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Surya Kavacham Meaning — Line by Line

सूर्य कवचम्

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Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. śrī-bhairava uvāca |
  2. Verse 2. ghṛṇiḥ pātu śiro-deśaṃ sūryaḥ phālaṃ mama sadā |
  3. Verse 3. ghrāṇaṃ pātu sadā bhānur vadanaṃ me dineśvaraḥ |
  4. Verse 4. bhujau me pātu mārtāṇḍo hastau pātu jayāya ca |
  5. Verse 5. madhyaṃ ca pātu saptāśvaḥ kaṭiṃ me viśva-rūpakaḥ |
  6. Verse 6. iti śrī-sūrya-kavacaṃ sampūrṇam ||
Verse 1#

śrī-bhairava uvāca |

श्रीभैरव उवाच । यो देवदेवो भगवान्भास्करो महसां निधिः । गुरुणापि कृपासिन्धुर्वक्ष्ये तस्य च कञ्चुकम् ॥

śrī-bhairava uvāca | yo deva-devo bhagavān bhāskaro mahasāṃ nidhiḥ | guruṇāpi kṛpā-sindhur vakṣye tasya ca kañcukam ||

MeaningLord Bhairava said: I shall now declare the protective armour (kavacha) of that God of gods, the Lord Bhaskara — the Sun — who is the treasure-store of all radiance and an ocean of compassion even to the guru of the gods.

Verse 2#

ghṛṇiḥ pātu śiro-deśaṃ sūryaḥ phālaṃ mama sadā |

घृणिः पातु शिरोदेशं सूर्यः फालं मम सदा । आदित्यो लोचने पातु श्रोत्रे पात्वंशुमालिकः ॥

ghṛṇiḥ pātu śiro-deśaṃ sūryaḥ phālaṃ mama sadā | ādityo locane pātu śrotre pātv aṃśu-mālikaḥ ||

MeaningMay 'Ghrini' (the radiant Sun) ever protect the region of my head, and may Surya protect my forehead; may Aditya guard my eyes, and may He who is garlanded with rays protect my ears.

Verse 3#

ghrāṇaṃ pātu sadā bhānur vadanaṃ me dineśvaraḥ |

घ्राणं पातु सदा भानुर्वदनं मे दिनेश्वरः । जिह्वां मे भास्करः पातु कण्ठं मे भक्तवत्सलः ॥

ghrāṇaṃ pātu sadā bhānur vadanaṃ me dineśvaraḥ | jihvāṃ me bhāskaraḥ pātu kaṇṭhaṃ me bhakta-vatsalaḥ ||

MeaningMay Bhanu ever protect my nose, and may the Lord of the day protect my face; may Bhaskara protect my tongue, and may He who is affectionate to His devotees protect my throat.

Verse 4#

bhujau me pātu mārtāṇḍo hastau pātu jayāya ca |

भुजौ मे पातु मार्ताण्डो हस्तौ पातु जयाय च । नाभिं ग्रहपतिः पातु हृदयं पातु भानुमान् ॥

bhujau me pātu mārtāṇḍo hastau pātu jayāya ca | nābhiṃ graha-patiḥ pātu hṛdayaṃ pātu bhānumān ||

MeaningMay Martanda protect my arms, and may He grant victory and protect my hands; may the Lord of the planets protect my navel, and may the radiant Bhanuman protect my heart.

Verse 5#

madhyaṃ ca pātu saptāśvaḥ kaṭiṃ me viśva-rūpakaḥ |

मध्यं च पातु सप्ताश्वः कटिं मे विश्वरूपकः । सर्वाङ्गं पातु मे भानुश्चित्तं देवो जगत्पतिः ॥

madhyaṃ ca pātu saptāśvaḥ kaṭiṃ me viśva-rūpakaḥ | sarvāṅgaṃ pātu me bhānuś cittaṃ devo jagat-patiḥ ||

MeaningMay He of the seven horses protect my torso, and may He whose form is the universe protect my waist; may Bhanu protect all my limbs, and may the Lord of the worlds protect my mind.

Verse 6#

iti śrī-sūrya-kavacaṃ sampūrṇam ||

इति श्रीसूर्यकवचं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

iti śrī-sūrya-kavacaṃ sampūrṇam ||

MeaningThus is completed the sacred Surya Kavacham.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

श्रीभैरव उवाच
śrī-bhairava uvāca
Lord Bhairava said (the framing speaker of the hymn)
देवदेवः
deva-devaḥ
the God of gods
भास्करः
bhāskaraḥ
Bhaskara, the maker of light (the Sun)
महसां निधिः
mahasāṃ nidhiḥ
the treasure-store of all radiance/splendour
कञ्चुकम्
kañcukam
the protective armour (kavacha), lit. 'cuirass'
घृणिः
ghṛṇiḥ
'Ghrini' — the radiant bija (seed-syllable) of Surya; the warming rays
पातु
pātu
may He protect
शिरोदेशम्
śiro-deśam
the region of the head
फालम्
phālam
the forehead
आदित्यः
ādityaḥ
Aditya, son of Aditi (the Sun)
लोचने
locane
the two eyes
अंशुमालिकः
aṃśu-mālikaḥ
He who is garlanded with rays
श्रोत्रे
śrotre
the two ears
घ्राणम्
ghrāṇam
the nose / sense of smell
दिनेश्वरः
dineśvaraḥ
the Lord of the day
जिह्वाम्
jihvām
the tongue
भक्तवत्सलः
bhakta-vatsalaḥ
He who is affectionate to His devotees
मार्ताण्डः
mārtāṇḍaḥ
Martanda, an epithet of the Sun
हृदयं पातु भानुमान्
hṛdayaṃ pātu bhānumān
may the radiant one (Bhanuman) protect the heart
सप्ताश्वः
saptāśvaḥ
He of the seven horses (the Sun's chariot)
विश्वरूपकः
viśva-rūpakaḥ
He whose form is the entire universe
सर्वाङ्गं पातु मे भानुः
sarvāṅgaṃ pātu me bhānuḥ
may Bhanu (the Sun) protect all my limbs

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Sanskrit kavacha (Tantric/Puranic tradition, framed as spoken by Bhairava)

Author: Traditional

Period: Puranic / traditional

The Surya Kavacham belongs to the class of 'kavacha' hymns in which a deity is invoked to protect the worshipper limb by limb. Framed as the teaching of Lord Bhairava, it praises the Sun as the God of gods and the inexhaustible treasure of all light, and then weaves his radiance — invoked through names such as Ghrini, Aditya, Bhaskara, Martanda and Bhanu — over the head, senses, heart, limbs and mind of the devotee, forming a shield of solar power against all harm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Surya Kavacham?▼
The Surya Kavacham is a 'kavacha' or protective armour hymn dedicated to Surya, the Sun god. In it, the Sun is invoked by his many names to protect each limb and the mind of the devotee, beginning 'Ghrinih patu shiro desham' — 'May the radiant Sun protect my head.'
What does 'kavacham' mean?▼
'Kavacha' literally means armour or a protective shield. A kavacham hymn invokes a deity to guard specific parts of the body one by one, so that the devotee is enveloped in divine protection like a suit of armour.
What are the benefits of chanting the Surya Kavacham?▼
It is recited for good health, vitality and protection from disease, since Surya governs arogya (health). It is also chanted for courage and victory, and as a remedy for an afflicted Sun or malefic planetary influences in one's horoscope.
When should the Surya Kavacham be recited?▼
It is best recited at sunrise, facing east, ideally while offering arghya (water) to the Sun. Sundays and the festival of Ratha Saptami are considered especially auspicious for its recitation.

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