Skanda Sashti Kavacham
(Armour of Skanda Sashti)
By Deva Raya Swamigal
Translated to English by P.R.Ramachander
(Armour of Skanda Sashti)
By Deva Raya Swamigal
Translated to English by P.R.Ramachander
“Kanda Shasti Kavasam is composed by Deva raya Swamigal. This is a rare and valuable treasure that helps one to be successful in day-to-day life.
In Kanda Sasti Kavacham the author prays to Lord Muruga to shower His grace. It is certain that by regular chanting of this kavacham all the predicaments of life are resolved. People without children will enjoy... Prosperity and plenty will abound. Peace will prevail at home. The devotee who reads it will enjoy every good fortune under the sun. As a warrior going to battle puts on armour to protect himself, the Kanda Sasti Kavacham also helps one to be safe in day-to-day life”
A few words about Sashti
Sashti is the day the Lord Subramanya defeated the demon Soora padma and saved
the Earth from his evils. When the devas couldn't tolerate the evil doings of
this demon, they approached the younger son of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. The kind
Lord went on a war against Soorapadman. The war was waged for six days, at the
end of which the Lord vanquished the asura. He threw his weapon at him and
Soorapadman was split into two halves. One half became a peacock, which He took
as His vaahana. The other became a cock and was transformed into his flag.
The devas, who were tormented by Soorapadman, rejoiced - they praised the Lord
and prayed to him for six days. Devotees usually narrate the kanda sashti
kavacham, during this period. Whoever fasts for these six days of Skanda Sashti
and prays to Lord Muruga steadfastly, it is said that they would get the
blessings of Lord Muruga. Those who are unable to fast for a whole day for a
six-day duration can eat just one meal during this period.
Kural Venpa
Thuthiporkku Val vinai pom, Thunpam pom,
Nenjil pathiporkku selvam palithu kadithongum
Nishtayum kaikoodum
Nimalar Arul kanthar sashti kavacham thanai
Prayer
The sufferings great and sorrow 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.
Kaappu
amarar idar theera amaram purintha
kumaranadi nenjeh kuri.
Protection
Mind, oh mine, and meditate
On the feet of that Young God,
Who waged the war,
To end the problems of devas, great.
The Kavacham
sashtiyai nokka Saravana bavanaar
sishtarukku uthavum sengkathir velon
paatham irandil panmani sathangai
geetham paada kinkini yaada
maiya nadam seiyum Mayil vahananaar
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.
Kaiyil velaalenai kakkavendru vandhu
vara vara velaayudhanar varuga
varuga varuga mayilon varuga
indhiran mudhalaa yendisai potra
mandhira vadi vel varuga varuga
Please come with Vel in your hand to protect me,
Please come, please come, Holder of Vel, please come,
Please come, please come, He who rides on the peacock, please come,
Let the magical Vel which is praised by Indra and all those,
Living in eight directions, please come, please come.
Kaiyil velaal yenaik kaakka vendr uvanthu
varavara velah yuthanaar varuha
varuha varuha mayilon varuha
inthiran mudhalaa yendisai potra
manthira vadi vel varuha varuha
Having thought to protect me by the Vel in your hand,
Come, come Oh, boon giving Hero with the Vel,
Come, come, he who rides the peacock, come,
Come the Commander in Chief of Indra, come,
With all the eight directions singing your fame,
And please come, come, he who has the magical Vel.
Vaasavan maruhaa varuha varuha
nesak kuramahal ninaivon varuha
aarumuham padaitha aiyaa varuha
neeridum velavan nitham varuha
sirahiri velavan seekkiram varuha
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.
Saravana bavanaar saduthiyil varuha
rahana bavasa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
rihana bavasa ri ri ri ri ri ri ri
vinabava sarahana veeraa namo nama
nibava sarahana nira nira nirena
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 hanabava varuha varuha
asurar kudi kedutha aiyaa varuha
yennai yaalum ilaiyon kaiyil
pannirendu aayutham paasaan gusamum
parantha vizhihal pannirandu ilanga
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)
Virainthu yenaik kaakka velon varuha
aiyum kiliyum adaivudan sauvum
uyyoli sauvum uyiraiyum kiliyum
kiliyum sauvum kilaroli yaiyum
nilai petrenmun nithamum olirum
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)
Shanmuhan neeyum thaniyoli yovvum
kundaliyaam Siva guhan thinam varuha
aaru muhamum animudi aarum
neeridu netriyum neenda puruvamum
panniru kannum pavalach chevvaayum
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 navamanich chuttiyum
eeraaru seviyil ilahu kundalamum
aariru thinpuyathu azhahiya maarbil
palboo shanamum pathakkamum tharithu
nanmanipoonda navarathna maalaiyum
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 muthani maarbum
sepppazhahudaiya thiruvayir unthiyum
thuvanda marungil sudaroli pattum
nava rathnam pathitha nartchee raavum
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.
Thiruvadi yathanil silamboli muzhanga
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
vinthu vinthu mayilon vinthu
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
yenthanai yaalum yehraha selva
mainthan vehndum varamahizhnth thuthavum
laalaa laalaa laalaa vehshamum
leelaa leelaa leelaa vinothanendru
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 yendrennum
yen thalai vaithun yinaiyadi kaaka
yennuyirk uyiraam iraivan kaaka
panniru vizhiyaal baalanaik kaaka
adiyen vathanam azhahuvel kaaka
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 netriyaip punithavel kaaka
Kadhirvel irandu kanninaik kaaka
vithisevi irandum velavar kaaka
naasihal irandum nalvel kaaka
pesiya vaaythanai peruvel kaaka
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.
Muppathirupal munaivel kaaka
seppiya naavai sevvel kaaka
kannam irandum Kadhirvel kaaka
yennilang kazhuthai iniyavel kaaka
maarbai irathna vadi vel kaaka
Let your sharp Vel protect my thirty-two teeth,
Let your perfect Vel protect my tongue, which tells,
Let you’re shining Vel protect my two cheeks,
Let your sweet Vel protect my tender neck,
Let your gem studded Vel protect my chest.