Ekakshara Ganapati Kavacham
The kavacha invokes the single syllable associated with Ganesha, providing a protective mantra for devotees.
श्री गणेश स्तोत्राणि
namastasmai gaṇēśāya sarvavighnavināśinē
Salutations to that Ganesh, the remover of all obstacles.
नमस्तस्मै गणेशाय सर्वविघ्नविनाशिने ।
kāryārambhēṣu sarvēṣu pūjitō yaḥ surairapi
He who is worshipped by the gods at the beginning of all endeavors.
कार्यारम्भेषु सर्वेषु पूजितो यः सुरैरपि ॥ १ ॥
pārvatyuvāca
Parvati spoke:
पार्वत्युवाच ।
bhagavan dēvadēvēśa lōkānugrahakārakaḥ
O Lord of the gods, the bestower of grace upon the worlds,
भगवन् देवदेवेश लोकानुग्रहकारकः । इदानीं श्रोतृमिच्छामि कवचं यत्प्रकाशितम् ॥ २ ॥
idānīṁ śrōtr̥micchāmi kavacaṁ yatprakāśitam
Now I wish to hear the armor that has been revealed.
एकाक्षरस्य मन्त्रस्य त्वया प्रीतेन चेतसा । वदैतद्विधिवद्देव यदि ते वल्लभास्म्यहम् ॥ ३ ॥
ēkākṣarasya mantrasya tvayā prītēna cētasā
Of the one-syllable mantra, by your grace and with a pure heart,
ईश्वर उवाच । शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि नाख्येयमपि ते ध्रुवम् ।
vadaitadvidhivaddēva yadi tē vallabhāsmyaham
Please tell me, O deity, if I am dear to you.
एकाक्षरस्य मन्त्रस्य कवचं सर्वकामदम् ॥ ४ ॥
īśvara uvāca
Ishvara replied:
यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण न विघ्नाः प्रभवन्ति हि ।
śr̥ṇu dēvi pravakṣyāmi nākhyēyamapi tē dhruvam
Listen, O goddess, I will speak; this is surely not unknown to you.
त्रिकालमेककालं वा ये पठन्ति सदा नराः ॥ ५ ॥
ēkākṣarasya mantrasya kavacaṁ sarvakāmadam
The armor of the one-syllable mantra grants all desires.
तेषां क्वापि भयं नास्ति सङ्ग्रामे सङ्कटे गिरौ ।
yasya smaraṇamātrēṇa na vighnāḥ prabhavanti hi
By merely remembering it, no obstacles arise indeed.
भूतवेतालरक्षोभिर्ग्रहैश्चापि न बाध्यते ॥ ६ ॥
trikālamēkakālaṁ vā yē paṭhanti sadā narāḥ
Those who recite it at any time, day or night,
इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा यो जपेद्गणनायकम् ।
tēṣāṁ kvāpi bhayaṁ nāsti saṅgrāmē saṅkaṭē girau
For them, there is no fear in battles or in difficulties on mountains.
न च सिद्धिमाप्नोति मूढो वर्षशतैरपि ॥ ७ ॥
bhūtavētālarakṣōbhirgrahaiścāpi na bādhyatē
They are not hindered by spirits, ghosts, or planets.
अघोरो मे यथा मन्त्रो मन्त्राणामुत्तमोत्तमः ।
idaṁ kavacamajñātvā yō japēdgaṇanāyakam
Whoever chants this armor, not knowing it, will attain the leader of the Ganas.
तथेदं कवचं देवि दुर्लभं भुवि मानवैः ॥ ८ ॥
na ca siddhimāpnōti mūḍhō varṣaśatairapi
The fool does not attain success even after a hundred years.
गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन नाज्येयं यस्य कस्यचित् ।
aghōrō mē yathā mantrō mantrāṇāmuttamōttamaḥ
Just as the most excellent mantra is the fearsome one for me.
तव प्रीत्या महेशानि कवचं कथ्यतेऽद्भुतम् ॥ ९ ॥
tathēdaṁ kavacaṁ dēvi durlabhaṁ bhuvi mānavaiḥ
Thus, this armor, O Goddess, is rare among men on earth.
एकाक्षरस्य मन्त्रस्य गणकश्चर्षिरीरितः ।
gōpanīyaṁ prayatnēna nājyēyaṁ yasya kasyacit
It should be kept secret with effort; it should not be revealed to anyone.
त्रिष्टुप् छन्दस्तु विघ्नेशो देवता परिकीर्तिता ॥ १० ॥
tava prītyā mahēśāni kavacaṁ kathyatē:'dbhutam
By your grace, O Great Goddess, this wonderful armor is spoken of.
गं बीजं शक्तिरोङ्कारः सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये ।
ēkākṣarasya mantrasya gaṇakaścarṣirīritaḥ
The mantra of the single syllable is said to be uttered by the sage Ganaka.
सर्वविघ्नविनाशाय विनियोगस्तु कीर्तितः ॥ ११ ॥
triṣṭup chandastu vighnēśō dēvatā parikīrtitā
The meter is Trishtup, and the deity is proclaimed as Vighnesha.
ध्यानम् ।
gaṁ bījaṁ śaktirōṅkāraḥ sarvakāmārthasiddhayē
The seed is "Ga," the power is "Shakti," for the fulfillment of all desires.
रक्ताम्भोजस्वरूपं लसदरुणसरोजाधिरूढं त्रिनेत्रं
sarvavighnavināśāya viniyōgastu kīrtitaḥ
It is declared for the destruction of all obstacles.
पाशं चैवाङ्कुशं वा वरदमभयदं बाहुभिर्धारयन्तम् ।
dhyānam
Meditation:
शक्त्या युक्तं गजास्यं पृथुतरजठरं नागयज्ञोपवीतं
raktāmbhōjasvarūpaṁ lasadaruṇasarōjādhirūḍhaṁ trinētraṁ pāśaṁ caivāṅkuśaṁ vā varadamabhayadaṁ bāhubhirdhārayantam
I bow to the deity with a form of red lotus, seated on a radiant red lotus, with three eyes,
देवं चन्द्रार्धचूडं सकलभयहरं विघ्नराजं नमामि ॥ १२ ॥
śaktyā yuktaṁ gajāsyaṁ pr̥thutarajaṭharaṁ nāgayajñōpavītaṁ dēvaṁ candrārdhacūḍaṁ sakalabhayaharaṁ vighnarājaṁ namāmi
Holding a noose and a goad, bestowing boons and fearlessness with his arms.
कवचम् । गणेशो मे शिरः पातु फालं पातु गजाननः ।
kavacam
He is endowed with power, with the face of an elephant, with a thick neck, wearing the sacred thread of the serpent sacrifice.
नेत्रे गणपतिः पातु गजकर्णः श्रुती मम ॥ १३ ॥
gaṇēśō mē śiraḥ pātu phālaṁ pātu gajānanaḥ
I bow to the deity with a half-moon on his head, the remover of all fears, the king of obstacles.
कपोलौ गणनाथस्तु घ्राणं गन्धर्वपूजितः ।
nētrē gaṇapatiḥ pātu gajakarṇaḥ śrutī mama
Armor:
मुखं मे सुमुखः पातु चिबुकं गिरिजासुतः ॥ १४ ॥
kapōlau gaṇanāthastu ghrāṇaṁ gandharvapūjitaḥ
May Ganesh protect my head, may Gajanana protect my fruit (results).
जिह्वां पातु गणक्रीडो दन्तान् रक्षतु दुर्मुखः ।
mukhaṁ mē sumukhaḥ pātu cibukaṁ girijāsutaḥ
May Ganapati protect my eyes, may Gajakarna protect my hearing.
वाचं विनायकः पातु कण्ठं पातु मदोत्कटः ॥ १५ ॥
jihvāṁ pātu gaṇakrīḍō dantān rakṣatu durmukhaḥ
May the Lord of the Ganas protect my head, who is worshipped by the Gandharvas.
स्कन्धौ पातु गजस्कन्धो बाहू मे विघ्ननाशनः ।
vācaṁ vināyakaḥ pātu kaṇṭhaṁ pātu madōtkaṭaḥ
May the beautiful-faced son of Girija protect my face.
हस्तौ रक्षतु हेरम्बो वक्षः पातु महाबलः ॥ १६ ॥
skandhau pātu gajaskandhō bāhū mē vighnanāśanaḥ
May the Lord of the Ganas protect my tongue, and may the fierce-faced one guard my teeth.
हृदयं मे गणपतिरुदरं मे महोदरः ।
hastau rakṣatu hērambō vakṣaḥ pātu mahābalaḥ
May Vinayaka protect my speech, and may the one with great intoxication guard my throat.
नाभिं गम्भीरहृदयो पृष्ठं पातु सुरप्रियः ॥ १७ ॥
hr̥dayaṁ mē gaṇapatirudaraṁ mē mahōdaraḥ
May the one with the elephant's shoulders protect my shoulders, and may the remover of obstacles guard my arms.
कटिं मे विकटः पातु गुह्यं मे गुहपूजितः ।
nābhiṁ gambhīrahr̥dayō pr̥ṣṭhaṁ pātu surapriyaḥ
May the Lord of Ganas protect my hands, and may the mighty one protect my chest.
ऊरु मे पातु कौमारं जानुनी च गणाधिपः ॥ १८ ॥
kaṭiṁ mē vikaṭaḥ pātu guhyaṁ mē guhapūjitaḥ
May Ganapati protect my heart, and may the great-bellied one guard my belly.
जङ्घे जयप्रदः पातु गुल्फौ मे धूर्जटिप्रियः ।
ūru mē pātu kaumāraṁ jānunī ca gaṇādhipaḥ
May the deep-hearted one protect my navel, and may the one dear to the gods guard my back.
चरणौ दुर्जयः पातुर्साङ्गं गणनायकः ॥ १९ ॥
jaṅghē jayapradaḥ pātu gulphau mē dhūrjaṭipriyaḥ
May the fierce one protect my waist, and may the one worshipped in the cave guard my secrets.
आमोदो मेऽग्रतः पातु प्रमोदः पातु पृष्ठतः ।
caraṇau durjayaḥ pātursāṅgaṁ gaṇanāyakaḥ
May the Lord of the Ganas protect my thighs, and may the leader of the Ganas guard my knees.
दक्षिणे पातु सिद्धीशो वामे विद्याधरार्चितः ॥ २० ॥
āmōdō mē:'grataḥ pātu pramōdaḥ pātu pr̥ṣṭhataḥ
May the victorious one protect my shins, and may the one dear to the fierce protect my ankles.
प्राच्यां रक्षतु मां नित्यं चिन्तामणिविनायकः ।
dakṣiṇē pātu siddhīśō vāmē vidyādharārcitaḥ
May the unconquerable one protect my feet, and may the leader of the Ganas guard my limbs.
आग्नेय्यां वक्रतुण्डो मे दक्षिणस्यामुमासुतः ॥ २१ ॥
prācyāṁ rakṣatu māṁ nityaṁ cintāmaṇivināyakaḥ
May joy protect me from the front, and may delight protect me from behind.
नैरृत्यां सर्वविघ्नेशो पातु नित्यं गणेश्वरः ।
āgnēyyāṁ vakratuṇḍō mē dakṣiṇasyāmumāsutaḥ
May the Lord of Siddhis protect me on the right, and may the one worshipped by the Vidyadharas guard me on the left.
प्रतीच्यां सिद्धिदः पातु वायव्यां गजकर्णकः ॥ २२ ॥
nairr̥tyāṁ sarvavighnēśō pātu nityaṁ gaṇēśvaraḥ
May the ever-present one, the wish-fulfilling Vinayaka, protect me from the east.
कौबेर्यां सर्वसिद्धीशो ईशान्यामीशनन्दनः ।
pratīcyāṁ siddhidaḥ pātu vāyavyāṁ gajakarṇakaḥ
May the one with a curved trunk protect me in the south, the son of Uma.
ऊर्ध्वं विनायकः पातु अधो मूषकवाहनः ॥ २३ ॥
kaubēryāṁ sarvasiddhīśō īśānyāmīśanandanaḥ
May the remover of all obstacles protect me eternally in the direction of the southwest.
दिवा गोक्षीरधवलः पातु नित्यं गजाननः ।
ūrdhvaṁ vināyakaḥ pātu adhō mūṣakavāhanaḥ
May the bestower of accomplishments protect me in the west, and the one with the elephant's ears in the northwest.
रात्रौ पातु गणक्रीडो सन्ध्ययो सुरवन्दितः ॥ २४ ॥
divā gōkṣīradhavalaḥ pātu nityaṁ gajānanaḥ
May the lord of all accomplishments protect me in the northeast, the son of Ishvara.
पाशाङ्कुशाभयकरः सर्वतः पातु मां सदा ।
rātrau pātu gaṇakrīḍō sandhyayō suravanditaḥ
May Vinayaka protect me from above, and the one with the mouse as his vehicle from below.
ग्रहभूतपिशाचेभ्यो पातु नित्यं गणेश्वरः ॥ २५ ॥
pāśāṅkuśābhayakaraḥ sarvataḥ pātu māṁ sadā
May the white one, the elephant-faced, protect me during the day.
सत्त्वं रजस्तमो वाचं बुद्धिं ज्ञानं स्मृतिं दयाम् ।
grahabhūtapiśācēbhyō pātu nityaṁ gaṇēśvaraḥ
May the lord of the Ganas protect me at night, worshipped by the divine at twilight.
धर्मं चतुर्विधं लक्ष्मीं लज्जां कीर्तिं कुलं वपुः ॥ २६ ॥
sattvaṁ rajastamō vācaṁ buddhiṁ jñānaṁ smr̥tiṁ dayām
May he who wields the noose and goad protect me from all sides always.
धनधान्यगृहान्दारान् पुत्रान्पौत्रान् सखींस्तथा ।
dharmaṁ caturvidhaṁ lakṣmīṁ lajjāṁ kīrtiṁ kulaṁ vapuḥ
May the lord of Ganesha protect me eternally from ghosts and spirits.
एकदन्तोऽवतु श्रीमान् सर्वतः शङ्करात्मजः ॥ २७ ॥
dhanadhānyagr̥hāndārān putrānpautrān sakhīṁstathā
May my mind be filled with goodness, passion, and ignorance, speech, intellect, knowledge, memory, and compassion.
सिद्धिदं कीर्तिदं देवि प्रपठेन्नियतः शुचिः ।
ēkadantō:'vatu śrīmān sarvataḥ śaṅkarātmajaḥ
May I uphold righteousness, the fourfold path, prosperity, modesty, fame, lineage, and form.
एककालं द्विकालं वा त्रिकालं वापि भक्तितः ॥ २८ ॥
siddhidaṁ kīrtidaṁ dēvi prapaṭhēnniyataḥ śuciḥ
May I be blessed with wealth, grains, household, sons, grandsons, and friends.
न तस्य दुर्लभं किञ्चित् त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ।
ēkakālaṁ dvikālaṁ vā trikālaṁ vāpi bhaktitaḥ
May the one with a single tusk, the glorious son of Shankara, protect me from all sides.
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो जायते भुवि मानवः ॥ २९ ॥
na tasya durlabhaṁ kiñcit triṣu lōkēṣu vidyatē
O Goddess, who grants accomplishments and fame, I read this prayer with purity.
यं यं कामयते मर्त्यः सुदुर्लभमनोरथम् ।
sarvapāpavinirmuktō jāyatē bhuvi mānavaḥ
Whether at one time, two times, or three times, may I serve you with devotion.
तं तं प्राप्नोति सकलं षण्मासान्नात्र संशयः ॥ ३० ॥
yaṁ yaṁ kāmayatē martyaḥ sudurlabhamanōratham
Nothing in the three worlds is rare for one who is freed from all sins; such a person is born on Earth as a human.
मोहनस्तम्भनाकर्षमारणोच्चाटनं वशम् ।
taṁ taṁ prāpnōti sakalaṁ ṣaṇmāsānnātra saṁśayaḥ
Whatever difficult desire a mortal wishes for, they attain it completely within six months; there is no doubt about this.
स्मरणादेव जायन्ते नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ ३१ ॥
mōhanastambhanākarṣamāraṇōccāṭanaṁ vaśam
By merely remembering the goddess who attracts, paralyzes, kills, and uplifts, one is born without the need for further consideration.
सर्वविघ्नहरेद्देवीं ग्रहपीडानिवारणम् ।
smaraṇādēva jāyantē nātra kāryā vicāraṇā
O goddess who removes all obstacles, who protects from planetary afflictions, who destroys all enemies, and who prevents all calamities,
सर्वशत्रुक्षयकरं सर्वापत्तिनिवारणम् ॥ ३२ ॥
sarvavighnaharēddēvīṁ grahapīḍānivāraṇam
whoever holds this armor, and recites the supreme mantra, will never be troubled by any obstacles at any time or place.
धृत्वेदं कवचं देवि यो जपेन्मन्त्रमुत्तमम् ।
sarvaśatrukṣayakaraṁ sarvāpattinivāraṇam
A pure person who writes this on a birch bark and keeps it according to the rules,
न वाच्यते स विघ्नौघैः कदाचिदपि कुत्रचित् ॥ ३३ ॥
dhr̥tvēdaṁ kavacaṁ dēvi yō japēnmantramuttamam
worshiping the lord of the multitudes with one hand, placing it on their head and neck,
भूर्जे लिखित्वा विधिवद्धारयेद्यो नरः शुचिः ।
na vācyatē sa vighnaughaiḥ kadācidapi kutracit
the armor of the single-syllable mantra is rare,
एकबाहो शिरः कण्ठे पूजयित्वा गणाधिपम् ॥ ३४ ॥
bhūrjē likhitvā vidhivaddhārayēdyō naraḥ śuciḥ
whoever holds it, O great goddess, will not be overcome by obstacles.
एकाक्षरस्य मन्त्रस्य कवचं देवि दुर्लभम् ।
ēkabāhō śiraḥ kaṇṭhē pūjayitvā gaṇādhipam
The armor named "the heart of Ganesha" grants all accomplishments.
यो धारयेन्महेशानि न विघ्नैरभिभूयते ॥ ३५ ॥
ēkākṣarasya mantrasya kavacaṁ dēvi durlabham
By reading or reciting this, success is achieved.
गणेशहृदयं नाम कवचं सर्वसिद्धिदम् ।
yō dhārayēnmahēśāni na vighnairabhibhūyatē
The great goddess, where the armor is not revealed anywhere.
पठेद्वा पाठयेद्वापि तस्य सिद्धिः करे स्थिता ॥ ३६ ॥
gaṇēśahr̥dayaṁ nāma kavacaṁ sarvasiddhidam
It should be given to one who is devoted and dedicated to the guru.
न प्रकाश्यं महेशानि कवचं यत्र कुत्रचित् ।
paṭhēdvā pāṭhayēdvāpi tasya siddhiḥ karē sthitā
Thus, in the conversation between Parvati and Parameshvara in the Rudrayamala, the complete one-letter Ganapati armor is presented.
दातव्यं भक्तियुक्ताय गुरुदेवपराय च ॥ ३७ ॥
na prakāśyaṁ mahēśāni kavacaṁ yatra kutracit
—
इति श्रीरुद्रयामले पार्वतीपरमेश्वर संवादे एकाक्षरगणपतिकवचं सम्पूर्णम् ।
dātavyaṁ bhaktiyuktāya gurudēvaparāya ca
—
श्री गणेश स्तोत्राणि
iti śrīrudrayāmalē pārvatīparamēśvara saṁvādē ēkākṣaragaṇapatikavacaṁ sampūrṇam
—