Shri Narasimha Kavacham (Prahlada-Krita): Full Text, Meaning & Benefits
Shri Narasimha Kavacham - Sanskrit Text
नृसिंहकवचं वक्ष्ये प्रह्लादेनोदितं पुरा ।
सर्वरक्षाकरं पुण्यं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम् ॥
सर्वसम्पत्करं चैव स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायकम् ।
ध्यात्वा नृसिंहं देवेशं हेमसिंहासनस्थितम् ॥
विवृतास्यं त्रिनयनं शरदिन्दुसमप्रभम् ।
लक्ष्म्यालिङ्गितवामाङ्गं विभूतिभिरुपाश्रितम् ॥
चतुर्भुजं कोमलाङ्गं स्वर्णकुण्डलशोभितम् ।
उरोजशोभितोरस्कं रत्नकेयूरमुद्रितम् ॥
तप्तकाञ्चनसङ्काशं पीतनिर्मलवाससम् ।
इन्द्रादिसुरमौलिस्थस्फुरन्माणिक्यदीप्तिभिः ॥
विराजितपदद्वन्द्वं शङ्खचक्रादिहेतिभिः ।
गरुत्मता च विनयात् स्तूयमानं मुदान्वितम् ॥
स्वहृत्कमलसंवासं कृत्वा तु कवचं पठेत् ।
नृसिंहो मे शिरः पातु लोकरक्षात्मसम्भवः ॥
सर्वगोऽपि स्तम्भवासः फालं मे रक्षतु ध्वनन् ।
नृसिंहो मे दृशौ पातु सोमसूर्याग्निलोचनः ॥
स्मृतिं मे पातु नरहरिर्मुनिवर्यस्तुतिप्रियः ।
नासां मे सिंहनासास्तु मुखं लक्ष्मीमुखप्रियः ॥
सर्वविद्याधिपः पातु नृसिंहो रसनां मम ।
वक्त्रं पात्विन्दुवदनः सदा प्रह्लादवन्दितः ॥
नृसिंहः पातु मे कण्ठं स्कन्धौ भूभरणान्तकृत् ।
दिव्यास्त्रशोभितभुजो नृसिंहः पातु मे भुजौ ॥
करौ मे देववरदो नृसिंहः पातु सर्वतः ।
हृदयं योगिसाध्यश्च निवासं पातु मे हरिः ॥
मध्यं पातु हिरण्याक्षवक्षःकुक्षिविदारणः ।
नाभिं मे पातु नृहरिः स्वनाभिब्रह्मसंस्तुतः ॥
ब्रह्माण्डकोटयः कट्यां यस्यासौ पातु मे कटिम् ।
गुह्यं मे पातु गुह्यानां मन्त्राणां गुह्यरूपधृत् ॥
ऊरू मनोभवः पातु जानुनी नररूपधृत् ।
जङ्घे पातु धराभारहर्ता योऽसौ नृकेसरी ॥
सुरराज्यप्रदः पातु पादौ मे नृहरीश्वरः ।
सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः पातु मे सर्वशस्तनुम् ॥
महोग्रः पूर्वतः पातु महावीराग्रजोऽग्नितः ।
महाविष्णुर्दक्षिणे तु महाज्वालस्तु नैरृतौ ॥
पश्चिमे पातु सर्वेशो दिशि मे सर्वतोमुखः ।
नृसिंहः पातु वायव्यां सौम्यां भूषणविग्रहः ॥
ईशान्यां पातु भद्रो मे सर्वमङ्गलदायकः ।
संसारभयदः पातु मृत्योर्मृत्युर्नृकेसरी ॥
इदं नृसिंहकवचं प्रह्लादमुखमण्डितम् ।
भक्तिमान् यः पठेन्नित्यं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥
पुत्रवान् धनवान् लोके दीर्घायुरुपजायते ।
यं यं कामयते कामं तं तं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम् ॥
सर्वत्र जयमाप्नोति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत् ।
भूम्यन्तरिक्षदिव्यानां ग्रहाणां विनिवारणम् ॥
वृश्चिकोरगसम्भूतविषापहरणं परम् ।
ब्रह्मराक्षसयक्षाणां दूरोत्सारणकारणम् ॥
भूर्जे वा तालपत्रे वा कवचं लिखितं शुभम् ।
करमूले धृतं येन सिद्ध्येयुः कर्मसिद्धयः ॥
देवासुरमनुष्येषु स्वं स्वमेव जयं लभेत् ।
एकसन्ध्यं त्रिसन्ध्यं वा यः पठेन्नियतो नरः ॥
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च विन्दति ।
द्वात्रिंशतिसहस्राणि पठेच्छुद्धात्मभिर्नृभिः ॥
कवचस्यास्य मन्त्रस्य मन्त्रसिद्धिः प्रजायते ।
अनेन मन्त्रराजेन कृत्वा भस्माभिमन्त्रणम् ॥
तिलकं बिभृयाद्यस्तु तस्य ग्रहभयं हरेत् ।
त्रिवारं जपमानस्तु दत्तं वार्यभिमन्त्र्य च ॥
प्राशयेद्यो नरो मन्त्रं नृसिंहध्यानमाचरेत् ।
तस्य रोगाः प्रणश्यन्ति ये च स्युः कुक्षिसम्भवाः ॥
किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन नृसिंहसदृशो भवेत् ।
मनसा चिन्तितं यस्तु स तच्चाप्नोत्यसंशयम् ॥
गर्जन्तं गर्जयन्तं निजभुजपटलं स्फोटयन्तं हरन्तं
दीप्यन्तं तापयन्तं दिवि भुवि दितिजं क्षेपयन्तं रसन्तम् ।
क्रन्दन्तं रोषयन्तं दिशि दिशि सततं संहरन्तं भरन्तं
वीक्षन्तं घूर्णयन्तं करनिकरशतैर्दिव्यसिंहं नमामि ॥
॥ इति प्रह्लादप्रोक्तं श्रीनृसिंहकवचं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
nṛsiṃha-kavacaṃ vakṣye prahlādenoditaṃ purā,
sarva-rakṣā-karaṃ puṇyaṃ sarvopadrava-nāśanam …
(The kavacha opens by introducing Prahlada’s armour, describes the meditation on Narasimha enthroned, then invokes his protection over every part of the body and every direction, and closes with the magnificent garjantaṃ garjayantam verse and the colophon declaring the armour, as spoken by Prahlada, complete. The full IAST follows the Devanagari line by line.)
Meaning
“I shall recite the armour of Narasimha, told of old by Prahlada - bestower of all protection, holy, destroyer of every calamity, granter of all wealth, of heaven and of liberation.” After meditating on the man-lion enthroned in gold, three-eyed, radiant as the autumn moon, embraced on his left by Lakshmi, four-armed and adorned with jewels, the devotee prays that Narasimha guard his head, brow, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, throat, arms, hands, heart, navel, waist, thighs, knees, shins and feet - and stand guard in all eight directions. The kavacha promises that one who recites it daily is freed from all sins, gains progeny, wealth and long life, conquers everywhere, is shielded from planetary affliction, snake and scorpion venom, and from brahma-rakshasas. It ends bowing to the divine lion who roars, blazes, scorches and destroys the demon hosts.
About this Stotra
The Narasimha Kavacham is a celebrated “armour” (kavacha) hymn attributed to Prahlada, the boy-devotee saved by Lord Narasimha. A kavacha is a protective litany that mentally clothes the devotee in the deity’s presence, invoking guardianship over each limb and direction (an anga-nyasa and dik-rakshana structure). Traditionally drawn from the Brahmanda Purana, it is one of the most powerful protective texts in the Vaishnava canon and is recited or worn (written on birch-bark or palm-leaf and tied to the arm) for comprehensive defence.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
This kavacha is the supreme shield-prayer of the Narasimha tradition. Daily recitation is said to free the chanter from sins, grant children, wealth, and longevity, secure victory in all endeavours, and ward off the affliction of malefic planets, poison from snakes and scorpions, and attacks by brahma-rakshasas, yakshas, and evil spirits. The text itself prescribes that written on bark and worn on the arm it brings success in all works, and that consecrating ash (bhasma) with the mantra and applying it as a tilak removes the fear of grahas and cures stomach ailments. It is, in essence, a complete spiritual armour.
Astrological Relevance
The kavacha explicitly names protection from “the planets of earth, sky and heaven” (bhūmy-antarikṣa-divyānāṃ grahāṇāṃ vinivāraṇam), making it a direct remedy for graha-dosha - affliction by Rahu, Ketu, Shani (Saturn), Mangal (Mars), and the cruel grahas. It is prescribed during difficult Rahu-Ketu periods, Saturn’s sade-sati, Mars-driven conflict and accident yogas, and for protection against drishti-dosha (evil eye) and abhichara (black magic). Its promise of long life and freedom from sudden death ties it to remedies for Maraka and eighth-house afflictions. The consecrated-ash tilak it describes is a classic Jyotisha-grade protective remedy.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Bathe and sit before Lord Narasimha facing east, with a ghee or sesame-oil lamp. First meditate on the form of Narasimha as the kavacha describes (golden, three-eyed, four-armed, with Lakshmi). Then recite the armour slowly, ideally once at dawn (eka-sandhya) or thrice daily (tri-sandhya) as the text recommends, with steady concentration. For intensified protection, the text mentions 32,000 repetitions for mantra-siddhi. The kavacha may also be written and worn as an amulet by the sincere.
Best Day & Time
Saturday and the twilight (pradosha) hour are traditionally favoured for Narasimha worship, recalling the dusk of his appearance. Narasimha Jayanti (Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi) is the most auspicious day. Dawn and dusk sandhya periods are the prescribed times for daily recitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Narasimha Kavacham?
It is traditionally attributed to Prahlada, the devotee-prince protected by Lord Narasimha, and is drawn from the Puranic tradition (commonly the Brahmanda Purana).
What is a “kavacha”?
A kavacha is a protective armour-hymn that invokes the deity’s guardianship over each part of the body and each direction, mentally enveloping the devotee in divine protection.
Can the Narasimha Kavacham be worn as an amulet?
Yes - the text itself states that when written on birch-bark or palm-leaf and tied to the arm, it brings success in all undertakings and comprehensive protection.
Prahlada's armour: devotion that becomes protection
The Narasimha Kavacham holds a singular place in the landscape of protective Sanskrit hymns. According to the tradition, it was revealed to the child-devotee Prahlada himself - the one whose unshakeable love for Vishnu provoked the very theophany (the bursting of Narasimha, the Man-Lion, from the pillar) that the Kavacham subsequently invokes for protection. There is a beautiful circularity in this: the devotion that summoned Narasimha is now encoded into a text that summons him again, verse by verse, to stand guard at every limb, every direction, every threshold of the devotee's life. The Kavacham (literally an armour or shield) is thus understood not simply as a prayer but as a living spiritual presence, capable of establishing Narasimha's protective energy in and around the one who recites it with sincerity and correct vidhi.
In the Jyotish tradition, Narasimha Kavacham is among the most widely recommended texts for addressing graha-dosha - the challenging planetary configurations that can create illness, enmity, or psychic disturbance - and for protection against negative energies more broadly. It is traditionally recited on the Chaturdashi (fourteenth lunar day), on Narasimha Jayanti, and on any occasion when the devotee feels the need for a firm spiritual protection. Devotees believe that the text, when recited with a steady mind and genuine trust, creates what the tradition calls a kavacha - an invisible armour that neither circumstance nor hostile force can penetrate. Even those who simply listen to its recitation with reverence are considered to receive a measure of its grace.