युवतीं सर्वसिद्धिदाम् ।

एवं ध्यात्वा महादेवीं पठेत्कवचमुत्तमम् ॥ ४ ॥

She is seated on a corpse, wearing red clothes. She is very youthful and capable of bestowing all the magical powers called siddhis. Dear Devi, One can obtain all the benefits of worshipping Śrī Mātaṅgī, by meditation upon Her and reciting this highly coveted and supreme kavacam.

The corpse represents Lord Śiva as the static super-consciousness and Śrī Mātaṅgī as an aspect of the Divine Mother Śakti, in the form of the dynamic super-consciousness. She is His power and is the cause for the manifestation of the entire Creation and its maintenance.

kavacamārambham (कवचमारम्भम्) :-

(Start of the kavacam)

ucchiṣṭaṃ rakṣatu śiraḥ śikhāṃ caṇḍālinī tataḥ ।

sumukhī kavacaṃ rakṣed-devī rakṣatu cakṣuṣī ॥ 5 ॥

उच्छिष्टं रक्षतु शिरः शिखां चण्डालिनी ततः ।                        

सुमुखी कवचं रक्षेद्देवी रक्षतु चक्षुषी ॥ ५ ॥

The un-manifested Whole called Ucchiṣṭa Brahman or Ucchiṣṭaṃ, which is part of Śrī Sumukhī Devī’s mantra protects the head. The top portion or tuft of the head (śikhā), is under the protection of Caṇḍālinī. Sumukhī Devī protects the kavacaṃ and the Divine Mother Devī (Śrī Mātaṅgī) protects the eyes and our eyesight.

The Activation of the Sahasrāra and Ājñā cakras is fully implied in this verse. Complete spiritual elevation is implied by this verse.

mahā-piśācinī pāyān-nāsikāṃ hrīm̐ sadā'vatu ।

ṭhaḥ pātu kaṇṭha-deśaṃ me ṭhaḥ pātu hṛdayaṃ tathā ॥ 6 ॥

महापिशाचिनी पायान्नासिकां ह्रीँ सदाऽवतु ।

ठः पातु कण्ठदेशं मे ठः पातु हृदयं तथा ॥ ६ ॥

Mahā-piśācinī protects the feet. The bīja mantra hrīm̐ protects the nostrils at all times. The negativity destroying bīja mantra that protects the throat region and the same bīja mantra that protects the heart.

The throat Viśuddha cakra activation is signified to give us meticulous speech and remove all negative utterances from us. Balanced prāṇic breathing is also implied, to help activate all our cakras and render in auspiciousness all around us. The heart Anāhata cakra implies pure unconditional love and is also considered the seat of the soul, implying that love and devotion are essential to reach the ultimate super-consciousness.

ṭho bhujau bāhumūle ca sadā rakṣatu caṇḍikā ।

aim̐ ca rakṣatu pādau me sauḥ kukṣiṃ sarvataḥ śivā ॥ 7 ॥

ठो भुजौ बाहुमूले च सदा रक्षतु चण्डिका ।

ऐँ च रक्षतु पादौ मे सौः कुक्षिं सर्वतः शिवा ॥ ७ ॥

The bīja mantra ṭho (or ṭhaḥ) protects the arms. The shoulders and arm pits are protected by the Divine Mother Caṇḍikā. The knowledge bestowing bīja mantra aim̐ protects the feet and the highest spirituality and the liberation bestowing bīja mantra sauḥ, protects the belly and abdomen, implying abdominal breathing leading us to the higher realms of spirituality. The entire rib cage and abdominal region of the body, is protected by Goddess Śivā (Devī).

aim̐ hrīm̐ kaṭideśaṃ ca ām̐ hrīm̐ sandhiṣu sarvadā ।

jyeṣṭha-mātaṅgy-aṅgulirme aṅgulyagre namāmi ca ॥ 8 ॥

ऐँ ह्रीँ कटिदेशं च आँ ह्रीँ सन्धिषु सर्वदा ।

ज्येष्ठमातङ्ग्यङ्गुलिर्मे अङ्गुल्यग्रे नमामि च ॥ ८ ॥

The bīja mantras aim̐ hrīm̐ protect the thighs, waist and the navel region. The bīja mantras ām̐ hrīm̐ protect the joints. The Divine Mother Jyeṣṭha Mātaṅgī protects the knees, ankles, toes and toe nails, as well as the fingers and finger nails.

The lower cakras and their activation is implied by this verse.

ucchiṣṭa-cāṇḍāli māṃ pātu trailokyasya vaśaṅkarī ।

śive svāhā śarīraṃ me sarva-saubhāgya-dāyinī ॥ 9 ॥

उच्छिष्टचाण्डालि मां पातु त्रैलोक्यस्य वशङ्करी ।

शिवे स्वाहा शरीरं मे सर्वसौभाग्यदायिनी ॥ ९ ॥

The Divine Mother Ucchiṣṭa-cāṇḍāli, the mesmerizer and protector of all the three realms, protects us. The Divine Mother Śive (Devi), the consort of Lord Śiva and the fire oblation bīja mantra svāhā, together protect the entire body and offer all fortune and beauty.

ucchiṣṭa-cāṇḍāli mātaṅgi sarva-vaśaṅkari namaḥ ।

svāhā stana-dvayaṃ pātu sarva-śatru-vināśinī ॥ 10 ॥

उच्छिष्टचाण्डालि मातङ्गि सर्ववशङ्करि नमः ।

स्वाहा स्तनद्वयं पातु सर्वशत्रुविनाशिनी ॥ १० ॥

The Divine Mother Ucchiṣṭa-cāṇḍāli Mātaṅgi is the cause of all types of attraction and may She bestow upon us all desires that we seek. The bīja mantra svāhā protects the breasts and the entire chest region and gives us immense courage, as well as destroys all enemies.

Phalaśruti (फलश्रुति):-

(Results obtained through reciting this kavacam, over a period of time)

atyanta-gopanaṃ devi devairapi sudur-labham ।

bhraṣṭebhyaḥ sādhakebhyo'pi draṣṭavyaṃ na kadācana ॥ 11 ॥

अत्यन्तगोपनं देवि देवैरपि सुदुर्लभम् ।

भ्रष्टेभ्यः साधकेभ्योऽपि द्रष्टव्यं न कदाचन ॥ ११ ॥

Oh Dear Devi, this kavacam is extremely secretive and difficult to obtain even for the celestials. It is never to be given to the unworthy and fallen worshippers and undeserving sādhakās (devotees).

dattena siddhi-hāniḥ syāt-sarvathā na prakāśyatām ।

ucchiṣṭena baliṃ datvā śanau vā maṅgale niśi ॥ 12 ॥

दत्तेन सिद्धिहानिः स्यात्सर्वथा न प्रकाश्यताम् ।

उच्छिष्टेन बलिं दत्वा शनौ वा मङ्गले निशि ॥ १२ ॥

Disclosing this kavacam to one and all, will destroy the accrued siddhi of the mantra and hence should not be made available easily. Also, to obtain benefits, partially eaten food can be presented as a sacrificial offering to the Divine Mother on Saturdays and Tuesdays.

rajasvalābhagaṃ spṛṣṭvā japen-mantraṃ ca sādhakaḥ ।

rajasvalāyā vastreṇa homaṃ kuryātsadā sudhīḥ ॥ 13 ॥

रजस्वलाभगं स्पृष्ट्वा जपेन्मन्त्रं च साधकः ।

रजस्वलाया वस्त्रेण होमं कुर्यात्सदा सुधीः ॥ १३ ॥

One must begin the mantra japa of the kavacam, after touching a menstruating woman. Also, the clothes and other waste products disposed of by the menstruating women, should be used in the homa fire rituals, in order to obtain the blessings of the Divine Mother Śrī Mātaṅgī.

siddha-vidyā ito nāsti niyamo nāsti kaścana ।

aṣṭa-sahasraṃ japen-mantraṃ daśāṃśaṃ havanādikam ॥ 14 ॥

सिद्धविद्या इतो नास्ति नियमो नास्ति कश्चन ।

अष्टसहस्रं जपेन्मन्त्रं दशांशं हवनादिकम् ॥ १४ ॥

To obtain complete siddhi and success of this Kavacam, one must recite the kavacam one thousand and eight times and one tenth, meaning one hundred and eight times havana fire ritual must be performed. There are no other restrictions or any specific rules to be followed, during the recitation period.

bhūrja-patre likhitvā ca rakta-sūtreṇa veṣṭayet ।

prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā-mantreṇa jīva-nyāsaṃ samācaret ॥ 15 ॥

भूर्जपत्रे लिखित्वा च रक्तसूत्रेण वेष्टयेत् ।

प्राणप्रतिष्ठामन्त्रेण जीवन्यासं समाचरेत् ॥ १५ ॥

One must write the kavacam on the bark of a birch tree (or a paper or a metal plate) and tie a red thread around it. One should also perform the life infusing prāṇa pratiṣṭhā ritual and also follow the nyāsa rituals for energizing the kavacam mantra. These rituals are to be done prior to the mantra recitation.

svarṇa-madhye tu saṃsthāpya dhārayed-dakṣiṇe kare ।

sarva-siddhir-bhavet-tasya acirāt-putravān-bhavet ॥ 16 ॥

स्वर्णमध्ये तु संस्थाप्य धारयेद्दक्षिणे करे ।

सर्वसिद्धिर्भवेत्तस्य अचिरात्पुत्रवान्भवेत् ॥ १६ ॥

This kavacam that has been energized, can be set in gold in the form of a bracelet and worn on the right hand for men. One will obtain all the magical powers called siddhis, blessings and success thereafter, in all undertakings and will soon obtain children as well.

strībhir-vāma-kare dhāryaṃ bahu-putrā bhavet-tadā ।

vandhyā vā kākavandhyā vā mṛta-vatsā ca sāṅganā ॥ 17 ॥

स्त्रीभिर्वामकरे धार्यं बहुपुत्रा भवेत्तदा ।

वन्ध्या वा काकवन्ध्या वा मृतवत्सा च साङ्गना ॥ १७ ॥

Women should wear the kavacam set in gold, on the left arm and will be blessed with many children. Women who are childless or have only one child hoping to beget more or those who have lost children through miscarriages or other calamities, will certainly obtain fruition and success with child birth.

jīvad-vatsā bhavetsāpi samṛddhir-bhavati dhruvam ।

śakti-pūjāṃ sadā kuryāc-chivā-baliṃ pradāpayet ॥ 18 ॥

जीवद्वत्सा भवेत्सापि समृद्धिर्भवति ध्रुवम् ।

शक्तिपूजां सदा कुर्याच्छिवाबलिं प्रदापयेत् ॥ १८॥

One will obtain live child birth, prosperity, riches and lots of wealth by worshipping the kavacam. All types of Śakti pūjās (worship), also require offering a sacrifice to Lord Śiva as well, to obtain complete benefits in all respects.

idaṃ kavacam-ajñātvā mātaṅgī yo japet-sadā ।

tasya siddhirna bhavati puraścaraṇa-lakṣataḥ ॥ 19 ॥

इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा मातङ्गी यो जपेत्सदा ।

तस्य सिद्धिर्न भवति पुरश्चरणलक्षतः ॥ १९ ॥

One who is unaware of this kavacam of Śrī Mātaṅgī, will not get any benefits through Her mantra japa, even after completing a one hundred thousand japa and completing the puraścaraṇa ritual.

॥ iti śrī-rudra-yāmale tantre mātaṅgī-sumukhī-kavacaṃ samāptam ॥

॥ इति श्रीरुद्रयामले तन्त्रे मातङ्गीसुमुखीकवचं समाप्तम् ॥

(Thus ends the Śrī Mātaṅgī and Sumukhī Devi kavacam, derived from the Śrī Rudrayāmala Tantra).

This article is written by Krishna Vallapareddy.