gayatrikavachamprotectionarmor

𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌕𑌵𑌚𑌮𑍍

Gayatri Kavacham in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 At the three sandhyas (sunrise, noon, sunset), accompanying daily Gayatri japa·📜 Srimad Devi Bhagavata Purana, 12th Skandha, Chapter 3

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Srimad Devi Bhagavata Purana, 12th Skandha, Chapter 3 · Veda Vyasa (revealed by Narayana to Narada) · 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.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally held that one who wears this Kavacha and recites it with the daily Gayatri japa is purified of even grave sins and shielded in every direction — the Devi Bhagavatam declares that by the grace of the Veda-Mother such a devotee gains mastery over knowledge and is led, in the end, to liberation itself.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌅𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑌵𑌚𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌮𑌹𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾 𑌋𑌷𑌯𑌃। 𑌋𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌜𑍁𑌃𑌸𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌥𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌛𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌂𑌸𑌿। 𑌪𑌰𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌿𑌣𑍀 𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾। 𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌬𑍀𑌜𑌮𑍍। 𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌃 𑌶𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌃। 𑌧𑌿𑌯𑌃 𑌕𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑍇 𑌜𑌪𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌃॥

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

Meaning:Of 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

𑍐 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑌃। 𑍐 𑌵𑌰𑍇𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌾। 𑍐 𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍋𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌶𑌿𑌖𑌾𑌯𑍈 𑌵𑌷𑌟𑍍। 𑍐 𑌧𑍀𑌮𑌹𑌿 𑌈𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌕𑌵𑌚𑌾𑌯 𑌹𑍁𑌮𑍍। 𑍐 𑌧𑌿𑌯𑍋 𑌯𑍋 𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌨𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌵𑍗𑌷𑌟𑍍। 𑍐 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌚𑍋𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍 𑌪𑌰𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌅𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌯 𑌫𑌟𑍍॥

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

Meaning:Om. '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

𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍 — 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌮𑌹𑍇𑌮𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌧𑌵𑌲𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌾𑌯𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌖𑍈𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑍈𑌃 𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌬𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌕𑍁𑌟𑌾𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌭𑌯𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌶𑌕𑌶𑌾𑌃 𑌶𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌗𑌦𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌖𑌂 𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌥𑌾𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌯𑍁𑌗𑌲𑌂 𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

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

Meaning:Meditation: 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

𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣 𑌉𑌵𑌾𑌚 — 𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌸𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌪𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌦𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌣𑍇। 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌤𑍁 𑌮𑍇 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀॥

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

Meaning:Narayana 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

𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌮𑍇 𑌦𑌿𑌶𑌂 𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍀𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌗𑍋𑌚𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌊𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌮𑍇 𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌦𑌧𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌵𑍈𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌵𑍀 𑌸𑌦𑌾॥

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

Meaning:May 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

𑌏𑌵𑌂 𑌦𑌶 𑌦𑌿𑌶𑍋 𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌦𑌾 𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀। 𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌂 𑌤𑍁 𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑌵𑌚𑍇𑌨 𑌤𑍁॥

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

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

Verse 7

𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷 𑌮𑍇 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍃𑌕𑌾। 𑌇𑌦𑌂 𑌤𑍁 𑌕𑌵𑌚𑌂 𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌮𑍍॥

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

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

Verse 8

𑌯𑍋 𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌯𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍋 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌸 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌯𑌶𑌾𑌃। 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌠𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌯𑌾 𑌚 𑌸𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌃॥

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

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

Verse 9

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌦𑌤𑌃। 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌂 𑌚 𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍁𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌦𑌤𑌃॥

Sarvan Kamanavapnoti Gayatryah Prasadatah Moksham Cha Labhate Martyo Veda Matuh Prasadatah

Meaning:obtains 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 Meaning

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𑌕𑌵𑌚𑌮𑍍🔊KavachamArmor, protective shield

𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀🔊GayatriThe Vedic Mother-mantra goddess, embodiment of the supreme Brahman

𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍃𑌕𑌾🔊Veda MatrikaThe Mother of the Vedas

𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑍇 𑌜𑌪𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌃🔊Mokshartthe Jape ViniyogahIts application in recitation is for the attainment of liberation

𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍁𑌃🔊Tat SaviturFirst words of the Gayatri mantra, assigned to the heart (Brahma-aspect)

𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑌃🔊Hridayaya NamahSalutation to the heart (the first anga-nyasa)

𑌵𑌰𑍇𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊Varenyam'Most adorable' — assigned to the head (Vishnu-aspect)

𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍋𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌯🔊Bhargo Devasya'The divine effulgence' — assigned to the tuft/crown (Rudra-aspect)

𑌧𑍀𑌮𑌹𑌿🔊Dhimahi'We meditate' — assigned to the armour (Ishvara-aspect)

𑌨𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌯🔊NetratrayayaTo the three eyes (the fifth anga-nyasa)

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌚𑍋𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍🔊Prachodayat'May it inspire' — assigned to the weapon/astra (Parabrahman-aspect)

𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌾𑌤𑍁🔊Purvatah PatuMay she protect from the East

𑌸𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀🔊SavitriThe solar mother-power; protector of the South

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾🔊BrahmasandhyaThe dawn-twilight power of Brahma; protector of the West

𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀🔊SaraswatiGoddess of knowledge; protector of the North

𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀🔊BhuvaneshvariThe Sovereign Mother of the worlds, guarding all ten directions

𑌦𑌶 𑌦𑌿𑌶𑌃🔊Dasha DishahThe ten directions

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Sarva Papa VinashanamDestroyer of all sins

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍍🔊TrikalamAt the three times of the day (the three sandhyas)

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌅𑌵𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍋𑌤𑌿🔊Sarvan Kaman AvapnotiOne obtains all one's desires

𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑍍 𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇🔊Moksham LabhateAttains liberation

𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍁𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌦𑌤𑌃🔊Veda Matuh PrasadatahBy the grace of the Mother of the Vedas

Benefits of Chanting Gayatri Kavacham

✦

Invokes Gayatri, the Mother of the Vedas, as a complete protective armour of body and soul

✦

Assigns the sacred words of the Gayatri mantra to the vital points through anga-nyasa

✦

Guards the devotee in all ten directions through Gayatri's many divine forms

✦

Destroys all sins (sarva-papa-vinashanam) and purifies the reciter

✦

Bestows learning, fame and the fulfilment of all righteous desires

✦

Considered a direct aid to liberation (moksha) by the grace of the Veda-Mata

✦

An ideal supplement to daily Gayatri japa and the three sandhya prayers

How to Chant Gayatri Kavacham

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAt the three sandhyas (sunrise, noon, sunset), accompanying daily Gayatri japa

After bathing and performing achamana, sit facing east in a clean place. Begin with the Viniyoga, then perform the anga-nyasa, touching the heart, head, crown, eyes and other points as each word of the Gayatri mantra is uttered. Meditate on the form of Gayatri described in the dhyana verse, then recite the directional protection verses. The Kavacham is traditionally recited together with daily Gayatri japa at the three sandhyas. Conclude by offering arghya to the Sun and praying to the Veda-Mother for protection and wisdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Gayatri Kavacham written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

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.

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.

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.

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.