Nārāyaṇa Kavacha Part-1

In the Bhagavat
Gita, Kṛṣṇa reveals
His universal form
(Viśvarūpa) to
Arjuna which was so
formidable for the
great hero to even
behold. Therefore,
before jumping to worship Viśvarūpa, we need to see the
teachings in the Śrīmad Bhagavataṁ. Bear in mind that the
Viṣṇu avatāra are sustainer of things based on their specific
forms.
There are at least three parts to the Nārāyaṇa Kavacha. The
three principal parts are the
1. aṣṭākṣarī mantra ॐ नममो ननारनायणनाय (om namo
nārāyaṇāya). Aṣṭākṣarī means aṣṭa (eight) akṣara (syllable)
2. dvādasākṣarī mantra ॐ नममो भगवतते वनाससदतेवनाय (om namo bhagavate vāsudevāya). Dvādasa
means twelve and akṣara means syllables, hence dvādasākṣarī mantra refers to the famous
twelve syllable mantra of Viṣṇu.
3. ṣaḍākṣarī mantra ॐ ववष्णवते नममः (om viṣṇave namaḥ). ṣaḍ means six and akṣara means
syllable.
4. Specific protection based on situation
Part-1: Aṣṭākṣarī Kavacha
Śrīmad Bhagavataṁ 6.8.4-6
शश्रीववश्वरूप उवनाच śrīviśvarūpa uvāca
dhautāṅghripāṇirācamya sapavitra udaṅmukhaḥ
धधौतनाङ्घघ्रिपनाणणरनाचम्य सपववत्र उदङ्मख स मः kṛtasvāṅgakaranyāso mantrābhyāṁ vāgyataḥ śuciḥ
ककतस्वनाङ्गकरन्यनासमो मन्त्रनाभ्यनायां वनाग्यतमः शचस चमः nārāyaṇaparaṁ varma sannahyedbhaya āgate
pādayorjānunorūrvorudare hṛdyathorasi
ननारनायणपरयां वमर्म सन्नह्यतेद्भय आगतते mukhe śirasyānupūrvyādoṁkārādīni vinyaset
पनादयमोरनार्मनन
स मोरूवर्वोरु दरते हृद्यथमोरसस oṁ namo nārāyaṇāyeti viparyayamathāpi vā
मसखते सशरस्यनानप
स रप यनार्मददोंकनारनाददीघन ववन्यसतेत त
ओयां नममो ननारनायणनायतेघत ववपयर्मयमथनावप वना
Translation: Śrī Viśvarūpa teaches that when there is any sort of fear, then one must adorn the
armour called Nārāyaṇa Kavacha. To do so, first cleanse the limbs and perform ācamana. Thereafter
the mantra “oṁ namo nārāyaṇāya” is recited in the direct and reverse order while touching eight
parts of the body from feet to head and back.
Let us do this in simple steps.
Step 1: First, wash hands and legs properly and wear some clean clothes.
Step 2: Recite the following ācamana prayer for cleansing yourself.
ॐ अपववत्रमः पववत्रमो वना सवर्मवस्थनाम त गतमोऽवप वना।

यमः स्मरते त त पण्

स डररकनाक्षम त स बनाह्यभ्यन्तरमः सचस चमः॥
om apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvavasthām gato’pi vā|
yaḥ smaret puṇḍarikākṣam sa bāhyabhyantaraḥ suciḥ||
Take some water in your cupped right hand palm and sip it thrice while reciting

शश्री ववष्णस शश्री ववष्णस शश्री ववष्णस

śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu
Step 3: Recite each of the syllables of the eight syllable Nārāyaṇa mantra while touching the eight
body parts with your fingers. This is called sṛṣṭi nyāsa (creation process) – also known as utpatti
nyāsa. What we are doing is energizing the eight vital junctions of the body to ensure proper flow of
fluids and energy in the system. By this the body gets the power to heal itself and create new cells
and repair parts.
Nyāsa is always done with nyāsa mantra which have to be extricated from the main mantra which is
going to be recited. Śrī Viśvarūpa has advised that nyāsa has to be done on eight specific body parts
with each of the syllables of the aṣṭākṣarī (eight syllable) Nārāyaṇa mantra. Each of these syllables
is recited after ‘om’ and then the name of the body part is recited followed by nāmaḥ.
Akṣara Placed on Nyāsa Mantra
ॐ om pādayoḥ Feet ॐ ॐ पनादयते नममः om om pādaye namaḥ
न na jānunoḥ Knees ॐ नयां रनानन
स ते नममः om naṁ jānune namaḥ
ममो mo ūrvo Thighs ॐ मदों उवर्मयते नममः om moṁ urvaye namaḥ

नना nā udara Abdomen ॐ ननायां उदरनाय नममः om nāṁ udarāya namaḥ

रना rā hṛd Heart ॐ रनायां हृदयनाय नममः om rāṁ hṛdayāya namaḥ

य ya urasi Chest ॐ ययां उरसते नममः om yaṁ urase namaḥ

णना ṇā mukha Mouth ॐ णनायां मसखयते नममः om ṇāṁ mukhaye namaḥ

य ya śiras Head ॐ ययां सशरसते नममः om yaṁ śirase namaḥ
Step 4: Recite each of the syllables of the eight syllable Nārāyaṇa mantra in the reverse while
touching the eight body parts in the reverse order, with your fingers. This is called saṁhāra nyāsa
(dissolution process). What we are doing is energizing the eight vital junctions of the body to ensure
proper removal of toxins and dead cells. By this the body gets the power to heal itself as the sins are
removed.
Akṣara Placed on Nyāsa Mantra
य ya śiras Head ॐ ययां सशरसते नममः om yaṁ śirase namaḥ

णना ṇā mukha Mouth ॐ णयां मसखयते नममः om ṇaṁ mukhaye namaḥ

य ya urasi Chest ॐ ययां उरसते नममः om yaṁ urase namaḥ

रना rā hṛd Heart ॐ रनायां हृदयनाय नममः om rāṁ hṛdayāya namaḥ

नना nā udara Abdomen ॐ ननायां उदरनाय नममः om nāṁ udarāya namaḥ
ममो mo ūrvo Thighs ॐ मदों उवर्मयते नममः om moṁ urvaye namaḥ

न na jānunoḥ Knees ॐ नयां रनानसनते नममः om naṁ jānune namaḥ

ॐ om pādayoḥ Feet ॐ ॐ पनादयते नममः om om pādaye namaḥ

Step 5: Recite the aṣṭākṣarī mantra ॐ नममो ननारनायणनाय (om namo nārāyaṇāya) 108 times or
multiples thereof to reinforce the kavacha and protect from all diseases and evils.

Narayana Kavacham

(Acamyam)
[holding water in right palm]
om apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato 'pi va |
yah smaret pundarikaksam sa bahyabhyantarah sucih ||

sri-visnu sri-visnu sri-visnu.[Sipping water thrice]

(Asana)
[Take seat]

(Srishti Nyasa)
(utpatti-nyasa)
1 [touching feet] "Om AUM Padayoh Namah".
2 [touching knees]"Om Nam Janunoh Namah";
3 [touching thighs]�Om Mam Urvoh Namah�;
4 [touching abdomen]�Om Nam Udare Namah�;
5 [touching heart]�Om Ram Hridayayai Namah�;
6 [touching chest]�Om Yam Urase Namah�;
7 [touching mouth]�Om Nam Mukhaye Namah� and,
8 [touching head] �Om Yam Sirase Namah�.
(samhara-nyasa)
1 [touching head]�Om Yam Sirase Namah�.
2 [touching mouth]�Om Nam Mukhaye Namah�
3 [touching chest]�Om Yam Urase Namah�;
4 [touching heart]�Om Ram Hridayayai Namah�;
5 [touching abdomen]�Om Nam Udare Namah�;
6 [touching thighs]�Om Mam Urvoh Namah�;
7 [touching knees]�Om Nam Janunoh Namah�, and
8 [touching feet]�Om AUM Padayoh Namah�.

(Kara Nyasa)
1 [touching rt thumb finger] �Om AUM Angustha -bhyam Namah �.
2 [touching rt index finger]�Om Nam Tarjani -bhyam Namah �.
3 [touching rt middle finger] �Om Mam Madhyama-bhyam Namah �.
4 [touching rt ring finger] �Om Bham Anamika-bhyam Namah �.
5 [touching rt little finger] �Om Gam Kanishtika bhyam Namah �.
6 [touching rt palm] �Om Vam Kara-tala-kara-prishta-bhyam Namah �.

7 [touching lt palm ]�Om Tem Kara-tala-kara-prishta-bhyam Namah �.

8 [touching lt little finger] �Om Vam Kanishtika bhyam Namah �.
9 [touching lt ring finger] �Om Sum Anamika-bhyam Namah �.
10 [touching lt middle finger] �Om Dem Madhyama-bhyam Namah �.
11 [touching lt index finger]�Om Vam Tarjani-bhyam Namah �.
12 [touching lt thumb finger] �Om Yam Angustha -bhyam Namah �.

(Anga Nyasa)
[touch the body part in bracket]
1 [heart] �Om Hridayayai Namah�;
2 [top of the head] �Vim Sirase Swaha�;
3 [center of eyebrows]�Sam Bhru-madhyaye Swaha �;
4 [whorl of the head]�Nam Sikhayayai Vasat�;
5 [third eye]�Vem Netratrayaya Vaushat�;
6 [Concentrate on all joints]�Nam Kavachaya Hum�;
7 [mind in all directions] �Mah astraya Phat� [North and in the clockwise direction i.e.
NE etc ]

(Japa & Meditation)

OM VISHNAVE NAMAH

{.. naaraayaNa kavachaM .. from para 12)

OM harirvidadhyaanmama sarvarakshhaaM nyastaaN^ghripadmaH

patagendrapR^ishhThe .
daraaricharmaasigadeshhuchaapa paashaandadhaano.ashhTaguNo.ashhTabaahuH ..
12..

jaleshhu maaM rakshhatu matsyamuurtiryaadogaNebhyo varuNasya paashaat.h .

sthaleshhu maayaavaTuvaamano.avyaat trivikramaH khe.avatu vishvaruupaH .. 13..

durgeshhvaTavyaajimukhaadishhu prabhuH paayaannR^isi.nho.asurayuuthapaariH .

vimuJNchato yasya mahaaTTahaasaM disho vinedurnyapataMshcha garbhaaH .. 14..

rakshhatvasau maadhvani yaGYakalpaH svadaMshhTrayonniitadharo varaahaH .

raamo.adrikuuTeshhvatha vipravaase salakshhmaNo.avyaadbharataagrajo.asmaan .. 15..
maamugradharmaadakhilaatpramaadaannaaraayaNaH paatu narashcha haasaat.h .
dattastvayogaadatha yoganaathaH paayaadguNeshaH kapilaH karmabandhaat.h .. 16..

sanatkumaaro.avatu kaamadevaaddhayashiirshhaa maaM pathi devahelanaat.h .

devarshhivaryaH purushhaarchanaantaraat kuurmo harirmaaM nirayaadasheshhaat .. 17..

dhanvantarirbhagavaanpaatvapathyaaddvandvaadbhayaadR^ishhabho nirjitaatmaa .
yaGYashcha lokaadavataaJNjanaantaadbalo gaNaatkrodhavashaadahiindraH .. 18..

dvaipaayano bhagavaanaprabodhaadbuddhastu paakhaNDagaNapramaadaat.h .

kalkiH kaleH kaalamalaatprapaatu dharmaavanaayorukR^itaavataaraH .. 19..

maaM keshavo gadayaa praataravyaadgovinda aasaN^gavamaattaveNuH .

naaraayaNaH praahNa udaattashaktirmadhyandine vishhNurariindrapaaNiH .. 20..

devo.aparaahNe madhuhogradhanvaa saayaM tridhaamaavatu maadhavo maam.h .

doshhe hR^ishhiikesha utaardharaatre nishiitha eko.avatu padmanaabhaH .. 21..

shriivatsadhaamaapararaatra iishaH pratyushha iisho.asidharo janaardanaH .

daamodaro.avyaadanusandhyaM prabhaate vishveshvaro bhagavaan kaalamuurtiH .. 22..

chakra.n yugaantaanalatigmanemi bhramatsamantaadbhagavatprayuktam.h .

dandagdhi dandagdhyarisainyamaashu kakshhaM yathaa vaatasakho hutaashaH .. 23..

gade.ashanisparshanavisphuliN^ge nishhpiNDhi nishhpiNDhyajitapriyaasi .

kuushhmaaNDavainaayakayakshharakshhobhuutagrahaa.nshchuurNaya
chuurNayaariin.h .. 24..

tvaM yaatudhaanapramathapretamaatR^ipishaachavipragrahaghoradR^ishhTiin.h .
darendra vidraavaya kR^ishhNapuurito bhiimasvano.arehR^i.rdayaani kampayan.h .. 25..

tvaM tigmadhaaraasivaraarisainyamiishaprayukto mama chhindhi chhindhi .

chakshhuu.nshhi charmaJNchhatachandra chhaadaya dvishhaamaghonaa.n hara
paapachakshhushhaam.h .. 26..

yanno bhaya.n grahebhyo.abhuutketubhyo nR^ibhya eva cha .

sariisR^ipebhyo daMshhTribhyo bhuutebhyoM.ahobhya vaa .. 27 ..

sarvaaNyetaani bhagavannaamaruupaastrakiirtanaat.h .
prayaantu sa.nkshhaya.n sadyo ye naH shreyaHpratiipakaaH .. 28..

garuDo bhagavaan stotrastobhashchhandomayaH prabhuH .

rakshhatvasheshhakR^ichchhrebhyo vishhvaksenaH svanaamabhiH .. 29 ..

sarvaapadbhyo harernaamaruupayaanaayudhaani naH .

buddhiindriyamanaHpraaNaanpaantu paarshhadabhuushhaNaaH .. 30..

yathaa hi bhagavaaneva vastutaH sadasachcha yat.h .

satyenaanena naH sarve yaantu naashamupadravaaH .. 31..

yathaikaatmyaanubhaavaanaaM vikalparahitaH svayam.h .

bhuushhaNaayudhaliN^gaakhyaa dhatte shaktiiH svamaayayaa .. 32..

tenaiva satyamaanena sarvaGYo bhagavaan.h hariH .

paatu sarvaiH svaruupairnaH sadaa sarvatra sarvagaH .. 33..

vidikshhu dikshhuurdhvamadhaH samantaadantarbahirbhagavaannaarasi.nhaH .

prahaapaya.n.clokabhayaM svanena svatejasaa grastasamastatejaaH .. 34..

maghavannidamaakhyaata.n varma naaraayaNaatmakam.h .

vijeshhyasyaJNjasaa yena daMshito.asurayuuthapaan.h .. 35..

etaddhaarayamaaNastu yaM yaM pashyati chakshhushhaa .

padaa vaa saMspR^ishetsadyaH saadhvasaatsa vimuchyate .. 36..

na kutashchidbhaya.n tasya vidyaa.n dhaarayato bhavet.h .

raajadasyugrahaadibhyo vyaaghraadibhyashcha karhichit.h .. 37..

imaa.n vidyaaM puraa kashchitkaushiko dhaarayan dvijaH .

yogadhaaraNayaa svaaN^ga.n jahau sa marudhanvani .. 38..

tasyopari vimaanena gandharvapatirekadaa .

yayau chitrarathaH striibhirvR^ito yatra dvijakshhayaH || 39 ||

gaganaannyapatatsadyaH savimaano hyavaakshiraaH .

sa vaalakhilyavachanaadasthiinyaadaaya vismitaH .
praasya praachiisarasvatyaa.n snaatvaa dhaama svamanvagaat.h .. 40..

shriishuka uvaacha .
ya idaM shR^iNuyaatkaale yo dhaarayati chaadR^itaH .
ta.n namasyanti bhuutaani muchyate sarvato bhayaat.h .. 41..

etaa.n vidyaamadhigato vishvaruupaachchhatakratuH .

trailokyalakshhmiiM bubhuje vinirjitya mR^idhe.asuraan .. 42..

.. iti shriimadbhaagavatamahaapuraaNe paaramaha.nsyaa.n sa.nhitaayaa.n

shhashhThaskandhe naaraayaNavarmakathana.n naamaashhTamo.adhyaayaH ..

---------------------------------Roman ----------------------------------------

|| nārāyaṇa kavacaṁ || from para 12)

om harirvidadhyānmama sarvarakṣāṁ nyastāṅghripadmaḥ patagendrapṛṣṭhe |

darāricarmāsigadeṣucāpa pāśāndadhāno'ṣṭaguṇo'ṣṭabāhuḥ || 12||

jaleṣu māṁ rakṣatu matsyamūrtiryādogaṇebhyo varuṇasya pāśāt |

sthaleṣu māyāvaṭuvāmano'vyāt trivikramaḥ khe'vatu viśvarūpaḥ || 13||

durgeṣvaṭavyājimukhādiṣu prabhuḥ pāyānnṛsiṁho'surayūthapāriḥ |

vimuñcato yasya mahāṭṭahāsaṁ diśo vinedurnyapataṁśca garbhāḥ || 14||

rakṣatvasau mādhvani yajñakalpaḥ svadaṁṣṭrayonnītadharo varāhaḥ |

rāmo'drikūṭeṣvatha vipravāse salakṣmaṇo'vyādbharatāgrajo'smān || 15||
māmugradharmādakhilātpramādānnārāyaṇaḥ pātu naraśca hāsāt |
dattastvayogādatha yoganāthaḥ pāyādguṇeśaḥ kapilaḥ karmabandhāt || 16||

sanatkumāro'vatu kāmadevāddhayaśīrṣā māṁ pathi devahelanāt |

devarṣivaryaḥ puruṣārcanāntarāt kūrmo harirmāṁ nirayādaśeṣāt || 17||

dhanvantarirbhagavānpātvapathyāddvandvādbhayādṛṣabho nirjitātmā |
yajñaśca lokādavatāñjanāntādbalo gaṇātkrodhavaśādahīndraḥ || 18||

dvaipāyano bhagavānaprabodhādbuddhastu pākhaṇḍagaṇapramādāt |

kalkiḥ kaleḥ kālamalātprapātu dharmāvanāyorukṛtāvatāraḥ || 19||

māṁ keśavo gadayā prātaravyādgovinda āsaṅgavamāttaveṇuḥ |

nārāyaṇaḥ prāhṇa udāttaśaktirmadhyandine viṣṇurarīndrapāṇiḥ || 20||

devo'parāhṇe madhuhogradhanvā sāyaṁ tridhāmāvatu mādhavo mām |

doṣe hṛṣīkeśa utārdharātre niśītha eko'vatu padmanābhaḥ || 21||

śrīvatsadhāmāpararātra īśaḥ pratyuṣa īśo'sidharo janārdanaḥ |

dāmodaro'vyādanusandhyaṁ prabhāte viśveśvaro bhagavān kālamūrtiḥ || 22||

cakraṁ yugāntānalatigmanemi bhramatsamantādbhagavatprayuktam |

dandagdhi dandagdhyarisainyamāśu kakṣaṁ yathā vātasakho hutāśaḥ || 23||

gade'śanisparśanavisphuliṅge niṣpiṇḍhi niṣpiṇḍhyajitapriyāsi |

kūṣmāṇḍavaināyakayakṣarakṣobhūtagrahāṁścūrṇaya cūrṇayārīn || 24||

tvaṁ yātudhānapramathapretamātṛpiśācavipragrahaghoradṛṣṭīn |
darendra vidrāvaya kṛṣṇapūrito bhīmasvano'rehṛ|rdayāni kampayan || 25||

tvaṁ tigmadhārāsivarārisainyamīśaprayukto mama chindhi chindhi |

cakṣūṁṣi carmañchatacandra chādaya dviṣāmaghonāṁ hara pāpacakṣuṣām || 26||

yanno bhayaṁ grahebhyo'bhūtketubhyo nṛbhya eva ca |

sarīsṛpebhyo daṁṣṭribhyo bhūtebhyoṁ'hobhya vā || 27 ||

sarvāṇyetāni bhagavannāmarūpāstrakīrtanāt |
prayāntu saṁkṣayaṁ sadyo ye naḥ śreyaḥpratīpakāḥ || 28||

garuḍo bhagavān stotrastobhaśchandomayaḥ prabhuḥ |

rakṣatvaśeṣakṛcchrebhyo viṣvaksenaḥ svanāmabhiḥ || 29 ||

sarvāpadbhyo harernāmarūpayānāyudhāni naḥ |

buddhīndriyamanaḥprāṇānpāntu pārṣadabhūṣaṇāḥ || 30||

yathā hi bhagavāneva vastutaḥ sadasacca yat |

satyenānena naḥ sarve yāntu nāśamupadravāḥ || 31||

yathaikātmyānubhāvānāṁ vikalparahitaḥ svayam |

bhūṣaṇāyudhaliṅgākhyā dhatte śaktīḥ svamāyayā || 32||
tenaiva satyamānena sarvajño bhagavān hariḥ |
pātu sarvaiḥ svarūpairnaḥ sadā sarvatra sarvagaḥ || 33||

vidikṣu dikṣūrdhvamadhaḥ samantādantarbahirbhagavānnārasiṁhaḥ |

prahāpayaṁlokabhayaṁ svanena svatejasā grastasamastatejāḥ || 34||

maghavannidamākhyātaṁ varma nārāyaṇātmakam |

vijeṣyasyañjasā yena daṁśito'surayūthapān || 35||

etaddhārayamāṇastu yaṁ yaṁ paśyati cakṣuṣā |

padā vā saṁspṛśetsadyaḥ sādhvasātsa vimucyate || 36||

na kutaścidbhayaṁ tasya vidyāṁ dhārayato bhavet |

rājadasyugrahādibhyo vyāghrādibhyaśca karhicit || 37||

imāṁ vidyāṁ purā kaścitkauśiko dhārayan dvijaḥ |

yogadhāraṇayā svāṅgaṁ jahau sa marudhanvani || 38||

tasyopari vimānena gandharvapatirekadā |

yayau citrarathaḥ strībhirvṛto yatra dvijakṣayaḥ || 39 ||

gaganānnyapatatsadyaḥ savimāno hyavākśirāḥ |

sa vālakhilyavacanādasthīnyādāya vismitaḥ |
prāsya prācīsarasvatyāṁ snātvā dhāma svamanvagāt || 40||

śrīśuka uvāca |
ya idaṁ śṛṇuyātkāle yo dhārayati cādṛtaḥ |
taṁ namasyanti bhūtāni mucyate sarvato bhayāt || 41||

etāṁ vidyāmadhigato viśvarūpācchatakratuḥ |

trailokyalakṣmīṁ bubhuje vinirjitya mṛdhe'surān || 42||

|| iti śrīmadbhāgavatamahāpurāṇe pāramahaṁsyāṁ saṁhitāyāṁ

ṣaṣṭhaskandhe nārāyaṇavarmakathanaṁ nāmāṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ ||