I am offering this Kavacha back into the ether, so that others like me may benefit from its knowledge, draw closer to Ma Adya Mahakali, and receive Her motherly protection through the intense and transformative journey of Her path.
I found this Kavacha myself through what appeared to be a great coincidence, at a time when I was calling out deeply to Ma Adya. So if you have arrived here, perhaps your arrival is no coincidence either. Take it as a quiet nod from the unseen realm.
Do not let doubt stop you. Step forward.
Ma is kind. She teaches in Her own way.
Even if today you approach Her words like a stammering fool, struggling with every syllable, continue. With Her grace, the same tongue may one day recite with confidence, and the same mind may begin to discover extraordinary depths of knowledge hidden within even the simplest recitation of a Kavacha.
You do not need to begin as a scholar.
Begin with love.
Begin with surrender.
Begin with courage.
Let Ma teach you the rest.
Be a Veera.
Darna Mana Hai.
The heart and essence of the Kavacha is very simple: “Ma Kali, wherever I am and in whatever condition I am, surround me completely with Your presence and protection.”
Simple Devotional Meaning
Opening Invocations
Sanskrit · Transliteration
Om Adyayai Namah
Om Sri Mahaganapataye Namah
Om Sri Gurubhyo Namah
Om Shri Bhairavaya / Kalabhairavaya Namah (choose one)
Om Sri Mahaganapataye Namah
Om Sri Gurubhyo Namah
Om Shri Bhairavaya / Kalabhairavaya Namah (choose one)
English Meaning
Salutations to Ma Adya, the Primordial Mother.Salutations to Sri Mahaganapati, the remover of obstacles.
Salutations to the revered Gurus.
Salutations to Sri Bhairava, to Sri Kalabhairava.
The Prologue
Narada Speaks
Sanskrit · Transliteration
kavacham shrotumichami tam cha vidyam dashaksharim.
natha tvatto hi sarvagnya bhadrakalyash cha sampratam॥
natha tvatto hi sarvagnya bhadrakalyash cha sampratam॥
English Meaning
I wish to hear this sacred Kavacha and the ten-syllabled Vidya of the Goddess.O Lord, you are all-knowing; therefore, please teach me this sacred knowledge of Bhadrakali.
Narayana Speaks
Sanskrit · Transliteration
shrunu narada vakshyami mahavidyam dashaksharim.
gopaniyam cha kavacham trishu lokeshu durlabham॥
gopaniyam cha kavacham trishu lokeshu durlabham॥
English Meaning
Listen, O Narada. I shall reveal to you the great ten-syllabled Mahavidya.This Kavacha is deeply secret and exceedingly rare even throughout the three worlds.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
hrim shrim klim kalikayai svaheti cha dashaksharim.
durvasa hi dadau ragnye pushkare suryaparvani॥
durvasa hi dadau ragnye pushkare suryaparvani॥
English Meaning
Hrīṁ Śrīṁ Klīṁ Kālikāyai Svāhā — this is the sacred ten-syllabled mantra of Ma Kalika.Sage Durvasa once bestowed this sacred teaching upon a king at Pushkara on an auspicious solar occasion.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
dashalakshajapenaiva mantrasiddhih kruta pura.
panchalakshajapenaiva pathan kavacham uttamam॥
panchalakshajapenaiva pathan kavacham uttamam॥
English Meaning
In ancient times, through ten lakh repetitions, the mantra was brought to perfection.And through five lakh repetitions together with the recitation of this supreme Kavacha, its protection was perfected.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
babhuva siddhakavacho'py ayodhyam ajagama sah.
krutsnam hi pruthivim jigye kavachasya prasadatah॥
krutsnam hi pruthivim jigye kavachasya prasadatah॥
English Meaning
Having attained the perfected protection of the Kavacha, that king came to Ayodhya.Through the grace of this Kavacha, he became victorious throughout the whole earth.
Narada Speaks
Sanskrit · Transliteration
shruta dashakshari vidya trishu lokeshu durlabha.
adhuna shrotumichami kavacham bruhi me prabho॥
adhuna shrotumichami kavacham bruhi me prabho॥
English Meaning
I have now heard the ten-syllabled Vidya that is rare throughout the three worlds.Now I wish to hear the Kavacha itself. O Lord, please reveal it to me.
The Kavacha
Narayana Speaks
Sanskrit · Transliteration
shrunu vakshyami viprendra kavacham paramadbhutam.
narayanena yad dattam krupaya shooline pura॥
narayanena yad dattam krupaya shooline pura॥
English Meaning
Listen, O noble sage. I shall reveal this supremely wondrous Kavacha.Long ago, Narayana compassionately gave this Kavacha to Shulin — Lord Shiva, the Bearer of the Trident.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
tripurasya vadhe ghore shivasya vijayaya cha.
tadeva shoolina dattam pura durvasase mune॥
tadeva shoolina dattam pura durvasase mune॥
English Meaning
It was given for Shiva's victory during the terrible destruction of Tripura.Later, Lord Shiva gave this very Kavacha to Sage Durvasa.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
durvasasa cha yad dattam suchandraya mahatmane.
atiguhyataram tattvam sarvamantraughavigraham॥
atiguhyataram tattvam sarvamantraughavigraham॥
English Meaning
Sage Durvasa then bestowed it upon the great soul Suchandra.It is an extremely secret sacred truth, regarded as the very embodiment of the multitude of mantras.
Protection of the Body
Sanskrit · Transliteration
hrim shrim klim kalikayai svaha me patu mastakam.
klim kapalam sada patu hrim hrim hrim iti lochane॥
klim kapalam sada patu hrim hrim hrim iti lochane॥
English Meaning
Hrīṁ Śrīṁ Klīṁ — may Ma Kalika always protect my head.May Klīṁ protect my skull and forehead, and may Hrīṁ Hrīṁ Hrīṁ protect my eyes.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
hrim trilochane svaha nasikam me sadavatu.
klim kalike raksha raksha svaha dantam sadavatu॥
klim kalike raksha raksha svaha dantam sadavatu॥
English Meaning
O Three-Eyed Mother, invoked through Hrīṁ, please always protect my nose.O Ma Kalika, protect me, protect me; please always protect my teeth.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
hrim bhadrakalike svaha patu me'dharayugmakam.
hrim hrim klim kalikayai svaha kantham sadavatu॥
hrim hrim klim kalikayai svaha kantham sadavatu॥
English Meaning
O Ma Bhadrakali, invoked through Hrīṁ, please protect both of my lips.Hrīṁ Hrīṁ Klīṁ — may Ma Kalika always protect my throat.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
hrim kalikayai svaha karnayugmam sadavatu.
krim krim klim kalyai svaha skandham patu sada mam॥
krim krim klim kalyai svaha skandham patu sada mam॥
English Meaning
Through Hrīṁ, may Ma Kalika always protect both of my ears.Krīṁ Krīṁ Klīṁ — may Ma Kali always protect my shoulders.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
krim bhadrakalyai svaha mam vakshah sadavatu.
krim kalikayai svaha mam nabhim sadavatu॥
krim kalikayai svaha mam nabhim sadavatu॥
English Meaning
Through Krīṁ, may Ma Bhadrakali always protect my chest.Through Krīṁ, may Ma Kalika always protect my navel.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
hrim kalikayai svaha mam prishtham sadavatu.
raktabijavinashinyai svaha hastau sadavatu॥
raktabijavinashinyai svaha hastau sadavatu॥
English Meaning
Through Hrīṁ, may Ma Kalika always protect my back.May She who destroyed Raktabija always protect both of my hands.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
hrim klim mundamalinyai svaha padau sadavatu.
hrim chamundayai svaha sarvangam me sadavatu॥
hrim chamundayai svaha sarvangam me sadavatu॥
English Meaning
Hrīṁ Klīṁ — may Mundamalini, She who wears the garland of severed heads, always protect my feet.Through Hrīṁ, may Ma Chamunda always protect my entire body.
Protection in Every Direction
Sanskrit · Transliteration
prachyam patu mahakali agneyyam raktadantika.
dakshine patu chamunda nairrutyam patu kalika॥
dakshine patu chamunda nairrutyam patu kalika॥
English Meaning
May Mahakali protect me in the East, and may Raktadantika, the Red-Toothed Goddess, protect me in the Southeast.May Chamunda protect me in the South, and may Kalika protect me in the Southwest.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
shyama cha varune patu vayavyam patu chandika.
uttare vikatasya cha aishanyam sattahasini॥
uttare vikatasya cha aishanyam sattahasini॥
English Meaning
May Shyama protect me in the West, and may Chandika protect me in the Northwest.May Vikatāsya, the Fierce-Faced Goddess, protect me in the North, and may Sāṭṭahāsinī, She whose laughter resounds powerfully, protect me in the Northeast.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
urdhvam patu lolajihva mayadya patv adhah sada.
jale sthale chantarikshe patu vishvaprasuh sada॥
jale sthale chantarikshe patu vishvaprasuh sada॥
English Meaning
May Lolajihva, the Goddess with the lolling tongue, protect me above; may Adya Maya, the Primordial Divine Power, always protect me below.Whether I am in water, upon the earth, or in the space between, may the Mother and Source of the entire universe always protect me.
Phalashruti — The Fruits and Glory of the Kavacha
Sanskrit · Transliteration
iti te kathitam vatsa sarvamantraughavigraham.
sarvesham kavachanam cha sarabhutam paratparam॥
sarvesham kavachanam cha sarabhutam paratparam॥
English Meaning
My child, I have now revealed to you this Kavacha, which is regarded as the embodiment of the multitude of sacred mantras.It is said to contain the very essence of all Kavachas and to be supremely exalted among them.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
saptadvipeshvaro raja suchandro'sya prasadatah.
kavachasya prasadena mandhata pruthivipatih॥
kavachasya prasadena mandhata pruthivipatih॥
English Meaning
Through its grace, King Suchandra became lord of the seven regions of the earth.Through the grace of this Kavacha, Mandhata became a great ruler of the earth.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
pracheta lomashash chaiva yatah siddho babhuva ha.
yato hi yoginam shreshthah saubharih pippalayanah॥
yato hi yoginam shreshthah saubharih pippalayanah॥
English Meaning
Through it, Pracheta and Lomasha are said to have attained spiritual accomplishment.And through it, Saubhari and Pippalayana became renowned among the foremost yogis.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
yadi syat siddhakavachah sarvasiddhishvaro bhavet.
mahadanani sarvani tapansi cha vratani cha॥
nischitam kavachasyasya kalam narhanti shodashim॥
mahadanani sarvani tapansi cha vratani cha॥
nischitam kavachasyasya kalam narhanti shodashim॥
English Meaning
One who attains perfection in this Kavacha is said to become endowed with the highest spiritual accomplishments.Even great acts of charity, austerities, and sacred vows—
—are traditionally praised as not equalling even one-sixteenth of the spiritual merit of this Kavacha.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
idam kavacham ajnatva bhajet kalim jagatprasum.
shatalakshaprajapto'pi na mantrah siddhidayakah॥
shatalakshaprajapto'pi na mantrah siddhidayakah॥
English Meaning
If one worships Kali, the Mother and Source of the universe, without knowing this Kavacha——the text declares that even an immense number of mantra repetitions may not bestow mantra-siddhi.
Conclusion
Sanskrit · Transliteration
Iti Kali Dashaksharim Kavacham Sampurnam
English Meaning
Thus ends the Kali Dashakshari Kavacham.
Sanskrit · Transliteration
Om Adyayai Namah
Om Adyayai Namah
Om Adyayai Namah
Om Adyayai Namah
Om Adyayai Namah
English Meaning
Salutations to Ma Adya, the Primordial Mother.Salutations to Ma Adya, the Primordial Mother.
Salutations to Ma Adya, the Primordial Mother.
May Ma Adya Mahakali bless you in all your endeavours.
Jai Ma Adya