Garuda Kavacham is a powerful tool to obtain the divine blessings of Lord Garuda. The Kavach is practiced for security and to be free from the effects of any poison. It is assumed that reading the Kavach 12 times a day, protects the seeker from all misfortunes.
Garuda is the mount or Vahana of Lord Vishnu. Garuda is portrayed as having the golden body of a robust man with a white face, red wings, an eagle’s beak, and a crown on his head.
This ancient deity was displayed to be huge enough to block out the sun. The Garuda is the endless enemy of snakes and guards the seeker against poison and other negative influences.
The Mahabharata recognizes him as the younger brother of Aruna, the charioteer of the sun god, Surya. Garuda’s mother, Vinata, mother of the birds, was deceived into becoming the slave of her sister and co-wife, Kadru, mother of the nagas (serpents).
The lasting hatred between the birds, especially Garuda, and the serpents is attributed to this. The nagas consented to release Vinata if Garuda could obtain for them a drink of the elixir of immortality, the amrita, or soma.
Garuda achieved that feat, thus giving the snakes the proficiency to slough off their old skins, and, on his way back from the heavens, he met Vishnu and consented to serve him as his vehicle and also as his emblem.
Garuda is generally characterized as a guardian with the power to swiftly traverse anywhere, ever vigilant, and an enemy of every serpent. He is also learned as Tarkshya and Vainateya.
Garuda Kavacham Meaning
अस्य श्रीगरुडकवचस्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य नारद भगवान् ऋषिः
वैनतेयो देवता अनुष्टुप्छन्दः श्रीवैनतेयप्रीत्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः ।
Asya Sri Garuda kavacha stotra manthrasya, Narada Bhagawan Rishi
Vainatheyo Devathaa, Anushtup Chanda, Sri Vainatheya ]preethyarthe Jape Viniyoga
To the Armour of great prayer of Garuda, Sage Narada is the sage
Garuda is the devata, Meter is Anushtup, and the chanting is done to please Garuda
ॐ शिरो मे गरुडः पातु ललाटे विनितासुतः ।
नेत्रे तु सर्पहा पातु कर्णौ पातु सुरा अर्छित्॥ १॥
Om Shiro may Garuda pathu, lalalte vinitha sutha
Nethre thu Sarpahaa, karnom pathu surarchitha
Om May Garuda protect my head, Let the son of Vinutha protect my forehead
Let my eyes be protected by the killer of serpents and my ears one who was worshipped by devas
नासिकां पातु सर्पारिः वदनं विष्णुवाहनः ।
सूर्येतालू च कण्ठे च भुजौ पातु महाबलः ॥ २॥
Naasikaam pathu Sarpaari, vadanam Vishnu Vahana
Suryethalu cha kante cha bujou pathu mahabala
Let enemy of serpent protect my nose, let the steed of Vishnu protect my face
He who is like sun god protect my neck and the very strong one protect my Hands
हस्तौ खगेश्वरः पातु कराग्रे तरुणाकृतिः
स्तनौ मे विहगः पातु हृदयं पातु सर्पहा ।॥ ३॥
Hasthou Khageswara pathu, karagre tharunakruthi
Sthanou may vihaga pathu, hrudayam pathu sarpahaa
Let my arms be protected by God of birds, Let the end of the arm be protected by one with youthful looks
Let my breasts be protected by the bird, let my heart be protected by the killer of the snake
नाभिं पातु महातेजाः कटिं मे पातु वायुनः
ऊरू मे पातु उरगिरिः गुल्फौ विष्णुरथः सदा ।॥ ४॥
Naabhim pathu maha theja, katim may pathu vayuna
OOru may pathu uragir, gulphou Vishnu Radha sadhaa
Let greatly shining one protect my belly, Let he who travels in the air in protecting my waist
Let my thigh be protected by a killer of the serpent, let my ankles be protected by the chariot of Vishnu
पादौ मे तक्षकः सिद्धः पातु पादाङ्गुलींस्तथा
रोमकूपानि मे वीरो त्वचं पातु भयापहा ।॥ ५॥
Padhou may Thakshaka, sidha pathu padangulisthadha
Romakoopani may veero, thwacham pathu bhayapaha
Let One who is enemy of Thaksha protect my feet Let the powerful one protect the fingers of my feet
Let the heroic one protect my hair roots, Let the one who removes fear protect my skin
इत्येवं कवचं दिव्यं पापघ्नं सर्वकामदम्
यः पठेत्प्रातरुत्थाय विषदोषं न पश्यति ।॥ ६॥
Ithyedham kavacham dhivyam, papagnam, sarva kamnadham
Ya paden prathar uthaya visha dosham na pasyathi
If this divine, fear-destroying, all wish-fulfilling,
Armour is read as soon as you get up, You would not be able to see problems caused by poison
त्रिसन्ध्यं पठते नित्यं बन्धनात् मुच्यते नरः ।
द्वादशाहं पठेद्यस्तु मुच्यते सर्वकिल्विषैः ॥ ७॥
Trisandhyam padathe nithyam, bandhanaath muchyathe nara
Dwadasaham padethyasthu muchyathe sarva kilbishai
If this is read daily at dawn, noon, and dusk, we would get freedom from ties
If it is read twelve times, We would get out of all troubles
॥ इति श्रीनारदगरुडसंवादे गरुडकवचं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
