Hanuman Kavacham
Hanuman Kavacham
Hanuman Kavacham
śrī hanumatkavacam
asya śrī hanumat kavacastotramahāmantrasya vasiṣṭha ṛṣiḥ anuṣṭup chandaḥ śrī hanumān devatā mārutātmaja iti bījaṃ añjanāsūnuriti śaktiḥ vāyuputra iti kīlakaṃ hanumatprasāda siddhyarthe jape viniyogaḥ ||
ullaṅghya sindhossalilaṃ salīlaṃ
yaśśokavahniṃ janakātmajāyāḥ |
ādāya tenaiva dadāha laṅkāṃ
namāmi taṃ prāñjalirāñjaneyam || 1
manojavaṃ mārutatulyavegaṃ
jitendriyaṃ buddhimatāṃ variṣṭham |
vātātmajaṃ vānarayūthamukhyaṃ
śrīrāmadūtaṃ śirasā namāmi || 2
udyadādityasaṅkāśaṃ udārabhujavikramam |
kandarpakoṭilāvaṇyaṃ sarvavidyāviśāradam || 3
śrīrāmahṛdayānandaṃ bhaktakalpamahīruham |
abhayaṃ varadaṃ dorbhyāṃ kalaye mārutātmajam || 4
śrīrāma rāma rāmeti rame rāme manorame |
sahasranāma tattulyaṃ rāmanāma varānane || 5
pādau vāyusutaḥ pātu rāmadūtastadaṅgulīḥ |
gulphau harīśvaraḥ pātu jaṅghe cārṇavalaṅghanaḥ || 6
jānunī mārutiḥ pātu ūrū pātvasurāntakaḥ |
guhyaṃ vajratanuḥ pātu jaghanaṃ tu jagaddhitaḥ || 7
āñjaneyaḥ kaṭiṃ pātu nābhiṃ saumitrijīvanaḥ |
udaraṃ pātu hṛdgehī hṛdayaṃ ca mahābalaḥ || 8
vakṣo vālāyudhaḥ pātu stanau cā'mitavikramaḥ |
pārśvau jitendriyaḥ pātu bāhū sugrīvamantrakṛt || 9
karāvakṣa jayī pātu hanumāṃśca tadaṅgulīḥ |
pṛṣṭhaṃ bhaviṣyadrbahmā ca skandhau mati matāṃ varaḥ || 10
kaṇṭhaṃ pātu kapiśreṣṭho mukhaṃ rāvaṇadarpahā |
vaktraṃ ca vaktṛpravaṇo netre devagaṇastutaḥ || 11
brahmāstrasanmānakaro bhruvau me pātu sarvadā |
kāmarūpaḥ kapole me phālaṃ vajranakho'vatu || 12
śiro me pātu satataṃ jānakīśokanāśanaḥ |
śrīrāmabhaktapravaraḥ pātu sarvakalebaram || 13
māmahni pātu sarvajñaḥ pātu rātrau mahāyaśāḥ |
vivasvadantevāsī ca sandhyayoḥ pātu sarvadā || 14
brahmādidevatādattavaraḥ pātu nirantaram |
ya idaṃ kavacaṃ nityaṃ paṭhecca śṛṇuyānnaraḥ || 15
dīrghamāyuravāpnoti balaṃ dṛṣṭiṃ ca vindati |
pādākrāntā bhaviṣyanti paṭhatastasya śatravaḥ |
sthirāṃ sukīrtimārogyaṃ labhate śāśvataṃ sukham || 16
iti nigaditavākyavṛtta tubhyaṃ
sakalamapi svayamāñjaneya vṛttam |
api nijajanarakṣaṇaikadīkṣo
vaśaga tadīya mahāmanuprabhāvaḥ || 17
iti śrī 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