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Residing in this city-like body, the Prana (vital breath) is its
guardian. This Prana measures ten fingers in inhalation and twelve
fingers in exhalation - Shivasvarodaya, 221
Each of the tantrik deities has her or his own kavacha or armour, which
protects devotees from the many dangers which may afflict a human being.
These could either be recited in a ritual context, or written down on
birch bark or other substances and worn on the body to give protection.
The example of a kavacha translated below is from the influential
Tantrarajatantra, and calls on Lalita and her 15 attendant Nityas or
Eternities to protect the devotee. These are the days of the waxing of
the Moon.
The yantra on the left is one of the many related to prayogas (magical
practices) in the Saundaryalahari. This was to be engraved on a gold
plate, worshipped for 21 days, reciting shloka six of the book 500 times
a day, offering 21 pieces of sugarcane and is proclaimed to be a cure
for impotency.
The Nitya Kavacha - from Tantraraajatantra, 28: 52-71, is reproduced
below in iTrans format. Transcribed by MM. Please send corrections to
the usual email address. The kavacha is supposed to protect a sadhaka
from all types of misfortunes.
samastaapadvimuktyartha.m sarvasampadavaaptaye .
bhuutapretapishaachaadipiiDaashaantyai sukhaaptaye .. 52..
samastaroganaashaaya samare vijayaaya cha .
chorasi.mhadviipigajanavayaadibhayaanake .. 53..
araNye shailagahane maarge durbhixake tathaa .
salilaadimanaH piiDaasvabdhau potaadisa~NkaTe .. 54..
prajapya nityaakavacha.m sakR^it.h sarvvantaratyasau .
sukhii jiivati nirdvandvo niHsapatno jitendriyaH .. 55..
shR^iNu tat.h kavacha.m devi vaxye tava tadaatmakam.h .
yenaahamapi duddheShu devaasurajayii sadaa .. 56..
sarvataH sarvadaatmaana.m lalitaa paatu sarvagaa .
kaameshii purataH paatu bhagamaalaa tvanantaram.h .. 57..
disha.m paatu tathaa daxapaarshva.m me paatu sarvadaa .
nityaklinnaa cha bheruNDaa disha.m paatu sadaa mama .. 58..
tathaiva pashchima.m bhaaga.m raxet.h saa vahnivaasinii .
mahaavajreshvarii raxedanantaradisha.m sadaa .. 59..
vaamapaarshva.m sadaa paatu duutii me tvaritaa tataH .
paalayettu disha.m chaanyaa.m raxenmaa.m kulasundarii .. 60..
nityaa maamuurddhataH paatu saadho me paatu sarvvadaa .
nityaa niilapataakaakhyaa vijayaa sarvvatashcha maam.h .. 61..
karotu me ma~Ngalaani sarvvadaa sarvvama~Ngalaa .
dehendriyamanaHpraaNaan.h jvaalaamaalinivigrahaa .. 62..
paalayedanisha.m chitraa chitta.m me paatu sarvvadaa .
kaamaat.h krodhaattathaa lobhaanmohaanmaanaanmadaadapi .. 63..
paapaanmat.hsarataH shokaat.h sa.mshayaat.h sarvvataH sadaa .
staimityaachcha samudyogaadashubheShu tu karmmasu .. 64..
asatyakruurachintaato hi.msaatashchauryyatastathaa .
raxantu maa.m sarvvadaa taaH kurvantvichChaa.m shubheShu cha .. 65..
nityaaH ShoDasha maa.m paantu gajaaruuDhaaH svashaktibhiH .
tatha hayasamaaruuDhaaH paantu maa.m sarvataH sadaa .. 66..
si.mhaaruuDhaaH stathaa paantu maantaraxagataa api .
rathaaruuDhaashcha maa.m paantu sarvataH sarvadaa raNe .. 67..
taarxyaaruuDhaashcha maa.m paantu tathaa vyomagataa stathaa .
bhuugataaH sarvadaa paantu maa~ncha sarvatra sarvadaa .. 68..
bhuupretapishaachaapasmaarakR^ityaadikaan.h gadaan.h .
draavayantu svashaktiinaa.m bhiiShaNairaayudhairmmam.h .. 69..
gajaashvadvipipa~nchaasyataarxyaruuDhaakhilaayudhaaH .
asa.mkhyaaH shaktayo devyaaH paantu maa.m sarvataH sadaa .. 70..
saaya.m praatarjapannityaa kavacha.m sarvaraxakam.h .
kadaachinnaashubha.m pashenna shR^Noti cha mat.hsamaH .. 71..
The Nitya Armour
Lalita, protect all of my being always and everywhere. Kameshvari
protect me in the East, Bhagamalini in the S.East, and Nityaklinna,
always protect me in the Southern direction. Bherunda always protect me
in the S.West, and Vahnivasini shield me in the West. Mahavajreshvari
protect me always in the N.West, and in the North, Duti protect me.
Tvarita, (in the N.East), shield me.
Kulasundari protect me above, and Nitya protect me everywhere below.
Nilapataka, Vijaya and Sarvamangala -- protect and cause good fortune
everywhere. Jvalamalini guard me in my body, senses, mind and breath.
Chitra, always protect my Chitta.
May they protect me from lust, cruelty, greed, delusion, arrogance,
presumption, evil, selfishness, grief and doubt -- everywhere and
always. (May they shield me) from numbness, evil actions, lies, anger,
worry, harmfulness, and thieving. They should always protect me and
promote auspicious acts.
May the 16 Nityas protect me by their own Shaktis seated on elephants,
and by their Shaktis seated on horses always shield me everywhere.
The Shaktis seated on lions protect me within, and the Sbaktls in
chariots always protect me everywhere in war. The Shaktis seated on
Garudas protect me in the aether and upon the earth. The Shaktis, with
their terrifying weapons, put to flight elementals, ghosts,
flesh-eaters, seizers of the self, and all ailments.
The innumerable Shaktis and Devis on their elephants, horses, tigers,
lions and Garudas protect me always and everywhere without gaps. (This
all-protecting Nitya Amour should be recited in the morning and the
evening. ) |
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