Panchmukhi Hanuman Kavach — Word-by-Word Meaning

Om, salutations to the five-faced son of Anjana. Of this Panchamukha Hanuman mantra, Brahma is the seer, Gayatri the metre, the five-faced cosmic Hanuman the deity; Hreem is the seed, Shreem the power, Kroum the pin — thus the directions are bound. Now I declare the meditation (dhyana) of Hanuman, dear and made by the Lord of lords. He is five-faced and mighty, with fifteen eyes and ten arms, the giver of every desire and aim. His East face is that of the monkey (Vanara), blazing like a thousand suns, with fearsome tusks and arched brows. His South face is Narasimha, of terrible radiance, dispelling all fear. His West face is Garuda, stilling every serpent and poison and evil spirit. His North face is the Boar (Varaha), dark and shining like the sky, cutting away the spirits of the netherworld, vetalas, fevers and disease. His upward face is the dread Horse-face (Hayagriva), ender of demons, by which He slew the great demon Taraka. He holds in His ten hands the sword, trident, khatvanga, noose, goad, mountain, fist, the Kaumodaki mace, a tree, the water-pot, the bhindipala and the jnana-mudra. Seated upon a throne, adorned with every ornament, garlands and divine fragrance — the all-wondrous Lord whose faces turn to every side — golden-crowned, tawny-eyed, the first and best of the monkey-kings, I ever hold Him in my mind. Destroy my enemies, protect me, O glorious one, and lift me out of every adversity. Om Harimarkata Markata — by this mantra written on the left, the enemy's clan perishes. Om, to Harimarkata, svaha.