NARAYANA KAVACA 

(Bhagavata Purana 6.7.39 - 6.8.42)


TEXTS 1-2

sri-rajovaca
yaya guptah sahasraksah
savahan ripu-sainikan
kridann iva vinirjitya
tri-lokya bubhuje sriyam

bhagavams tan mamakhyahi
varma narayanatmakam
yathatatayinah satrun
yena gupto 'jayan mrdhe

King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: My lord, kindly explain the Visnu mantra armor that protected King Indra and enabled him to conquer his enemies, along with their carriers, and enjoy the opulence of the three worlds. Please explain to me that Narayana armor, by which King Indra achieved success in battle, conquering the enemies who were endeavoring to kill him. 


TEXT 3

sri-badarayanir uvaca
vrtah purohitas tvastro
mahendrayanuprcchate
narayanakhyam varmaha
tad ihaika-manah srnu

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: King Indra, the leader of the demigods, inquired about the armor known as Narayana-kavaca from Visvarupa, who was engaged by the demigods as their priest. Please hear Visvarupa's reply with great attention.


TEXTS 4-6

sri-visvarupa uvaca
dhautanghri-panir acamya
sapavitra udan-mukhah
krta-svanga-kara-nyaso
mantrabhyam vag-yatah sucih

narayana-param varma
sannahyed bhaya agate
padayor janunor urvor
udare hrdy athorasi

mukhe sirasy anupurvyad
omkaradini vinyaset
om namo narayanayeti
viparyayam athapi va

Visvarupa said: If some form of fear arrives, one should first wash his hands and legs clean and then perform acamana by chanting this mantra: om apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato 'pi va. yah smaret pundarikaksam sa bahyabhyantarah sucih. sri-visnu sri-visnu sri-visnu. Then one should touch kusa grass and sit gravely and silently, facing north. When completely purified, one should touch the mantra composed of eight syllables to the eight parts of his body and touch the mantra composed of twelve syllables to his hands. Thus, in the following manner, he should bind himself with the Narayana coat of armor. First, while chanting the mantra composed of eight syllables [om namo narayanaya], beginning with the pranava, the syllable om, one should touch his hands to eight parts of his body, starting with the two feet and progressing systematically to the knees, thighs, abdomen, heart, chest, mouth and head. Then one should chant the mantra in reverse, beginning from the last syllable [ya], while touching the parts of his body in the reverse order. These two processes are known as utpatti-nyasa and samhara-nyasa respectively. 


TEXT 7

kara-nyasam tatah kuryad
dvadasaksara-vidyaya
pranavadi-ya-karantam
anguly-angustha-parvasu

Then one should chant the mantra composed of twelve syllables [om namo bhagavate vasudevaya]. Preceding each syllable by the omkara, one should place the syllables of the mantra on the tips of his fingers, beginning with the index finger of the right hand and concluding with the index finger of the left. The four remaining syllables should be placed on the joints of the thumbs.

Full Script and Translation

Sri Nrisimha Kavacha-Stotram 

nrisimha-kavacham vakshye
prahladenoditam puraa

sarva-raksha-karam punyam
sarvopadrava-naashanam

1. I shall now recite the Narasimha-kavacha, formerly spoken by Prahlada Maharaja. It is most pious, vanquishes all kinds of impediments, and provides one all protection.

sarva-sampat-karam chaiva
svarga-moksha-pradaayakam

dhyaatva nrisimham devesham
hema-sinhaasana sthitamah


2. It bestows upon one all opulences and can give one elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation. One should meditate on Lord Narasimha, Lord of the universe, seated upon a golden throne.

vivritasyam tri-nayanam
sharad-indu-sama-prabham

lakshmyaalingita-vaamaangam
vibhuutibhi rupaashritam

3. His mouth is wide open, He has three eyes, and He is as radiant as the autumn moon. He is embraced by Lakshmi devi on his left side, and His form is the shelter of all opulences, both material and spiritual.

chatur-bhujam komalaangam
svarna-kundala-shobhitam

saroja-shobitoraskam
ratna-keyuura-mudritam


4. The Lord has four arms, and His limbs are very soft. He is decorated with golden earrings. His chest is resplendent like the lotus flower, and His arms are decorated with jewel-studded ornaments.

tapta-kaanchana-sankasham
pita-nirmala-vasasam

indradi-sura-maulishthaha
sphuran manikya-diptibhih

5. He is dressed in a spotless yellow garment, which exactly resembles molten gold. He is the original cause of existence, beyond the mundane sphere, for the great demigods headed by Indra. He appears bedecked with rubies which are blazingly effulgent.

virajita-pada-dvandvam
shankha-chakradi-hetibhihi

garutmata cha vinayat
stuyamanam mudanvitam


6. His two feet are very attractive, and He is armed with various weapons such as the conch, disc, etc. Garuda joyfully offers prayers with great reverence.

sva-hrit-kamalasamvaasam
kritvaa tu kavacham pathet

nrisimho me shirah patu
loka-rakshartha-sambhavaha


7. Having seated Lord Narasimhadeva upon the lotus of one's heart, one should recite the following mantra: “May Lord Nrisimha, who protects all the planetary systems, protect my head.”

sarvago ‘pi stambha vasaha
phalam me rakshatu dhvanim

nrisimho me drishau paatu
soma-suryagni-lochanaha

Full Script and Translation

Devanagari Text:

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् 

Transliteration:

Om Tryambakaṃ Yajāmahe Sugandhiṃ Puṣṭivardhanam
Urvārukamiva Bandhanān Mṛtyormukṣīya Mā'mṛtāt


Translation:

Om. I Bow Down to the Three-Eyed Lord Shiva,
Who is Sweet, Beautiful, and Who Nourishes All Beings.

May Shiva Liberate Us from Bondage, as the Melon is Freed from the Vine.
May He Free Us from Death, and Grant Us Immortality.

Heal Yourself and the World,
A Mantra for Peace and Prosperity  

“It is said that Lord Shiva Himself gave humanity the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra.

Whenever there is listlessness, stress, grief, or illness, or when fear of death intrudes in awareness, this great mantra can be used for healing, for maintaining vitality, and for refuge… It Awakens a Healing Force that Reaches Deep into the Body and Mind.

Just as a plant patiently gathers nutrients from the soil, so healing and nourishing forces enter the human body through foods, medicines, supportive emotions, and encouraging thoughts. The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra attracts these forces and creates an inner environment to enhance their effectiveness.  Thus the mantra can be used whenever any restorative process is undertaken.

The mantra can be recited when taking medicines, for it prepares the body and mind to make the best use of them.  In India, when ash (bhasma) is applied to the body (as either a medicinal or a spiritual act) the mantra is recited. And so, whenever matters of health, vitality, nurturance, or freedom from the fear associated with death arise, the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra naturally surfaces as a remedy and comfort.  It is also said that those in the healing professions will benefit from reciting the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra regularly.   Through it, they will draw from an infinite reserve of energy, and thus prevent burnout while opening a channel of healing from which life can be nourished… 

The Nurturing Quality Of The Mantra Acts In The Human Mind And Heart Just As The Forces Of Light, Water, And Soil Act In The Life Of A Plant.

The Mantra Magnifies the Qualities of Personality

That Give Our Lives Purpose and Meaning…

The power of the mantra has been explained by Shiva himself in the Netra Tantra, a conversation recorded between Shiva and his wife, Parvati. At the opening of the text Parvati asks, “Your eyes are so beautiful; they are filled with the tears of compassion. How is it possible that from such eyes flared forth the terrible fire capable of reducing death itself to ashes?”

Shiva said, “Be joined in yoga, O’ Parvati, for only then will you be able to understand how the fire inherent in my eyes is the immortal elixir. The light in my eyes is all-pervading. It faces every direction and it resides in all states of waking, dreaming, and sleep. It is the source of life for all living beings. It can be known only through the practice of yoga, and can never be experienced by those who lack self-effort...


The light in my eyes is the same as one’s own radiance.
It is self-evident.. 
It is the highest form of inner strength.
It is eternal and it is ojas (the radiant energy that infuses matter with life).
It is the power of will—the indomitable will of the soul.
In it lies the seed of omniscience, the power to know, and the power to act.
It is through this force, intrinsic to me, that I destroy and I create… 
The whole universe is filled and sustained by this energy.  
In fact the powers of will, knowledge, and action together are my eyes.  
They are the source of immortality, the ultimate force of healing and nourishment. They are the embodiment of my radiant vitality.  
The knowers of mantra science call it Mrtyunjaya, “the Conqueror of Death.”  
It enables one to attain freedom from all forms of misery, for it is the destroyer of all diseases.

Meditation on this Brilliant Light
Manifesting in the Form of the Mrityunjaya Mantra Cools Down the Scorching Heat
of Worldly and Spiritual Poverty.

It Is Pure, Peaceful, And Unfailing...

The Light of this Mantric Shakti
Outshines Millions of Suns.

It is with this Fire of Radiant Divine Energy
that I Destroy the World in a Flash
and Breathe Life Into It In No Time.

There is Nothing Beyond this Power….

 With this Mantra
One is Able to Conquer All One’s Enemies.

 It is the Source of
Longevity, Health, and Well-Being….

Assuming Different Forms and Shapes,
the Power of this Light -
the Mrityunjaya Mantra
Pervades the Entire Universe.

It is the Source of All Protection –
Physical, Mental, and Spiritual.

There is No Mystery Higher than This –

the Mystery of My Eyes,
the Fire Residing in Them,
and
How That Fire Manifests
in the Form of Mrityunjaya Mantra.”


—Excerpted from the Netra Tantra,
Translated by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Phd

Sourced from: yogainternational.com