gayatrikavachamprotectionarmor

𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌕𑌵𑌚𑌮𑍍

गायत्री कवचम् 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

Read in your language / script

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.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

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:इस श्रीगायत्री-कवच के ऋषि ब्रह्मा, विष्णु और महेश्वर हैं; छन्द ऋक्, यजुः, साम और अथर्व हैं; देवता परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी गायत्री हैं; 'तत्' बीज है, 'भर्गः' शक्ति है, 'धियः' कीलक है; मोक्ष की प्राप्ति हेतु जप में इसका विनियोग है।

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:ॐ 'तत्सवितुः' ब्रह्मस्वरूप — हृदय को नमः। 'वरेण्यं' विष्णुस्वरूप — शिर को स्वाहा। 'भर्गोदेवस्य' रुद्रस्वरूप — शिखा को वषट्। 'धीमहि' ईश्वरस्वरूप — कवच को हुम्। 'धियो यो नः' सदाशिवस्वरूप — नेत्रत्रय को वौषट्। 'प्रचोदयात्' परब्रह्मतत्त्वस्वरूप — अस्त्र को फट्।

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:ध्यान — मैं उन गायत्री का भजन करता हूँ जिनके मुख मोती, मूँगा, स्वर्ण, नील और श्वेत वर्ण के तथा त्रिनेत्रयुक्त हैं; जो चन्द्रबद्ध रत्नमुकुट धारण करती हैं; जो तत्त्वार्थ-वर्णस्वरूपा हैं; और जो अपने हाथों में वरद-अभय मुद्रा, अंकुश, कशा (कोड़ा), उज्ज्वल कपाल, गदा, शंख, चक्र और कमल-युगल धारण करती हैं।

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:नारायण बोले— गायत्री पूर्व में मेरी रक्षा करें, सावित्री दक्षिण में रक्षा करें; ब्रह्मसन्ध्या पश्चिम में और सरस्वती उत्तर में मेरी रक्षा करें।

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:पार्वती मेरी (प्रत्येक) दिशा की रक्षा करें, वारुणी वायुगोचर (वायव्य) की; ऊपर ब्रह्माणी सदा मेरी रक्षा करें और नीचे वैष्णवी शक्ति।

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:इस प्रकार भुवनेश्वरी सदा दसों दिशाओं की रक्षा करें। और जो स्थान इस कवच से छूट गया, असुरक्षित रह गया—

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:हे देवी गायत्री, वेदमातृका, उस सबकी रक्षा करें। यह दिव्य कवच समस्त पापों का नाशक है।

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:जो भक्तियुक्त होकर इसे धारण करता है, वह विद्यावान् और महायशस्वी होता है। जो श्रद्धायुक्त होकर नित्य त्रिकाल में इसका पाठ करता है—

Verse 9

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌦𑌤𑌃। 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌂 𑌚 𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍁𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌦𑌤𑌃॥

Sarvan Kamanavapnoti Gayatryah Prasadatah Moksham Cha Labhate Martyo Veda Matuh Prasadatah

Meaning:वह गायत्री की कृपा से समस्त कामनाओं को प्राप्त करता है; और वेदमाता की कृपा से मनुष्य मोक्ष को भी प्राप्त करता है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

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 गायत्री कवचम्

✦

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 गायत्री कवचम्

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 गायत्री कवचम् 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.