Shanmuga Kavasam
(Armour of Lord with six faces)
By Pamban Kumara Guru Dasa Swamigal
Translated by P.R.Ramachander
(Armour of Lord with six faces)
By Pamban Kumara Guru Dasa Swamigal
Translated by P.R.Ramachander
(Pamban Swamigal was a great saivite saint belonging to Rameswaram and lived during the later half of 19th century. He was a great Tamil scholar and a great devotee of Lord Subrahmanya. He has written several works in praise of God.
Andamayi avaniyagi,, Ariyona porulathagi,
Thondargal guruvumagi, Thugalaru deivamagi,
Endisai potha nindra,, ennarul isan aana,
Thindiral saravanathan, dinamum yen sirasai kaakka.
May my head be protected daily by the gracious Lord of Saravana* stream,
Who has become the sphere of the universe which includes all worlds,
Who is the eternal truth which is beyond our limited knowledge,
Who became the one who teaches all his devotees,
Who became the flawless and ever pure Godhead,
Who stood being praised by all in the eight directions,
And who also became my God showering his grace on me.
* The sparks which emanated from the third eye of Lord Shiva fell
In the Saravana stream and turned in to six babies. Parvathi took
They all together and they became a baby with six faces.
Aadhiyam Kayilai chelvan, Ani netthi thanai kaakka,
Thadavizh kadappa thaaraan, thaniru noodalai kaakka,
Chodhiyaam thanigai eesan, thurisila vizhiyai kaakka,
Nadhanaam Karthigeyan, nasiyai nayandu kaakka.
May the primeval Lad of Mount Kailas, protect my pretty forehead,
May the wearer of the fragrant garland of Kadamba flowers protect my eye brows.
May the effulgent lord of Thiru thani, protect my clear and spotless eyes,
May the Lord who is Karthigeya* protect my nose with willingness.
* As soon as he was born he was looked after by 6 Karthigai maidens.
Hence he is called Karthigeya
Irusevi kalayum Chevvel, iyalpudan kaakka vayai,
Murugavel kaakka naa ppalmuzhudum nal kumaran kaakka,
Thuricharu kaduppai yanai thundanaar tunaivar kaakka,
Thiruvudan pidari thannai Shiva Subramanian kaakka.
The holder of the red spear who protects my twin ears,
May very naturally protect my mouth also,
May the very pretty holder of spear protect my tongue,
May all my teeth be protected by the good lad Kumara,
May my spotless cheeks be protected by younger brother,
Of the God who has a face like an elephant,
And may my back of the neck be protected by Shiva Subrahmanya.
Eesanam vaguleyan yenadu ugandarathai kakka,
Thegaru thol vilavum thirumagal marugan kaaka,
Aasila marbai eeraru aayudhan kakka, yendran,
Yesila muzhangai thannai , ezhil kurinjikkon kakka.
May my neck be protected by the God Bahuleya,
May my ribs and shoulders be protected by nephew of Goddess Lakshmi,
May my flawless chest be protected by he who wears twelve weapons,
May my unblemished elbows be protected by the king of Kurinji* land.
*Land in the hills
Uruthiyayi mun kai thannai, Umayin madalai kaakka,
Tharukan yeridave yen kaithalathai maa Murugan kaakka,
Puran kaiyai ayilon kaakka, porikkara viralgal pathum,
Pirangu maal marugan kaakka, pin mudugai chey kaakka.
May my forearms be protected and made strong by baby of Parvathi,
May the great Muruga protect my palms in full and make them mighty,
May the back of my hands be protected by the holder of the spear-Vel,
May all my ten fingers which are needed be protected by nephew of Vishnu,
And May my back be protected by the divine baby.
OOn nirai vayithai manjai oordhiyon kaakka, vambuth,
Thol nimir suresan undhi chuzhiyinai kaakka, Kuyya,
Naninay angi Gowri nandanan kaakka, bheeja,
Aaniyai Kandan kaakka, arumugan kudathai kaakka.
May my belly full of flesh, be protected by him who rides the peacock,
May the Lord of devas with upright shoulders protect my belly button,
May the son of Parvathy born from sparks protect my private parts,
May the great Lord Skanda protect the carrier of my sperms,
And May my anus be protected by the God with six faces.
Yenchidathu uduppai velukku iraivanar kaakka, kaakka,
Anchakanam orirandum aaran magan kaakka, kaakka,
Vinjidu porut Kangeyan vilaradi thodayai kaakka kaakka,
Chenchasaran nesa aasan thimiru mun thodayai kaakka.
May the Lord of the Vel protect the remaining part of my hip,
May the son of Lord Shiva protect both my buttocks,
May the foster son of Ganges, protect the twin split back thighs,
And May the teacher with red lotus feet protect my robust front thighs.
Yeraga thevan yen thaal iru muzhan kaalaum kaakka,
Cheer udai kanai kkal thannai cheeralai vaythe kaakka,
Nerudai paradu randum nigazh paran giriyan kaakka,
Cheeriya kudhikkal thannai, thirucholai Malayan kaakka.
May the lord of Swamimalai protect both my knees,
May the Lord of Thiruchendur protect my well set ankles,
May both my straight feet be protected by Lord of Thiruparangiri,
And May my well formed heels be protected by Lord of Pazhamudhir cholai
Iyurumalayan padathamar pathu viralum kaakka,
Payuru pazhani nadha paran agam kaalai kaakka,
Meyyudal muzudum aadhi vimala chanmugavan kaakka,
Deyva nayaga vishagan dinamum yen nenjai kaakka.
May the Lord of all hill temples protect the ten fingers of my feet,
May the soles of my feet be protected by the Lord of majestic Pazhani,
May my entire body be protected by the pristine pure Shanmuga,
And May the Lord of Devas born in Vishaga star protect my mind.
Oliyezha uratha chathathodu varu pootha pretham,
Pali kol rakkatha pey, pala kanathu yevai aanalum,
Kili kola yen Vel kaaka, kedu parar cheyyum soonyam,
Valiyula manthra thanthram, varundidathu ayil Vel kaakka.
May the devils and ghosts which come along with horrible sound,
May the devil of Rakshasas demanding live sacrifice or any other,
Devil it may be, be protected by the great Vel and May the great Vel,
Also prevent the coming of the evil chants and spirits sent,
By outside wicked people who want to do bad things for me.
Ongiya cheethame kondu, uvani vil Vel soolangal,
Thangiya thandam ekkam, thadi parasu eeti aadhi,
Pangudai ayudhangal pagaivar, yen mele ochin,
Theengu cheyyamal yennai, thirukaivel kaakka, kaakka,
When my enemies with great anger throw catapult, bow,
Vel, trident, wheel, big rod, stick, axe, spear and other weapons,
On me, with an aim of causing me great hurt,
May your holy Vel protect me from injury or harm.
Olaviyam ular, oon unpor, asadar, pey, arakkar, pullar,
Thevvargal yevar aanalum, thidamudam yenai mal kkatta,
Thaviye varuvar aayin, characharam Yellam purakkum,
Kavvudai soora sandan, kai aayil kaakka, kaakka.
If people who are jealous, flesh eaters, fools, devils, asuras, mean people,
And evil spirits whoever they may be, come with fixed idea of wrestling with me,
And come pouncing upon me, may the Vel which protects all the worlds,
Which was ready to drive Soora Padma away, protect and guard me.
Kaduvida panthal Singam, karadi nay puli ma yanai,
Kodiya kol nai, kurangu, kolamar chalam chambhu,
Nadyudai yedanal yenum, nandar pattidamal,
Chaduthiyil vadi Vel Kaakka, chanavi munai Vel Kakka.
If very poisonous snakes, lion, bear, dog tiger, great elephant,
Very cruel wolf, monkey, pig, cat and other animals,
Try to attack me to do harm, may the great Vel come fast,
And protect me, may the Vel of the son of Ganges protect me.
Ngakara may pol thamee gnana Vel kaakka, Van pul,
Sigari thel nandu kali cheyyam yeru aala ppalli,
Nagamudai Ondhi pooran, nail vandu puliyin poochi,
Ugamisai vathaal yerku oor oorilathu Iyvel kaakka.
May the wise Vel protect me like the letter “nga”, which is adjunct,
To other alphabets in Tamil from big birds, scorpions, crabs,
Cheyyam*, poisonous lizards, poisonous reptiles, spider,
Millipedes and May it also prevent their attacking me and my people.
*Poisonous insect
Chalathil uuyy van meen yeru, thandudi thirukkai mathum,
Nilathilum chalathilum thaan, nedum thuya thararke Ulla,
Kulathinaal naan varutham, kondidathu avvavelai,
Balathudan irundhu kaakka, pavagi koor Vel kaakka.
May the Vel of the one who was born out of sparks protect me,
With strength at all times whenever needed by me,
From those fish and crocodiles living in water and the long horny fish,
And from all other cruel beings living in water and also in land,
Jnamaliyam pariyan kai Vel, nava graham kol kaakka,
Chuma vizhi noygal thanda, choolai aakkirana rogam,
Thimir kazhal vadam sokai, siram adi karna rogam,
Yemai anukamale panniuru puyan chaya Vel kaakka
May the Vel of him who rides the peacock protect me from nine planets,
And May the Vel of him who has twelve arms protect and not allow,
The approach of Diseases of the eyes, tooth, nose and ears and also.
Thimir* disease, rheumatism, anemia and disease of head and foot
* I do not know what the poet indicates here