The Hayagriva Kavacham is from Hayagriva Samhita and is told by Lord Mahadev to Parvati. It is believed that one who recites this powerful Hayagriva Kavacham becomes Brihaspati or the Master of knowledge in every sphere.
Hayagriva is displayed seated, most often with his right hand either sanctifying the supplicant or in the vyakhya mudra pose of instruction. The right hand also usually maintains an aksa mala (rosary), revealing his identification with meditative knowledge.
His left owns a book, signifying his role as a teacher. His face is always tranquil and peaceful, if not smiling. A parable has it that during the creation, the devils Madhu-Kaitabha robbed the Vedas from Brahma, and Vishnu then took the Hayagriva form to retrieve them.
Every student should recite this Kavacham to excel in their studies and career. Hayagriva is a horse-faced form of Lord Vishnu. There are several stories about the origin of this God.
He is included in the minor incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is known that he killed an asura called Hayagriva who had a horse’s head.
People who follow Vaishnavism believe that he is the God of knowledge. Hayagriva is a horse-faced form of Lord Vishnu and is the God of knowledge & wisdom.
Hayagriva Kavacham Meaning
श्री हयग्रीवकवचम्
पार्वत्युवाच ।
देव देव महादेव करुणाकर शङ्कर
त्वया प्रसाद शीलेन कथितानि रमापतेः
बहूनामवताराणां बहूनि कवचानि च
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि हयास्य कवचं विभो
paarvatyuvaacha .
devadeva mahaadeva karunaakara shankara .
tvayaa prasaadasheelena kathitaani ramaapateh' .. 1..
bahoonaamavataaraanaam bahooni kavachaani cha .
idaaneem shrotumichchhaami hayaasyakavacham prabho .. 2..
Oh God, Oh God, Oh great God, Oh Sankara who is merciful,
Sue to your grace I have heard from you prayers,
Addressed several incarnations and several armors of Lord Vishnu,
And now I would like to hear from you, the armor of the horse-headed Hayagreeva.
शिव उवाच ।
देवि प्रियं वदे तुभ्यं रहस्यमपि मत्प्रिये
कलशाम्बुधिपीयूषं हयास्य कवचं वदे
shankara uvaacha .
devi priyamvade tubhyam rahasyamapi tatpriye .
kalashaabudhipeeyoosha hayaasyakavacham vade .. 3..
Oh Goddess since you are my love, I will tell you,
The secret armor of Hayagreeva is,
Like the nectar that was churned out from the ocean.
महाकल्पान्तयामिन्यां सञ्चरंस्तु हरि स्वयम्
लीलया हयवक्त्राख्य रूपमास्थाय योऽहरत्
mahaakalpaantayaaminyaashcharamaprahare svayam .
leelayaa hayavaktrottham roopamaadhaaya yo'ramat .. 4..
Lord Vishnu himself traveled at the night of the great deluge,
And playfully assumed a form with horse’s head and killed,
The Asura called Hayagreeva who had stolen the Vedas.
पुत्रवात्सल्यतो मह्यं विरञ्चिरुपदिष्टवान्
हयास्य कवचस्यास्य ऋषिर्ब्रह्मा प्रकीर्तितः
putravaansa tato mahyam viranchirupadisht'avaan .
kavachamhayasheershasya tattubhyam kathayaamyaham .. 5..
This was taught by Lord Brahma to me due to their affection for his son,
And it has been told that the sage of this Hayagreeva armor is Lord Brahma.
छन्दोऽनुष्टुप् तथा देवो हयग्रीव उदाहृतः
ह्रौं बीजं तु समाख्यातं ह्रीं शक्तिः समुदाहृता
ॐ कीलकं समाख्यातमुच्चैरुत् कीलकं तथा
chhando'nusht'up tathaa devo hayagreeva udaahri'tah' .. 7..
hraum tu beejam samaakhyaatam hreem shaktih' samudaahri'taa .
om keelakam samaakhyaatamuchchairut keelakam tathaa .. 8..
The meter for this is Anushtup and the God addressed is Hayagreeva,
The seed is “Hroum”. Hreem is the power, Om is the nail,
And telling loudly it is told as Uthkeelakam.
लक्ष्मीकराम्भोरुह हेमकुंभ पीयूषपूरैरभिषिक्त शीर्षम्
व्याख्याक्षमालांबुज पुस्तकानि हस्तैर्वहन्तं हयतुण्डमीडे
lakshmeekaraambhoruhahemakumbhapeeyooshapoorairabhishiktasheersham .
vyaakhyaanamaalaambujapustakaani hastairvahantam hayatund'ameed'e .. 9..
I am praying that Hayagreeva whose head is anointed by the nectar,
Falling from the golden pot held in the lotus-like hands of Lakshmi,
And who shows the divine sign and holds a rosary, lotus flower, and book in his hands.
सुधासिक्तः शिरः पातु फालं पातु शशिप्रभः
दृशौ रक्षतु दैत्यारिर्नासां वाग्जृम्भवारिधिः
sudhaasiktah' shirah' paatu bhaalam paatu shashiprabhah' .
dri'shau rakshatu daityaarirnaasaam voddhri'tavaaridhih' .. 10..
Let the nectar drenched God protect my head,
Let Him who has a moon-like a forehead protect my head,
Let him who is the enemy of Asuras protect my eyes,
Let him whose words flow like the ocean protect my nose,
श्रोत्रं पातु स्थिरश्रोत्रः कपोलौ करुणानिधिः
मुखं पातु गिरां स्वामी जिह्वां पातु सुरारिहृत्
shrotram paatu sthirashrotrah' kapolau karunaanidhih' .
mukham paatu giraam svaamee jihvaam paatu suraarihri't .. 11..
Let him who has very stable ears protect my ears,
Let the ocean of mercy protect my cheeks,
Let the lord of spoken word protect my face,
And let him who destroys the enemies of devas protect my tongue.
हनुं हनुमता सेव्यः कण्ठं वैकुण्ठनायकः
ग्रीवां पातु हयग्रीवः हृदयं कमलाकरः
hanum hanumataa sevyah' kant'ham vaikund'anaayakah' .
greevaa paatu hayagreevo hri'dayam kamalaalayah' .. 12..
.Let the Lord served by Hanuman protect my jaw,
Let the lord of Vaikunda protect my joints,
Let my neck be protected by the neck,
Let my heart be protected by he in whom Lakshmi stays.
उदरं विश्वभृत्पातु नाभिं पङ्कजलोचनः
मेढ्रं प्रजापतिः पातु ऊरू पातु गदाधरः
oordhram cha vishvabhri'tpaatu naabhim pankajalochanah' .
med'hram prajaapatih' paatu ooroo paatu gadaadharah' .. 13..
Let he who carries the earth protect the abdomen,
Let he who has lotus like eyes protect his belly,
Let my private parts be protected by the lord of all people,
Let he who holds the mace protect my knees.
ऊर्ध्वं पातु हरिः साक्षात् अधः पातु गुणाकरः
अन्तरिक्षे हरिः पातु विश्वतः पातु विश्वसृट्
oordhvam paatu harih' saakshaadadhah' paatu gunaakarah' .
antarikshe harih' paatu vishvatah' paatu vishvadhri'k .. 14..
Let the real Hari protect the above direction,
Let him who is a storehouse of good qualities protect the direction below,
Let the environment be protected by Lord Hari,
Let the universe be protected by he who created the world.
य एतत्कवचं धीमान् सन्नह्येन्निज विग्रहे
दुर्वादिराक्षसव्यूहैः स कदाचिन्न बाध्यते
ya etatkavacham dheeman sannhyennij vigrahe
durvadirakshasvyuhe sa kadachhinn badyate....15..
If a wise man reads this armor touching different,
Parts of his body, he would never get troubled by,
People who unnecessarily argue with the crowd of Rakshasas
पठेत् य एतत् कवचं त्रिसन्ध्यं भक्ति भावितः
मूढोऽपि गीष्पतिस्पर्द्धी जायते नात्र संशयः
patedh ya etatkavacham trisandhyam bhaktibhaavatah' .
mood'ho'pi geeshpatisparddhee jaayate naatra samshayah' .. 16.
If one who reads this at dawn, noon, and dusk with great devotion,
Even if by nature he is a fool, without any doubt, he would equal the teacher of devas.
इति श्रीहयग्रीवसंहितायां हयग्रीवकवचम् सम्पूर्णम् ॥
