Mrityunjaya Kavacham
मृत्युंजय कवचम्
Protective hymn invoking Shiva’s power over death.
Deity: Shiva (Mrityunjaya)
Composer: Puranic source (Markandeya Purana)
Dhyāna Ślokāḥ (Meditation Verses)
Preliminary verses often recited for focus and invocation.
ॐ अस्य श्रीमहामृत्युञ्जयकवचस्य श्रीभैरव ऋषिः, गायत्री छन्दः, श्रीमहामृत्युञ्जयो देवता, ॐ बीजं, जूं शक्तिः, सः कीलकं, हौं तत्त्वं, चतुर्वर्गसाधने विनियोगः ॥
Transliteration
om asya śrīmahāmṛtyuñjayakavacasya śrībhairava ṛṣiḥ, gāyatrī chandaḥ, śrīmahāmṛtyuñjayo devatā, oṃ bījaṃ, jūṃ śaktiḥ, saḥ kīlakaṃ, hauṃ tattvaṃ, caturvargasādhane viniyogaḥ ||
Meaning: Om. Of this great Mrityunjaya armor (kavacha), the sage is Bhairava, the meter is Gayatri, the deity is Mahamrityunjaya. Om is the seed (bija), Juṁ is the power (shakti), Saḥ is the pin (kilaka), Hauṁ is the principle (tattva). It is employed for achieving the four goals of human life (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha).
Main Verses
Click on each verse number to view the Sanskrit text, transliteration, and its meaning.
ध्यायेन्नित्यं महेशं रजतगिरिनिभं चारुचन्द्रावतंसं
रत्नाकल्पोज्ज्वलाङ्गं परशुमृगवराभीतिहस्तं प्रसन्नम् ।
पद्मासीनं समन्तात् स्तुतममरगणैर्व्याघ्रकृत्तिं वसानं
विश्वाद्यं विश्ववन्द्यं निखिलभयहरं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रम् ॥
रत्नाकल्पोज्ज्वलाङ्गं परशुमृगवराभीतिहस्तं प्रसन्नम् ।
पद्मासीनं समन्तात् स्तुतममरगणैर्व्याघ्रकृत्तिं वसानं
विश्वाद्यं विश्ववन्द्यं निखिलभयहरं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रम् ॥
Transliteration
dhyāyennityaṃ maheśaṃ rajatagirinibhaṃ cārucandrāvataṃsaṃ ratnākalpojjvalāṅgaṃ paraśumṛgavarābhītihastaṃ prasannam | padmāsīnaṃ samantāt stutamamargaṇairvyāghrakṛttiṃ vasānaṃ viśvādyaṃ viśvavandyaṃ nikhilabhayaharaṃ pañcavaktraṃ trinetram ||
Meaning: One should always meditate on Mahesh, who is like a silver mountain, beautifully adorned with the crescent moon; whose body shines with jeweled ornaments, holding a battle-axe, a deer, and showing gestures of granting boons and fearlessness; seated on a lotus, praised all around by hosts of gods, wearing a tiger skin; the origin of the universe, worshipped by the universe, the remover of all fears, with five faces and three eyes.