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Gayatri Kavacham Meaning — Line by Line

गायत्री कवचम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Gayatri Kavacham with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Asya Shri Gayatri Kavachasya Brahma Vishnu Maheshvara Rishayah
  2. Verse 2. Om Tat Savitur Brahmatmane Hridayaya Namah
  3. Verse 3. Dhyanam —
  4. Verse 4. Narayana Uvacha —
  5. Verse 5. Parvati Me Disham Rakshed Varunim Vayugocharam
  6. Verse 6. Evam Dasha Disho Rakshet Sarvada Bhuvaneshvari
  7. Verse 7. Tat Sarvam Raksha Me Devi Gayatri Veda Matrika
  8. Verse 8. Yo Dharayed Bhakti Yukto Vidyavan Sa Mahayashah
  9. Verse 9. Sarvan Kamanavapnoti Gayatryah Prasadatah
Verse 1#

Asya Shri Gayatri Kavachasya Brahma Vishnu Maheshvara Rishayah

अस्य श्रीगायत्रीकवचस्य ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वरा ऋषयः। ऋग्यजुःसामाथर्वाणि छन्दांसि। परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी गायत्री देवता। तद्बीजम्। भर्गः शक्तिः। धियः कीलकम्। मोक्षार्थे जपे विनियोगः॥

Asya Shri Gayatri Kavachasya Brahma Vishnu Maheshvara Rishayah Rig Yajuh Sama Atharvani Chhandamsi Parabrahma Svarupini Gayatri Devata Tad Bijam Bhargah Shaktih Dhiyah Kilakam Mokshartthe Jape Viniyogah

MeaningOf this Shri Gayatri Kavacha, the sages are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara; the metres are the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva (Vedas); the deity is Gayatri, the very form of the supreme Brahman; 'Tat' is the seed, 'Bhargah' is the power, 'Dhiyah' is the pivot; its application in recitation is for the sake of liberation.

Verse 2#

Om Tat Savitur Brahmatmane Hridayaya Namah

तत्सवितुर्ब्रह्मात्मने हृदयाय नमः। वरेण्यं विष्ण्वात्मने शिरसे स्वाहा। भर्गोदेवस्य रुद्रात्मने शिखायै वषट्। धीमहि ईश्वरात्मने कवचाय हुम्। धियो यो नः सदाशिवात्मने नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट्। प्रचोदयात् परब्रह्मतत्त्वात्मने अस्त्राय फट्॥

Om Tat Savitur Brahmatmane Hridayaya Namah Om Varenyam Vishnvatmane Shirase Svaha Om Bhargo Devasya Rudratmane Shikhayai Vashat Om Dhimahi Ishvaratmane Kavachaya Hum Om Dhiyo Yo Nah Sadashivatmane Netratrayaya Vaushat Om Prachodayat Parabrahma Tattvatmane Astraya Phat

MeaningOm. 'Tat Savitur', identical with Brahma — salutation to the heart. 'Varenyam', identical with Vishnu — Svaha to the head. 'Bhargo Devasya', identical with Rudra — Vashat to the crown-lock. 'Dhimahi', identical with Ishvara — Hum to the armour. 'Dhiyo Yo Nah', identical with Sadashiva — Vaushat to the three eyes. 'Prachodayat', identical with the supreme Brahman-principle — Phat to the weapon.

Verse 3#

Dhyanam —

ध्यानम् मुक्ताविद्रुमहेमनीलधवलच्छायैर्मुखैस्त्रीक्षणैः युक्तामिन्दुनिबद्धरत्नमकुटां तत्त्वार्थवर्णात्मिकाम्। गायत्रीं वरदाभयाङ्कुशकशाः शुभ्रं कपालं गदां शङ्खं चक्रमथारविन्दयुगलं हस्तैर्वहन्तीं भजे॥

Dhyanam — Mukta Vidruma Hema Nila Dhavala Chhayair Mukhais Trikshanaih Yuktam Indu Nibaddha Ratna Makutam Tattvartha Varnatmikam Gayatrim Varada Abhaya Ankusha Kashah Shubhram Kapalam Gadam Shankham Chakram Atha Aravinda Yugalam Hastair Vahantim Bhaje

MeaningMeditation: I worship Gayatri, who has faces of the hue of pearl, coral, gold, sapphire and white, each with three eyes; who wears a crown set with jewels and bound by the moon; who is the very form of the syllables that hold the truth; and who bears in her hands the gestures of boon and fearlessness, the goad and the whip, the bright skull, the mace, the conch, the discus and a pair of lotuses.

Verse 4#

Narayana Uvacha —

नारायण उवाच गायत्री पूर्वतः पातु सावित्री पातु दक्षिणे। ब्रह्मसन्ध्या तु मे पश्चादुत्तरस्यां सरस्वती॥

Narayana Uvacha — Gayatri Purvatah Patu Savitri Patu Dakshine Brahmasandhya Tu Me Pashchad Uttarasyam Saraswati

MeaningNarayana said: May Gayatri protect me in the East, may Savitri protect me in the South; may the Brahma-twilight (Brahmasandhya) protect me in the West, and Saraswati in the North.

Verse 5#

Parvati Me Disham Rakshed Varunim Vayugocharam

पार्वती मे दिशं रक्षेद्वारुणीं वायुगोचराम्। ऊर्ध्वं ब्रह्माणि मे रक्षेदधस्ताद्वैष्णवी सदा॥

Parvati Me Disham Rakshed Varunim Vayugocharam Urdhvam Brahmani Me Rakshed Adhastad Vaishnavi Sada

MeaningMay Parvati guard my (every) quarter, and Varuni guard the region of the wind (North-west); above may Brahmani ever protect me, and below the Vaishnavi power.

Verse 6#

Evam Dasha Disho Rakshet Sarvada Bhuvaneshvari

एवं दश दिशो रक्षेत्सर्वदा भुवनेश्वरी। रक्षाहीनं तु यत्स्थानं वर्जितं कवचेन तु॥

Evam Dasha Disho Rakshet Sarvada Bhuvaneshvari Rakshahinam Tu Yat Sthanam Varjitam Kavachena Tu

MeaningThus may Bhuvaneshvari, the Sovereign of the worlds, ever protect all ten directions. And whatever place is left unprotected, omitted by this armour —

Verse 7#

Tat Sarvam Raksha Me Devi Gayatri Veda Matrika

तत्सर्वं रक्ष मे देवि गायत्री वेदमातृका। इदं तु कवचं दिव्यं सर्वपापविनाशनम्॥

Tat Sarvam Raksha Me Devi Gayatri Veda Matrika Idam Tu Kavacham Divyam Sarva Papa Vinashanam

Meaningprotect all that, O Devi Gayatri, Mother of the Vedas. This divine armour is the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 8#

Yo Dharayed Bhakti Yukto Vidyavan Sa Mahayashah

यो धारयेद्भक्तियुक्तो विद्यावान् महायशाः। त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं श्रद्धया समन्वितः॥

Yo Dharayed Bhakti Yukto Vidyavan Sa Mahayashah Trikalam Yah Pathen Nityam Shraddhaya Cha Samanvitah

MeaningWhoever wears it, full of devotion, becomes learned and greatly renowned. Whoever recites it daily at the three times, endowed with faith,

Verse 9#

Sarvan Kamanavapnoti Gayatryah Prasadatah

सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति गायत्र्याः प्रसादतः। मोक्षं लभते मर्त्यो वेदमातुः प्रसादतः॥

Sarvan Kamanavapnoti Gayatryah Prasadatah Moksham Cha Labhate Martyo Veda Matuh Prasadatah

Meaningobtains all his desires by the grace of Gayatri; and the mortal attains liberation too, by the grace of the Mother of the Vedas.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

कवचम्
Kavacham
Armor, protective shield
गायत्री
Gayatri
The Vedic Mother-mantra goddess, embodiment of the supreme Brahman
वेदमातृका
Veda Matrika
The Mother of the Vedas
मोक्षार्थे जपे विनियोगः
Mokshartthe Jape Viniyogah
Its application in recitation is for the attainment of liberation
तत्सवितुः
Tat Savitur
First words of the Gayatri mantra, assigned to the heart (Brahma-aspect)
हृदयाय नमः
Hridayaya Namah
Salutation to the heart (the first anga-nyasa)
वरेण्यम्
Varenyam
'Most adorable' — assigned to the head (Vishnu-aspect)
भर्गोदेवस्य
Bhargo Devasya
'The divine effulgence' — assigned to the tuft/crown (Rudra-aspect)
धीमहि
Dhimahi
'We meditate' — assigned to the armour (Ishvara-aspect)
नेत्रत्रयाय
Netratrayaya
To the three eyes (the fifth anga-nyasa)
प्रचोदयात्
Prachodayat
'May it inspire' — assigned to the weapon/astra (Parabrahman-aspect)
पूर्वतः पातु
Purvatah Patu
May she protect from the East
सावित्री
Savitri
The solar mother-power; protector of the South
ब्रह्मसन्ध्या
Brahmasandhya
The dawn-twilight power of Brahma; protector of the West
सरस्वती
Saraswati
Goddess of knowledge; protector of the North
भुवनेश्वरी
Bhuvaneshvari
The Sovereign Mother of the worlds, guarding all ten directions
दश दिशः
Dasha Dishah
The ten directions
सर्वपापविनाशनम्
Sarva Papa Vinashanam
Destroyer of all sins
त्रिकालम्
Trikalam
At the three times of the day (the three sandhyas)
सर्वान् कामान् अवाप्नोति
Sarvan Kaman Avapnoti
One obtains all one's desires
मोक्षम् लभते
Moksham Labhate
Attains liberation
वेदमातुः प्रसादतः
Veda Matuh Prasadatah
By the grace of the Mother of the Vedas

Origin & History

Source: Srimad Devi Bhagavata Purana, 12th Skandha, Chapter 3

Author: Veda Vyasa (revealed by Narayana to Narada)

Period: Ancient (Puranic)

The Gayatri Kavacham occurs in the twelfth book of the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, where Lord Narayana imparts to Sage Narada the supreme protective armour of Gayatri Devi, the Mother of the Vedas and the very embodiment of the Supreme Brahman. Composed by Veda Vyasa, it places the sacred words of the Gayatri mantra upon the body and invokes Gayatri in her many forms to shield the worshipper in every direction. It is praised as capable of removing all evils and obstructions and of granting both worldly fulfilment and final liberation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gayatri Kavacham?
Gayatri Kavacham means 'the armour of Gayatri'. It is a protective hymn from the Devi Bhagavata Purana in which the words of the Gayatri mantra are placed on the body through nyasa, and Gayatri in her various forms is invoked to guard every direction, granting protection, purification and liberation.
Who composed the Gayatri Kavacham?
According to tradition it was revealed by Lord Narayana to Sage Narada and composed by Maharshi Veda Vyasa. It appears in the 12th Skandha (Book) of the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam.
What is special about the structure of the Gayatri Kavacham?
Unlike many kavachams that invoke different forms of a deity for each limb, the Gayatri Kavacham assigns the actual words of the Gayatri mantra ('Tat Savitur', 'Varenyam', 'Bhargo Devasya' and so on) to the heart, head, crown, eyes and weapon as anga-nyasa, then guards the directions through Gayatri's forms.
What are the benefits of reciting the Gayatri Kavacham?
It is said to destroy all sins, protect the devotee in every direction, bestow learning and great renown, fulfil all righteous desires, and ultimately lead to liberation (moksha) by the grace of Gayatri, the Mother of the Vedas.

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