MatajiAncient (Markandeya Purana)
श्रीदेव्यः कवचम् (प्रारम्भ)
Devi Kavacham — Opening
By Markandeya Rishi · संस्कृत
॥ શ્રી દુર્ગાયૈ નમઃ ॥
Shri Durgayai Namah
श्रीदेव्यः कवचम् (प्रारम्भ)
Devi Kavacham — Opening
By Markandeya Rishi
संस्कृत · Ancient (Markandeya Purana) · Kavach
~1 min readShakta tradition
A kavach (armour) hymn from the Durga Saptashati of the Markandeya Purana. It calls the Goddess in each of her forms to guard a different side and sense. A staple of Navratri worship and of the daily practice of Devi's devotees.
- Author
- Markandeya Rishi
- Language
- संस्कृत
- Literary form
- Kavach
- Century
- Ancient (Markandeya Purana)
- Tradition
- Shakta tradition
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ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै॥ मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥ ॐ यद्गुह्यं परमं लोके सर्वरक्षाकरं नृणाम्। यन्न कस्यचिदाख्यातं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
Meaning
Om, salutations to Chandika. Markandeya said: 'O Grandsire, tell me that supreme secret in the world which grants complete protection to all people — that which has never been disclosed to anyone.' So begins the Devi Kavacham, the 'armour of the Goddess'.
Devotional companion
About
A kavach (armour) hymn from the Durga Saptashati of the Markandeya Purana. It calls the Goddess in each of her forms to guard a different side and sense. A staple of Navratri worship and of the daily practice of Devi's devotees.
Meaning
The 'armour of the Goddess' — a protective hymn invoking the Divine Mother to guard every direction.
In depth
Om, salutations to Chandika. Markandeya said: 'O Grandsire, tell me that supreme secret in the world which grants complete protection to all people — that which has never been disclosed to anyone.' So begins the Devi Kavacham, the 'armour of the Goddess'.
History & context
The Devi Kavacham is part of the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmya) within the Markandeya Purana. A 'kavach' (armour) hymn, it invokes the Goddess in her many forms to guard the devotee from every direction, and is recited especially during Navratri.
Why people recite it
Recited through Navratri, on Fridays, and in times of fear or threat, as an appeal for the Goddess's complete, encircling protection.
Life lessons
- Feeling protected changes how boldly we can live. The hymn offers not a wall against the world but the courage to face it, held.
Key themes
DeviDurgaProtectionSaptashatiNavratriDevi MatajiName Chanting
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Source & trust
Public domain
- Attribution
- Markandeya Rishi
- Language
- संस्कृत · Ancient (Markandeya Purana)
- Source
- Public domain — Markandeya Purana, Devi Mahatmya.
- Text edition
- Public domain — Devi Kavacham, Markandeya Purana.
Devotional commentary and life lessons are editorial reflections. Historical details are limited to well-documented facts; devotional belief is labelled as tradition, never presented as proven history.