Hanuman Kavacham
Hanuman Kavacham
zrI hanumatkavacam
asya zrI hanumat kavacastotramahAmantrasya vasiSTha RSiH anuSTup chandaH zrI hanumAn devatA mArutAtmaja iti bIjaM aJjanAsUnuriti zaktiH vAyuputra iti kIlakaM hanumatprasAda siddhyarthe jape viniyogaH ||
ullaGghya sindhossalilaM salIlaM
yazzokavahniM janakAtmajAyAH |
AdAya tenaiva dadAha laGkAM
namAmi taM prAJjalirAJjaneyam || 1
manojavaM mArutatulyavegaM
jitendriyaM buddhimatAM variSTham |
vAtAtmajaM vAnarayUthamukhyaM
zrIrAmadUtaM zirasA namAmi || 2
udyadAdityasaGkAzaM udArabhujavikramam |
kandarpakoTilAvaNyaM sarvavidyAvizAradam || 3
zrIrAmahRdayAnandaM bhaktakalpamahIruham |
abhayaM varadaM dorbhyAM kalaye mArutAtmajam || 4
zrIrAma rAma rAmeti rame rAme manorame |
sahasranAma tattulyaM rAmanAma varAnane || 5
pAdau vAyusutaH pAtu rAmadUtastadaGgulIH |
gulphau harIzvaraH pAtu jaGghe cArNavalaGghanaH || 6
jAnunI mArutiH pAtu UrU pAtvasurAntakaH |
guhyaM vajratanuH pAtu jaghanaM tu jagaddhitaH || 7
AJjaneyaH kaTiM pAtu nAbhiM saumitrijIvanaH |
udaraM pAtu hRdgehI hRdayaM ca mahAbalaH || 8
vakSo vAlAyudhaH pAtu stanau cA'mitavikramaH |
pArzvau jitendriyaH pAtu bAhU sugrIvamantrakRt || 9
karAvakSa jayI pAtu hanumAMzca tadaGgulIH |
pRSThaM bhaviSyadrbahmA ca skandhau mati matAM varaH || 10
kaNThaM pAtu kapizreSTho mukhaM rAvaNadarpahA |
vaktraM ca vaktRpravaNo netre devagaNastutaH || 11
brahmAstrasanmAnakaro bhruvau me pAtu sarvadA |
kAmarUpaH kapole me phAlaM vajranakho'vatu || 12
ziro me pAtu satataM jAnakIzokanAzanaH |
zrIrAmabhaktapravaraH pAtu sarvakalebaram || 13
mAmahni pAtu sarvajJaH pAtu rAtrau mahAyazAH |
vivasvadantevAsI ca sandhyayoH pAtu sarvadA || 14
brahmAdidevatAdattavaraH pAtu nirantaram |
ya idaM kavacaM nityaM paThecca zRNuyAnnaraH || 15
dIrghamAyuravApnoti balaM dRSTiM ca vindati |
pAdAkrAntA bhaviSyanti paThatastasya zatravaH |
sthirAM sukIrtimArogyaM labhate zAzvataM sukham || 16
iti nigaditavAkyavRtta tubhyaM
sakalamapi svayamAJjaneya vRttam |
api nijajanarakSaNaikadIkSo
vazaga tadIya mahAmanuprabhAvaH || 17
iti zrI hanumat kavacam ||
About This Stotram
Overview
The Hanuman Kavacham is a Sanskrit protective hymn (kavacham) invoking Lord Hanuman's power to shield the reciter from harm. A kavacham ("armor") is a specific genre of devotional text in which the deity is invoked to protect each part of the devotee's body and all directions. This kavacham follows that structure, drawing on Hanuman's epithets and deeds from the Ramayana to establish his protective presence. The text belongs to the Tantric-Puranic devotional tradition.
What are the benefits of chanting Hanuman Kavacham?
- Recitation is held to create a protective barrier against physical danger and negative forces
- Said to bestow courage and strength for facing adversity
- Associated with overcoming enemies and obstacles
- Used when undertaking difficult or dangerous tasks
When is the best time to recite this?
Morning recitation before undertaking challenging activities is traditional. Hanuman Jayanti and Tuesday and Saturday mornings are the most auspicious times. The kavacham is also recited in times of fear, illness, or perceived danger as a direct protective measure.
What is the historical and traditional background?
Kavachams are among the most widely composed genres in Hindu devotional literature, with examples dedicated to virtually every major deity. They are typically structured with an invocation (vinayoga), followed by the protective assignment of the deity to each limb and direction. The Hanuman Kavacham belongs to this tradition; its specific authorship and date are not documented. The practice of composing Hanuman kavachams reflects the widespread belief in Hanuman's protective power, which is grounded in the Sundara Kanda of the Ramayana and elaborated in Puranic accounts.
Available scripts
This text is available in 14 scripts: devanagari, tamil, telugu, kannada, malayalam, gujarati, bengali, iast, gurmukhi, oriya, assamese, sinhala, itrans, hk. Use the script selector above to switch between them.
Related Texts
- Hanuman Chalisa — the most widely recited Hanuman hymn, by Tulsidas, used alongside the kavacham for devotional practice
- Bajrang Baan — a Hindi Hanuman hymn also used for urgent protective invocation