Vishnu Kavach

विष्णु कवच • विष्णुकवचम्

kavach Lord Vishnu

About

Vishnu Kavach is a powerful protective armor invoking Lord Vishnu's divine protection over every part of the body. A Kavach (meaning 'armor') is a prayer that systematically requests the deity to protect specific body parts and shield the devotee from all directions and dangers. This kavach invokes Vishnu in his various forms - Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Trivikrama, Vamana, Narasimha, and others - to create an impenetrable shield of divine energy around the devotee.

Quick Reference

Author
Traditional / Narada
Language
Sanskrit
Verse Count
15
Source
Vishnu Purana / Narada Purana

Benefits

  • Complete divine protection
  • Shield from enemies and evil forces
  • Protection from accidents and mishaps
  • Ward off black magic and negative energies
  • Physical and mental strength
  • Fearlessness and courage
  • Success in all endeavors
  • Spiritual advancement

When to Recite

Days Thursday, Wednesday, All days
Times Morning after bath, Before starting journey, During danger
Occasions Before important tasks, During Vishnu puja, When facing challenges, Ekadashi
Recommended Count 1 or 3 times daily

Verses

dhyanam 1 Meditation

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशम् विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम्। लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम् वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम्॥

Śāntākāraṁ bhujaga-śayanaṁ padma-nābhaṁ sureśam Viśvādhāraṁ gagana-sadṛśaṁ megha-varṇaṁ śubhāṅgam Lakṣmī-kāntaṁ kamala-nayanaṁ yogibhir-dhyāna-gamyam Vande viṣṇuṁ bhava-bhaya-haraṁ sarva-lokaikañātham

kavach 2 Head protection

केशवः पातु शिरसि मुखं माधवो मां सदा। नासां नारायणः पातु नेत्रे गोविन्द एव च॥

Keśavaḥ pātu śirasi mukhaṁ mādhavo māṁ sadā Nāsāṁ nārāyaṇaḥ pātu netre govinda eva ca

kavach 3 Face and ears protection

श्रवणे विष्णुः पातु हृषीकेशो मुखं तथा। ओष्ठौ वैकुण्ठनाथस्तु जिह्वां मधुसूदनः॥

Śravaṇe viṣṇuḥ pātu hṛṣīkeśo mukhaṁ tathā Oṣṭhau vaikuṇṭha-nāthastu jihvāṁ madhusūdanaḥ

kavach 4 Neck and shoulders protection

कण्ठं त्रिविक्रमः पातु स्कन्धौ मां वामनो हरिः। बाहू वराहः पातु च हस्तौ पातु जनार्दनः॥

Kaṇṭhaṁ trivikramaḥ pātu skandhau māṁ vāmano hariḥ Bāhū varāhaḥ pātu ca hastau pātu janārdanaḥ

kavach 5 Chest and heart protection

हृदयं श्रीधरः पातु उदरं पद्मनाभकः। मध्यं दामोदरः पातु नाभिं मां विश्वमूर्तिः॥

Hṛdayaṁ śrīdharaḥ pātu udaraṁ padmanābhakaḥ Madhyaṁ dāmodaraḥ pātu nābhiṁ māṁ viśvamūrtiḥ

kavach 6 Back and waist protection

पृष्ठं च मधुसूदनः पातु कटिं पातु केशवः। जानुनी जगदाधारो जङ्घे पातु जनार्दनः॥

Pṛṣṭhaṁ ca madhusūdanaḥ pātu kaṭiṁ pātu keśavaḥ Jānunī jagadādhāro jaṅghe pātu janārdanaḥ

kavach 7 Feet protection

पादौ नृसिंहः पातु सर्वाङ्गं वासुदेवकः। सर्वेन्द्रियाणि गोविन्दः पातु मे सततं हरिः॥

Pādau nṛsiṁhaḥ pātu sarvāṅgaṁ vāsudevakaḥ Sarvendriyāṇi govindaḥ pātu me satataṁ hariḥ

kavach 8 Directional protection - East and South

प्राच्यां रक्षतु वाराहो दक्षिणे मधुसूदनः। प्रतीच्यां रक्षतु हरिरुदीच्यां श्रीहरिः सदा॥

Prācyāṁ rakṣatu vārāho dakṣiṇe madhusūdanaḥ Pratīcyāṁ rakṣatu harir-udīcyāṁ śrīhariḥ sadā

kavach 9 Directional protection - Corners

ऐशान्यां पातु गोविन्दो वायव्यां माधवोऽवतु। आग्नेय्यां नारसिंहोऽवतु नैऋत्यां च जनार्दनः॥

Aiśānyāṁ pātu govindo vāyavyāṁ mādhavo'vatu Āgneyye nārasiṁho'vatu nairṛtyāṁ ca janārdanaḥ

kavach 10 Above and below protection

ऊर्ध्वं पातु उपेन्द्रश्च अधो वैकुण्ठनायकः। एवं दशदिशो रक्षेद्विष्णुः सर्वत्र सर्वदा॥

Ūrdhvaṁ pātu upendraśca adho vaikuṇṭha-nāyakaḥ Evaṁ daśa-diśo rakṣed-viṣṇuḥ sarvatra sarvadā

kavach 11 Time-based protection

प्रातः पातु च मां विष्णुर्मध्याह्ने मधुसूदनः। सायाह्ने पातु गोविन्दो रात्रौ रक्षतु केशवः॥

Prātaḥ pātu ca māṁ viṣṇur-madhyāhne madhusūdanaḥ Sāyāhne pātu govindo rātrau rakṣatu keśavaḥ

kavach 12 Activity-based protection

निद्रायां पातु मां नारायणो जागृतौ हरिः। व्रजतो भोजनं कुर्वन् रक्षेन्मां मधुसूदनः॥

Nidrāyāṁ pātu māṁ nārāyaṇo jāgṛtau hariḥ Vrajato bhojanaṁ kurvan rakṣen-māṁ madhusūdanaḥ

kavach 13 Danger protection

शस्त्राद्रक्षतु गोविन्दो युद्धे रक्षतु माधवः। जले स्थले च वह्नौ च शत्रुभ्यश्च सदा हरिः॥

Śastrād-rakṣatu govindo yuddhe rakṣatu mādhavaḥ Jale sthale ca vahnau ca śatrubhyaśca sadā hariḥ

kavach 14 Complete protection

सर्वापदां हरो विष्णुः सर्वेषां रक्षकोऽच्युतः। सर्वत्र सर्वकालेषु रक्षतु श्रीजनार्दनः॥

Sarvāpadāṁ haro viṣṇuḥ sarveṣāṁ rakṣako'cyutaḥ Sarvatra sarva-kāleṣu rakṣatu śrī-janārdanaḥ

phala-shruti 15 Benefits of recitation

इदं कवचं विष्णोर्यो नरः प्रपठेद्ध्रुवम्। न तस्य जायते बाधा क्वचित्कालेऽपि सर्वतः॥ शत्रवो नाशमायान्ति रोगाश्च प्रशमं गताः। विष्णुलोकं स गच्छेत्तु विष्णुना सह मोदते॥

Idaṁ kavacaṁ viṣṇor-yo naraḥ prapaṭhed-dhruvam Na tasya jāyate bādhā kvacit-kāle'pi sarvataḥ Śatravo nāśam-āyānti rogāśca praśamaṁ gatāḥ Viṣṇu-lokaṁ sa gacchettu viṣṇunā saha modate