kantha sasti kavasam

KANDA SASHTI KAVASAM
Kanthar Sashti Kavasam is a famous Tamil hymn in praise of Lord Murugan. It is composed by Sri Devaraya Swamigal and helps one to obtain the grace of the Lord. It is sung particularly on festive occasions, such as during Kanthar Sashti in October-November.
When chanted daily with concentration and devotion, the kavasam serves as a protective armour for devotees and confers great spiritual and material benefits. This rare and valuable treasure helps one to be successful in our daily lives.
In Kanthar Sashti Kavasam, the author prays to Lord Muruga to shower His grace. Regular chanting of this kavasam has been found by devotees to resolve all their life's predicaments: people without children enjoy fertility; prosperity and plenty abounds; and peace prevails at the home of sincere devotees. The devotee will enjoy every good fortune under the sun. As a warrior going to battle puts on armour to protect himself, so Kanthar Sashti Kavasam helps one to be safe in day-to-day life.
Sri DEvaraaya Swaamigal’s - KANTHAR SASHTI KAVASAM


KURAL VENPA

(Declaration of Purpose)
thuthippOrkku valvinaipOm, thunbampOm, nenjil
pathippOrkku selvam paliththuk - kathith Ongum
nishttaiyum kaikoodum,
nimalar aruL kanthar sashti kavasam thanai.

The sufferings great will vanish for those who pray,
The riches will increase for those who paste it in their mind,
All penance will surely bear fruit,
By this Sashti Kavacham written by the grace of God.

KAPPU

(Dedication)
amarar idar theera amaram purintha
kumaran adi, nenjE kuRi.

Mind, oh mine, meditate
On the feet of that Young God (Kumaran),
Who waged the war,
To end the problems of devas, great.

NOOL
(Kavasam/Armor Invocation)

sashtiyai nOkka saravaNabavanaar
sishttaruk kuthavumsengathir vElOn
paatham irandil panmaNi shathangai
geetham paada, kiNkiNi yaada,
maiya nadaNY seyum mayil vaakananaar (5)

kaiyil vElaal enaik kaakkavenRu vanthu,
vara vara vElaa yuthanaar varuga
varuga varuga mayilOn varuga
inthiran muthalaa eNthisai pOTRa
manthira vadivEl varuga varuga (10)

Welcome to thee Oh, Lord,
Who rides on the peacock,
Who comes to help his devotees,
Who comes accompanied by sweet songs,
Who comes with pleasing sound of ringing anklets,
Made by numerous bells tied to your feet.
And I pray Lord Saravana Bhava,
To bless this poem on Sashti.

vaasavan marugaa varuga varuga
nEsak kuRamagaL ninaivOn varuga
aaRumugam padaiththa aiyaa varuga
neeRidum vElavan niththam varuga
sirakiri vElavan seekkiram varuga (15)

Come, come son in law of Indra,
Come darling of the lady of mountain,
Come my master who has six faces,
Come daily he who holds the Vel*,
And who applies the ash,
Come with speed, Oh Lord of Sira Mountain,
Come with speed, Of holder of the Vel.
saraHaNabavanaar saduthiyil varuga
raHaNa bavasa, rararara rarara
riHaNa bavasa, riririri ririri
viNabava saraHaNa veeraa namO nama
nibava saraHaNa niRanNiRa niRena (20)

Oh Lord Saravana bhava, Come with speed,
rahana bavasa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
rihana bavasa ri ri ri ri ri ri ri
vinabava sarahana,
Salutations and salutations to the great hero,
nibava sarahana nira, nira, nirena

(Some words are reproduced, because they are the interplay of the letters that make “Saravana Bhava” written in Tamil and have been added to make the verse musical. They may have hidden meaning, which this translator is not aware of).

vasara HaNaba varuga varuga
asurar kudigeduththa aiyaa varuga
ennai aaLum iLaiyOn kaiyil
pannirandaa yutham paasa angusamum
parantha viligaL pannirandilanga (25)

Come, come friend who lives within me,
Come lord who spoiled the lives of Asuras,
Come with the wide open twelve graceful eyes,
Come with weapons and pasa and angusa in your twelve hands,
Come, Oh young lord, who rules over me.

(Pasa is the rope and Angusa is a weapon to control).

virainthenaikkaakka vElOnvaruga
aiyum kiliyum adaivudan sauvum
uyyoLi sauvum uyir aiyum kiliyum
kiliyum sauvum kiLaroLi aiyum
nilai peTRenmun niththamum oLirum (30)

Come Oh, Lord of Vel to protect me fast,
Let Aaim, Klim and Saum which reach to you,
The Saum with its brilliant light,
The Klim which is like the soul,
And Klim, Saum and the sweet sounding Aaim,
Stand and shine before me.

(Aaim, Klim and Saum form the part of the Bhija manthra (seed invocation) that denotes Lord Skanda).

shaNmugam neeyum thaNiyoLi yovvum
kundali yaam siva guhan thinam varuga
aaRumugamum aNimudi aaRum
neeRidu neTRiyum neenda puruvamum
panniru kaNNum pavaLach sevvaayum (35)

Come Oh, Six headed one,
With your brilliant light,
Come daily without fail, great Lord,
Who has attained the Kundalini,
And come with thine six faces with six crowns,
With holy ash applied on your forehead,
With your long eye brows,
And with your twelve eyes and coral like mouth.

(Kundalani is the thousand-petal lotus in the bottom of the brain.
It is believed that on opening it, all knowledge will automatically
be yours).
nanneRi neTRiyil navamaNi chuttiyum
eeraaRu seviyil ilagu kundalamum
aaRiru thiNbuyath thalagiya maarpil
pal pooshaNamum pathakkamum thariththu
nanmaNi poonda navarathna maalaiyum (40)

Come Oh Lord,
With decorations of nine gems in your forehead,
With pretty ear rings shining in your twelve ears,
With several ornaments and pendant shining.
In thine, handsome trunk with twelve arms,
And with the garland of nine gems inlaid with precious stones.

muppuri noolum muththaNi maarpum
seppalagudaiya thiruvayiRu unthiyum
thuvanda marungil sudaroLip pattum
navaraththinam pathiththa naTcheeraavum
iruthodai alagum iNaimulanthaaLum (45)

Come Oh Lord,
With the holy three stringed thread,
With your chest decorated with pearls,
With your very pretty abdomen which has been praised,
With silken sash and girdle around your waist,
And with nine gems chain adorning your silken robes,
with the beauty of the two thighs and adjoining knees,

thiruvadi yathanil silampoli mulanga
segagaNa segagaNa segagaNa segaNa
mogamoga mogamoga mogamoga mogena
naganNaga naganNaga naganNaga nagena
diguguNa digudigu diguguNa diguNa (50)

ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri
du du du du du du du du du du du du du du du
dagu dagu digu digu dangu dingugu
vinthu vinthu mayilon vinthu (55)

Come Oh Lord,
With anklets in thine holy feet,
Which make jingling sounds, like,
seha gana seha gana seha gana segana
moga moga moga moga moga moga mogana
naha naha naha naha naha naha nahena
digu kuna digu digu digu kuna diguna

ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri ri
du du du du du du du du du du du du du du du
dagu dagu digu digu dangu dingugu
Oh Lord who rides the peacock, come quickly.

munthu munthu murugavEL munthu
enRanai yaaLum Eraga chelva
mainthan vEndum varamagilnth uthavum
laalaa laalaa laalaa vEsamum
leelaa leelaa leelaa vinOthanenRu (60)

Rush Oh rush, my Lord who has the Vel,
Oh Lord of Swami Malai*, who rules over me,
Who is so prettily dressed,
And who is so playful.
Grant this boon with smile to your son,
uNthiru vadiyai uruthi yenReNNum
enthalai vaiththun iNaiyadi kaakka
en uyirk uyiraam iRaivan kaakka
panniru viliyaal baalanai kaakka
adiyEn vathanam alaguvEl kaakka (65)

Please save me, who has firm faith in thine feet,
And who has placed his head on your feet,
Oh God who is my soul of souls protect,
Please protect this child with your twelve eyes,
Let your pretty Vel protect my face.

podipunai netriyai punithavEl kaaka
kathirvEl irandum kaNNinai kaaka
vithisevi irandum vElavar kaaka
naasikal irandum nalvEl kaaka
pEsiya vaaythanai peruvEl kaaka (70)

Let your pure Vel protect my ash adorned forehead
Let your shining Vel protect my two eyes,
Let he holds the Vel protect my two ears,
Let your good Vel protect my two nostrils,
Let your great Vel protect the mouth, which speaks.

muppath irupal munaivEl kaaka
seppiya naavai sevvEl kaaka
kannam irandum kathirvEl kaaka
ennilam kaluthai iniyavEl kaaka
maarbai irathna vadivEl kaaka (75)

Let your sharp Vel protect my thirty-two teeth,
Let your perfect Vel protect my tongue, which tells,
Let your shining Vel protect my two cheeks,
Let your sweet Vel protect my tender neck,
Let your gem studded Vel protect my chest.

sErila mulaimaar thiruvEl kaaka
vadivEl iruthOl valambera kaaka
pidarigal irandum peruvEl kaaka
alagudan muthugai arulvEl kaaka
palu pathiNaarum paruvEl kaaka (80)

Let your holy Vel protect my chest,
Let your straight Vel protect my two shoulders,
Let your great Vel protect my two napes,
Let your graceful Vel protect my back,
Let your youthful Vel protect my sixteen ribs.

vetrivEl vayitrai viLangavE kaaka
sitridai alaguRa sevvEl kaaka
naaNaam kayitrai nalvEl kaaka
aaN peN kurigalai ayilvEl kaaka
pittam irandum peruvEl kaaka (85)

Let your victorious Vel protect my abdomen,
Let your pretty Vel protect my thin waist,
Let your good Vel protect my waist thread,
Let your pretty Vel protect the reproductive organs,
Let your big Vel protect my two kidneys.

vattak kuthathai valvEl kaaka
paNai thodai irandum paruvEl kaaka
kaNaikaal mulanthaal kathirvEl kaaka
aiviral adiyiNai arulvEl kaaka
kaikal irandum karunaivEl kaaka (90)

Let your big Vel protect my round colon,
Let your heavy Vel protect my two thighs,
Let your bright Vel protect the two knees and calves,
Let your graceful Vel protect my two feet,
Let your merciful Vel protect my two hands.
munkai irandum muraNvel kaaka
pinkai irandum pinnavaL irukka
naavil sarasvathi natruNai yaaga
naabik kamalam nalvEl kakka
muppaal naadiyai munaivEl kaaka (95)

Let your strong Vel protect my two forearms,
Let Goddess Lakshmi reside in my arms,
Let Goddess of knowledge reside in my tongue,
Let your good Vel protect my belly button.
Let your sharp Vel protect the three nerve currents.

eppoluthum enai ethirvEl kaaka
adiyEn vasanam asaivula nEram
kadugavE vanthu kanagavEl kaaka
varum pahal thannil vachravel kaaka
arai irul thannil anaiyavEl kaaka (100)

Let your great Vel always protect me,
Let your golden Vel come fast,
To protect me as long as I am alive,
Let your diamond Vel protect me in day time,
Let your glittering Vel protect me in darkness.

Emathil saamathil ethirvel kaaka
thaamatham neeki chathurvEl kaaka
kaaka kaaka kanagavel kaaka
noaka noaka nodiyil nOka
thaakka thaakka thadaiyara thaakka (105)

Let his flowing Vel protect me all the sections of the night,
Let his craft Vel protect me from delays,
Let the golden Vel protect and protect,
Let it be seen quickly and quickly,
Let it strike and strike and remove all my problems.

paarka paarka paavam podipada
billi soonyam perumpagai agala
valla bootham valaashtiha pEygal
allal paduthum adangaa muniyum
piLLaigal thinnum pulakadai muniyum (110)
koLLivaay peygaLum kuRalai pEygaLum
peNgalai thodarum bramaraa chatharum
adiyanai kandaal alari kalangida.

Please see and see that my sins are powdered,
Let the black magic and great enmity go away,
Let great devils and those who shake their tails,
Let the uncontrollable Muni, which creates problems,
Let the back yard Muni which eats babies,
Let the ghosts with fire in their mouth,
Let the ghosts which steal my speech,
And let the Brahma Rakshasas which follow ladies,
Run away screaming when they see me.

(Muni is an evil spirit in Tamil Nadu. It also indicates a
sage in a different context).

irisi kaattEri ithunba sEnaiyum
ellilum iruttilum ethirpadum aNNarum (115)

kana pusai koLLum kaaLiyOdu anaivarum
vittaan gaararum migu pala pEygaLum
thandiyak kaararum sandaalar halum
en peyar sollavum idi vilunthOdida.

Let the Irusi Katteri and Idumba sena,
Let Mannar who is seen every where in the night
Let Kali and all others, who kill us on meeting,
Let Vittan Karar and other ghosts and devils,
Let Thandai Karar and debased humans,
As soon as they hear my name,
Run away as if struck by thunder.

(These are ghosts believed to roam especially at night. Each of them will have story of origin attached to them).
aanai adiyinil arum paavaihaLum (120)

poonai mayirum piLLaihal enpum
nagamum mayirum neeNmudi mandaiyum
paavaigaLudanE pala kalasathudan
manaiyil puthaitha vanjanai thanaiyum
ottiya paavaiyum ottiya serukkum (125)

kaasum paNamum kaavudan sORum
Othum anjanamum oruvali pOkum
adiyanai kandaal alainthu kulainthida
maatran vanjagar vanthu vanangida
kaala thoothaal enai kandaal kalangida (130)

Dolls with spells, placed in our home,
Hairs of cat, bones of babies,
Claws, hairs, skulls with long hairs,
Dolls placed in several pots,
Buried in different parts of the house,
Dolls pierced, pierced shapes,
Coins and money, cooked rice, with vegetables
Spell cast yellow-black balms, which travel in one direction’
Let all these get confused and be afraid on seeing me,
Please make them shiver on seeing me always,
And make strangers and bad men salute me.

(These are supposed to be signs and symbols of black magic done by your enemies).

anji nadungida arandu purandida
vaay vittalari mathi kettOda
padiyinil mutta paasak kayitraal
kattudan angam katharida kattu
katti uruttu kai kaal muriya (135)

Make all of them afraid of me,
Make them roll in the floor out of fear,
May them shout loudly and get mad,
Let them dash their head on my door steps,
Tie them with your Pasa rope,
Tie them tight,
Roll them after tying,
And break their hands and legs.

kattu kattu katharida kattu
muttu muttu muligal pithungida
sekku sekku sethil sethilaaga
sokku sokku soorpagai sokku
kuthu kuthu koorvadi vElaal (140)

patru patru pahalavan thaNaleri
thaNaleri thaNaleri thaNalathuvaaha
viduvidu vElai verundathu Oda.

Tie and tie them, till they loudly cry out,
Dash and dash them till the joints split,
Step on them, step on them, till they break in the mud,
Pierce and pierce them with your Vel.
Catch and catch the fire of the Sun,
Set fire, set fire till they wilt in the fire,
Throw and throw your Vel till they scare and run.

puliyum nariyum punnari naayum
eliyum karadiyum inithodarnthu Oda (145)

thElum paambum seyyaan pooraan
kadivida vishangal kadithuyar angam
Eriya vishangaL eLithudan iRanga

Let the tiger, fox, wolf, rat and bear,
Continue to run away from me,
Let the poisons of scorpion, snake, millipede,
Which has entered in and will stay in my body
After being bitten by them,
Come out of my body with great speed.
polippum sulukkum oruthalai nOyum
vaatham sayithiyam valippu pitham (150)

soolai sayam kunmam sokku sirangu
kudaichal silanthi kudalvi purithi
pakka pilavai padarthodai vaalai
kaduvan paduvan kaithaal silanthi
parkuthu araNai paruvarai yaakkum (155)

yellap piniyum yendranai kandaal
nillaa thOda nee yenak arulvaay

Let wounds, sprains, one sided head ache,
Arthritis, cold fever, fits and bile,
Piles, fistula, carbuncles, strains,
Diseases of intestines, itching of the skin,
Partial paralysis, ring worm, skin ailments,
Biting of cat, dog and spider,
Tooth ache and all the diseases and attacks,
Vanish and run away, As soon as they see me,
Please Lord bless me always so that,
All these do not tarry and run away from me.

eerelula hamum yenak uravaaha
aanum pennum anaivarum yenakkaa
mannaal arasarum mahilnthura vaahavum (160)

Let the seven worlds be my friends,
Let gents and ladies, and kings who rule,
Become my relations with pleasure and happiness.

unnai thuthikka un thiruNaamam
saraHaNa bavaNE saiyoLi bavane
thiripura bavane thigaloLi bavane
paripura bavane pavamoli bavane
arithiru maruhaa amaraa pathiyai (165)

kaathu thEvargal kadum sirai viduthaay
kanthaa guhanE kathir vElavanE
kaarthigai mainthaa kadambaa kadambanai
idumbanaiy aliththa iniyavEl murugaa

Let me praise your holy names,
He who originated from Saravana,
He who originated from flashing light,
He who was born to Tripura,
He who originated from holy sound,
He whose feet is adorned with anklets,
He who severs the cords of attachment,
He who is the nephew of Vishnu and Lakshmi,
He who protected the army of devas,
He who released them from prison,
He who is called Skanda and Guha,
He who holds the resplendent Vel,
He who is the son of Karthika maidens,
He who lives in Kadamba forest,
He who is Muruga with the sweet Vel,
Who defeated Idumba and Kadamba asuras.

(Guha and Muruga are other names for Skanda. When he was born, he took the form of six babies who were looked after by the six Karthika maidens, He loves to live in Kadamba forest. He is supposed to have defeated two asuras called Idumba and Kadamba and made them his devotees).

thaNigaa salanE sangaran puthalvaa (170)

kathirkaa maththuRai kathirvEl murugaa
palaNi pathivaal baala kumaaraa
aavinan kudivaal alagiya vElaa
senthinmaa malaiyuRum sengalvaraayaa
samaraa purivaal shaNmugath arasE (175)
Hey lord who is the son of Lord Shiva,
Hey Lord Muruga, with shining Vel,
Hey Lord, Who lives in Kathirgamam,
Hey young Kumara who lives in the city of Palani,
Hey pretty Vela, who lives in Thiruvavingudi,
Hey, Sengalva raya who lives on Senthil mountains,
Hey king, Shanmuga who lives in Samarapuri,
(Thiruthani, Kathirgamam, Palani, Thiruvavingudi, Senthil Mountains and Samarapuri are famous temples of Skanda. He is also known as Vela and Kumara).
kaarar kulalaaL kalaimagaL nandraay
yennaa irukka yaan unai paada
yenai thodarnthu irukkum yenthai muruhanai
padinEn aadinEn paravasa maaga
aadinEn aadinEn aavinan poothiyey (180)
When the Goddess of knowledge,
With her dark black tresses,
Placed herself on my tongue,
I did sing about you,
And I sang about my father Murugan,
Then Danced, went in to ecstasy,
And sought the company,
Of the great Lord of Thiruvavinkudi.
nEsamudan yaan netriyil aNiya
paasa vinaigal paTRathu neengi
uNpatham peravE unnaruLaaga
anbudan rakshi annamum sonnamum
metha methaaha vElaayu thanaar (185)

sithi petradiyen sirappudan valga.
When I adorned with love, my forehead with your sacred ash,
The ropes attaching me to the fate were untied,
And I reached your feet to attain your grace.
So please protect me with love, give me food and wealth,
Oh Velayudha slowly and gracefully.
Bless me with your grace,
And let me live in a great manner.
vaalga vaalga mayilOn vaalga
vaalga vaalga vadivEl vaalga
vaalga vaalga malai guru vaalga
vaalga vaalga malai kura magaLudan (190)

vaalga vaalga vaarana thuvasam
vaalga vaalga yen varumaigal neenga
Long live, long live, the rider of peacock,
Long live, long live, the holder of Vel,
Long live, long live, the god of mountains,
Long live, long live, he with the mountain girl, Valli.
Long live, long live, he with the flag of a cock,
Long live, long live,
Let my poverty be driven out,
yethanai kuraihal yethanai pilaihal
yethanai adiyen yethanai seythaal
petravan neeguru poruppathu unkadan (195)
petraval kuramahal petravalaamE
pillai yendranbaay piriya malithu
mainthan yenmeethuN manam mahilntharuli
thanjam yendradiyaar thalaithida arulsey
kanthar sashti kavasam virumbiya (200)
You are my father and teacher,
Goddess Valli is my mother,
And it is your duty to pardon,
Any number of errors that I make,
Any number of mistakes that I make,
Without parting away from this your child,
With Happiness love this son of yours,
And give protection to all devotees, who seek,
And love this Skanda Sashti Kavacham.
baalan thEva raayan pagarn thathai
kaalaiyil maalaiyil karuthudan naalum
aasaa rathudan angam thulakki
nEsamudan oru ninaivathu vaahi
kanthar sashti kavasam ithanai (205)

sindhai kalangaathu thiyaani pavarhal
oruNaaL muppathaa ruru kondu
Othiyeh jebithu uhanthu neeraNiya
ashta thikkullOr adangalum vasamaay
thisai mannar yeNmar seyalathu (sernthangu) arulvar (210)
maatralar ellaam vanthu vananguvar
navakOL mahilnthu nanmai alithidum
navamatha nenavum nallelil peruvar
enthanaalum eerettaay vaalvar
kantharkai velaam kavasa thadiyai (215)
Daily in the morning and evening,
All those who clean themselves,
With religious fervor and read,
Thirty six times a day
This Skanda Sashti Kavacham,
Which has been composed,
By the young Deva Rayan,
And meditate on that god with concentration,
And wear the sacred ash,
Will get the great blessings,
Of all the devas from all eight directions,
And the guardians of the eight directions.
All strangers would come and salute them,
The nine planets will become happy,
And shower their blessings,
They would shine in prettiness.
They would happily live on all days,
If they recite this Kavacham,
Which is equivalent to a Vel.
valiyaay kaana meiyaay vilangum
viliyaal kaana verundidum peigal
pollathavarai podi podi yaakkum
nallOr ninaivil nadanam puriyum
sarva sathuru sankaa rathadi (220)
If seen as a way, this Kavacham would show the truth,
If seen of Ghosts by their eyes, they will get scared,
It would powder bad people,
And the good people would dance with joy,
And all their enemies will be exterminated
arinthena ullaam ashta letchmihalil
veera letchmikku virun thuNavaaha
soora pathmaavai thuNithagai yathanaal
irupa thEvarkku uvan thamuthalitha
guruparan palani kundrinil irukkum (225)

chinna kulanthai sEvadi pOtri
Oh Lord, Let my mind that has understood you,
Pray Veera Lakshmi among the Ashta Lakshmis
My salutations to the feet of Small baby of Palani,
Whose hands killed Soora Padman,
Who gave deathless nectar for the twenty-seven,
And who is my teacher on the Palani Mountain
yenai thadu thaatkola yendrana thullum
mEviya vadivurum vElavaa pOtri
thEvargal sEnaa pathiyE pOtri
kuramagal manamahil kOvE pOtri (230)
Salutations to the Skanda with the Vel
Who has occupied my mind,
So that I am always His,
Salutations to commander of the devas
Salutations to the darling of Valli,
Who is the daughter of a mountain tribe.
He whose form is strong and dazzling, Praise be to Thee!
He who conquered Idumba, Praise be to Thee!
thiramihu thivya thEgaa pOtri
idumbaa yuthanE idumbaa pOtri
kadambaa pOtri kanthaa pOtri
vetchi punaiyum vELE pOtri
uyargiri kanaga sabaikOr arasE (235)
Salutations to the ablest of Gods,
Who has a very holy form,
Salutation to him, who conquered Idumba,
Salutations to him who wears Kadamba flowers
Salutations to him who is Kanda,
Salutations to the Vel which wears Vetchi flowers,
Salutations to the king of the golden hall of the mountain.
mayilnada miduvOy malaradi saranam
saranam saranam saravanabava Om
saranam saranam shanmugaa saranam
saranam saranam shanmugaa saranam (238)
I surrender to flowery feet of my Lord,
Who travels on the peacock,
I surrender, surrender and surrender to the Saravanabhava,
I surrender, surrender and surrender to the Shanmuga.