Varaha Kavacham

[Protective Armour of Boar]

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[This armour is about the Varaha incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He had to take this incarnation to
save earth which was stolen by an Asura called Hiranyaksha and hid himself in the deep depths
of the sea. Lord Vishnu took the form of a huge boar entered in to the sea, killed Hiranyaksha
and brought back the earth. There is a very famous temple for this Varaha incarnation in a place
called Sri Mushnam, which is in Tamil Nadu. Ladies desirous of having a progeny go to this
temple, take bath in the Pushkarini pond there and recite this Kavacha. It is believed they would
be blessed with good children. I have consulted the Tamil translation of this Kavacham done by
Srimathi Visnu Priya Chari and published by Lifco publishers in the year 1987. The Devanagari
version of this Kavacha is available at prapatti.com, but not its translation.]

Adhyam rangamithi proktham vimanam ranga samgnitham,

Sri mushnam, Venkatadri cha salagramam cha naimisam,
Thothadreem pushkaram chaiva nara narayanasramam,
Ashtou may murthaya santhi swayam vyaktha mahi thale.

Firstly the great temple called Sri Ranga, with Ranga there,
Sri Mushnam, Thirupathi, SAlagramam, Naimisaranyam,
Thiruneermalai, Pushkar and the asramam of Nara and Narayana,
In the Badri hills are those eight temples where God came himself.

Sri Sutha:
Sutha said:

Sri Rudra nirneetha murri guna sath sagara,

Santhushta paravathi praha sankaram, loka sankaram. 2

Hearing the great story of Lord Vishnu,

Who is the ocean of all good qualities,
Parvathy who was extremely happy,
Asked Lord Shiva, the Shiva of the world.

Sri Parvathi Uvcha:

Parvathi said:

Sri Mushnesasya mahathmyam, varahasya mahathmana,

SRuthwa thrupthir na may jatha mana kouthuhalayathe,
SRothum thadheva mahathmyam, thasmad varnaya may puna. 3

I was not contented by hearing the greatness of Sri Mushna,

And the greatness of the Boar who was the great person,
And my mind wants to hear more of that story of the greatness,
And so please be kind enough to describe it again.
 Sri Shankara Uvacha:
Shankara said:

Srunu devi pravakshyami, Sri Mushnasya vaibhavam,

Yasya sravana mathrena maha papai pramuchyathe. 3

Hear divine one, the greatness of Sri Mushnam,

Just hearing which all sins committed are destroyed.

Sarvesham eva theerthaanaam theertha rajo abhidheeyathe,

Nithya pushkarini naamni Sri Mushno ya cha varthathe,
Jatha sramapaha punya varahasrama varinaa. 4

Among all sacred waters, it is called king of sacred waters,

And is called Nithya Pushkarini and exists in Sri Mushnam,
And it took birth from the sweat of Sri Varaha due to tiresomeness.

Vishnor angushta sam sparsanath punyadha khlau jahnavi,

Vishno sarvanga sambhootha, nithya pushkarinee shubha. 5

The holy Ganga took birth from the thumb of Lord Vishnu,
But the Nithya Pushkarinee originated from all over his body.

Maha nadhi sahasrena nithyadha sangadha shubha,

Sakruth snathwa vimukthagha, sadhyo yadi hare padam. 6

All great sacred waters of rivers daily mix in this sacred water,
And a devotee taking bath in this, surely reaches the feet of Lord Vishnu.

Thasya agneya bhage thu aswath chaya yodhake,

Snanam kruthwa pippalasya kruthwa cha abhi pradakshinam. 7

Take bath in the Pushkarini in the shade of banyan tree,

Purify oneself internally and go round the banyan tree.

Drushtwa shwetha varaham cha masamekam nayedhyadhi,

Kala mruthyu vinirjithya, sriya paramaya suthaa. 8

Once in a month see the white Varaha along with goddess Lakshmi,
And the one who does this wins over untimely death.

Adhi vyadhi vinirmuktho graham peeda vivarjitha,

Bukthwa bhogan anekamscha mokshamanthe vrajeth druvam. 9

He gets freedom from worries and diseases,

 Gets rid of problems created by planets,
He enjoys several types of pleasures,
And in the end surely attains salvation.

ASwatha moole arka vare nithya pushksarini thate,

Varaha kavacham japthwa satha varam jithendriya. 10

He who chants Varaha Kavacham one hundred times,

In the roots of the banyan tree by the side of Pushkarini daily,
Would gain control over his sense organs.

Kshaya apasmara kushtadyai maha rogai pramuchyathe,

Varaha kavacham yasthu prathyaham padathe yathi. 11

He who reads Varaha Kavacham daily himself.

Would get cured of tuberculosis, epilepsy and leprosy

.Shathru peeda vinirmuktho bhoopathithwam aapnuyath,

Likhithwa dharayedhyasthu bahu moole galedhava. 12

He who writes it and wears in the neck or on the hand,

Would get freedom from enemies and get position equal to king.

Bhootha pretha pisachadhya yaksha gandharwa rakshasa,

Shathruvo gora karmano yea chanyai visha janthava,
Nashta dharpa vinasyanthi vidravanthi dhiso dasa. 13

Devils ghouls, ghosts, yakshas, gandharwas, Rakshasa,

Terrible enemies and other poisonous beings,
Originating from ten directions will perish.

Sri Parvathi Uvacha:

Goddess Parvathi said:

Thath broohi kavacham mahyam yena gupth jagathraye. 14

SAnchareth deva van marthya sarva shathru vibheeshana,
Yen aapnothi cha samrajyam thanme broohi sada shiva. 15

Oh my Lord Shiva, Kindly tell me that very secret armour,

Which destroys enemies of devas as well as men,
And which can give them a country to rule.

Sri Shankara Uvacha:

Lord Shiva said:

Srunu kalyani vakshyami varakavacam shubham,

 Yena guptho labeth marthyo vijayam sarva sampadam. 16

Pleases hear Kalyani that holy armour of Varaha,

Which is secret and gives wealth and victory to humans.

Angarakshakaram punyam maha pathaka nasanam,

Sarva roga prasamanam, sarva durgrahanasanam. 17

It protects our body, destroys great sins,

Cures all diseases and bad effects of all planets.

Visha abhichara kruthyadhi shatru peeda nivaranam,

Noktham kasyapi poorva hi gopyath gopyatharam yada. 18

This cures poison, bad chants and trouble from enemies,

And should be kept as more secret than a secret.

Varahena pura proktham mahyam cha parameshtine,

Yudheshu jayadham devi shathru peeda nivaranam. 19

This place where Lord Varaha came at times of yore,

Is the one which gives victory and destruction of enemies.

Varaha kavachath guptho na shubham labhathe nara,

Varaha kavachasyasya rishir Brahma prakeerthitha, 20

Varaha Kavacha which was composed by sage Brahma,

Even though extremely secret is being given to men.

Chandho anushtup thadha devo varaho bhoo parigraha,

Prakshalya padhou pani cha samyagachamya varina. 21

Written in anushtup meter, its god is Varaha carrying earth,

And should be canted after washing the feet and inner purification.

Kruthwa anga kara nyasa sa pavithra udang mukha,

Om bhoor bhuva suvarithi namo bhoo patha yepi cha. 22

After doing the rituals of the hand and other organs,

Sitting in a clean place staring in front, The chant,
Of Om, Bhoo,bhuva suva etc should be chanted.

Thatho bhagwathe paschad Varahaya namasthadha,

Yevam shadangam nyasam cha nyased anguleeshu kramath. 23

After saluting God and touching the six organs in a proper manner,
 By the fingers Lord Varaha should be saluted.

Nama swethavarahaya maha kolaya bhoopathe,

Yagnangaya shubhangaya sarvagnaya paramathmane. 24
Sthrvathundaya dheeraya para brahma swaroopine,
Vakra damshtraya nithyaya namo antharyamini kramath. 25
Anguleeshu nyased vidhwan kara prashte thaleshvapi,
Dhyathwa Swethavaraham cha paschad manthra mudheerayath. 26

Salutations to the white boar, to the king who is the great boar,
Who is part of the sacrifice, whose all body parts are holy,
Who is the all knowing one and who is ultimate God,
Who has fierce horn, who is courageous, who is of the form of ultimate,
Who has slanted teeth, who is for ever and who is inside everything.
Saying this, the learned one touches different parts of the body by fingers,
Meditates on the white boar and then starts the chanting of manthras.
(It could be chanted without these preliminaries also by any one.)

Dhyanam
Meditation

Om swetham varaha vapusham kshithi mudwarantham,

Sankhari sarva varada abhaya yuktha bahum,
Dhyayen nirjaischa thanubhi sakalai roopetham,
Poorna vibhum sakala vanchitha sidhaye ajam. 27

Meditating on the white God Varaha

Who holds the earth aloft and gives protection,
Who is armed with conch wheel,
Who shows the sign of protection by his hand,
And who is the complete God,
Would fulfill all one’s wishes.

Varaha poorvatha pathu, dakshine dandakanthaka,

Hiranyaksha hara pathu paschima gadayayudha. 28

Let my east be protected by Lord Varaha,

Let my south be protected by him, who is end of terrible beings,
And let my west be protected by the holder of Mace,
Who killed the rakshasa called Hiranyaksha.

Uthare bhoomi hrud pathu agasthadvayu vahana,

Oordhwa pathu hrishikeso digvidikshu gada dhara. 29

Let my north be protected by he, who recovered earth,

Let the place under me be protected by he who rides the wind,
 Let Lord Hrishikesa armed with mace protect the top.

Pratha pathu prajanadha, kalpakruth sangame avathu,

Madyahne vajra kesasthu, sayahne sarva poojitha. 30

In the morning let me be protected by lord of people,

Who has been protecting them for ages,
Let the diamond haired one protect me in the noon,
And he who is worshipped by every one protect me in the evening.

Pradoshe pahu padmaksho, rathrou Rajeeva lochana,

Niseendra garvaha pathu pathusha parameshwara. 31

Let me be protected by lotus eyed one during dusk,

Let the lotus eyed one protect me at night,
And let the God of everything protect me at mid night.

Adavyam agraja pathu, gamena garudasana,

Sthale pathu maha theja, jale pathw avani pathi. 32

Let me protected in the forest by the elder God,

Let he who rides the eagle protect while I am moving,
Let the one with great shine protect me on the land,
And let God of earth protect me in water.

Gruhe pathu gruhadyaksho, Padmanabha purovathu,

Jillika varada pathu swagrame karunakara. 33

Let the presiding deity of home protect me at home,

Let he who has lotus in belly protect me inside the town,
Let the merciful protector who plays music protect me in village.

Ranagre daithyaha patrhu, vishame pathu chakra bruth,

Rogeshu vaidyarajasthu, kolo vyadheeshu rakshathu. 34

In the battle field let the victor over Rakshasas protect me,
When I am in trouble the holder of wheel protect me,
Let the king of doctors who has taken the form of a boar,
Protect me whenever I am sick.

Thapatrayath thapo murthy, karma pasacha viswa kruth,

Klesa kaleshu sarveshu pathu padsmavathir vibhu. 35

Let the master of meditation protect me from three type of troubles,

Let the maker of the universe protect me from attraction of world,
And in times of difficulty, let the Lord of she who sits on the lotus protect me.
 Hiranyagarbha samsthuthya padhou pathu nirantharam,
Gulphou gunakara pthu, jange pathu janardhana. 36

Let him who holds the entire universe protect my feet forever,
Let the doer of good protect my private parts,
And let Lord Janardhana protect my thighs.

Janu cha jayakruth pathu pathuru purushothama,

Rakthaksho jagane pathu katim viswambaro avathu. 37

Let my knees be protected by he who makes victory,

Let my feet and calf be protected by the greatest among men,
Let my hip be protected by the red eyed god, who wears the universe.

Parswe pathu suradhyaksha. pathu kuksheem parathpara,

Nabhim brahma pitha pathu hrudayam hrudayeswara. 38

Let the nearby areas be protected by the Lord of devas,

Let the ultimate God protect my belly,
Let my stomach be protected by father of Brahma,
And let lord of the heart protect my heart.

Mahadamshtra sthanou pathu, kandam pathu vimukthidha,

Prabanjna pathir bahu, karou kama pithavathu. 39

Let he who has big teeth protect my chest,

Let he who gives salvation protect my neck.
Let the lord of creation protect my hands,
And let the father of Manmatha protect my hands.

Hasthu hamsapathi pathu, pathu sarvanguleer hari,

SArvangaschibukam pathu pathvoshti kala nemi niha. 40

Let my inner hand be protected by lord of lotus,

Let Hari protect all my fingers,
Let the guide of the path protect all my limbs,
And let my chin be protected by killer of Kalanemi.

Mukham pathu Madhuha, pathu dantham Damodaravathu,

Nasikam avyaya pathu, nethre Suryendu lochana. 41

Let killer of Madhu protect my face,

Let Lord Damodhara protect my teeth,
Let the un knowable one protect my nose,
And let my eyes be protected by the Lord,
 Who has Sun and Moon as his eyes.

Phalam karma phaladyaksha, pathu karnou Maha Radha,

Sesha sayee sira pathu, kesan pathu niramaya. 42

Let he who presides over result of duties protect my forehead,

Let the great warrior protect my ears,
Let he who sleeps on Adhisesha protect my head,
And let the passionless one protect my hairs.

SArvangam pathu sarvesa, sada pathu satheeswara,

Ithedham kavacham punyam varahasya mahathmana. 43

Let all my limbs be protected by God of all,

Let me be protected forever by the God of Parvathi,
Thus ends the holy armour of Lord Varaha.

Ya padeth srunuyathvapi, thasya mruthyur vinasyathi,

Tham namasyanthi bhoothani, bheetha sanjalipanaya. 44

For him who reads or hears this,

There would not be any death,
And all ghosts would be afraid of him,
And salute him bowing down.

Rajadasya bhayam nasthi, rajyabramso na jayathe,

Yannamasmaranath bheetha bhootha, vetala, Rakshasa. 45

There would be no fear from enemies of kingdom,

And he would never loose his kingdom,
And just thinking about it would make,
Ghosts. Ghouls and Rakshasas shiver out of fear.

Maharogascha nasyanthi, sathyam sathyam vadamyaham,

Kande thu kavacham bhadhoodhwa, vandhya puthravatrhi bhaveth. 46

I am telling the truth again and again,

That leprosy would be cured and,
She who cannot conceive would get a son,
If she wears this armour in her neck.

Shathru sainyakshaya prapthi, dukha prasamanam thadha,

Uthpatha durnimithathi soochitha arishta nasanam. 47

It would Exterminate the army of enemy,

Remove sorrows completely and destroy
 Unfortunate events, indicated by bad omens

Brahma vidhya prabodham cha labathe nathra samsaya,

Druthvedam kavacham punyam mandatha para veeraha. 48

Without doubt it will give us knowledge of Brahman,

And wearing this armour, Mandatha became a great warrior.

JIthwa thu sambareem mayam daithyendanavadheeth kshanath,

Kavachenavrutho bhoothwa devendropi surariha. 49

You can win over the veil of magic and

In seconds defeat king of Rakshasas,
And can become the Indra, the king of devas.

Bhoomyopadishta kavacha dharana narakopi cha,

Sarva vadhyo jayi bhoothwa, mahatheem keerthi mapthawan. 50

Even if one is in hell, wearing of this armour,

Makes you victorious in everything,
And make you earn lots and lots of fame.

Aswatha moole arka vare nithya pushkaranee thate,

Varaha kavacham japthwa sathavaram patedhyadi. 51
Apoorva rajya samprapthi nashtasya punaragamam,
Labadhe nathra sandeha sathya medan mayoditham. 52

One who chants Varaha Kavacham in the shade of Banyan tree,

In the banks of Nithya Pushkaranee for one hundred weeks,
Without any doubt and as a matter of oath,
Would get great countries, would again see a lost person

Japthwa Varaha mantram thu lakshamekam nirantharam,

Dasamsam tharpanam homam payasaena druthena cha. 53
Kurvan trikala sandhyasu kavachenavrutho yadi,
Bhoomandala adhipathyam cha labhade nathra samsaya. 54

Constantly chanting the chant of Varaha hundred thousand times,

.One tenth of such times make fire sacrifice with Payasam as offering,
Or do prayers at dawn, noon and dusk wearing this armour
Without any doubt make one, a king of this world.

Idham uktham maya devi gopaneyam durathmana,

Vara Kavacham punyam sasararnava tharakam. 55

Oh divine lady, keep this as secret from bad people,

For this Varahaa Kavacham helps us you to cross the sea of samsara.

Mahapathaka kotignam, bhukthi mukthi phala pradham,

Vachyam puthraya sishyaya sadu druthaya su dheemathe. 56

This destroys crores of evil deeds, grants you salvation,

Makes you have students and sons who are good and well behaved.

Sri Sutha:
Sutha said:

Ithi pathyur vacha sruthwa devi santhushta manasa,

Vinayaka guhou puthrou prapedhe surarchithou. 57
Kavachasya prabhavena loka matha cha parvathy,
Ya idham srunuyan nithyam, yova padathi nithyasa. 58
Sa muktha sarva papebhyo Vishnu loke maheeyathe. 59

Hearing the words of her Lord the goddess became very happy,
And begot Ganesa and Subrahmanya who were worshipped by Gods.
Due to the power of this armour and became mother of the world.
He who hears daily or daily reads it without break,
Would get rid of all his sins and reach the holy world of Vishnu.