Śiva Kavaca

The Śiva Kavaca is a kavaca (a protective hymn, like armour) found in Chapter 19 of the Brahma Khaṇḍa of the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa. It begins in a talk between Bāṇāsura and Bhagavān Mahādeva. Its mūla mantra (root mantra) has twelve akshara (syllables). The same chapter also holds Bāṇāsura’s stotra to Bhagavān Śiva.

The setting

The Śiva Kavaca began in a holy talk between Bāṇāsura, the great daitya devotee of Bhagavān Śiva, and Mahādeva. Bāṇāsura’s great devotion led Bhagavān Śiva to teach him this kavaca as a supreme text of protection.

The mūla mantra

Oṃ namaḥ bhagavate śrīvāya svāhā

• This mantra has twelve akshara (syllables).
• It calls on Bhagavān Śiva as Śrīva, a name of Śiva.

What is needed for siddhi

Five lakh (500,000) repetitions of the mūla mantra are needed to gain siddhi (success) of this kavaca.

Bāṇāsura’s stotra to Śiva

The same chapter also holds Bāṇāsura’s stotra to Bhagavān Śiva. It came from Bāṇāsura’s full devotion to Parameśvara. Bāṇāsura was the son of Bali Mahārāja and one of the greatest devotees of Bhagavān Śiva. Many Purāṇas tell how he received Bhagavān Śiva’s vara (boon) of protection and how Bhagavān Kṛshṇa later defeated him.

Sources

• Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 19