Hanumān Kavaca

The Hanumān Kavaca is a kavaca (protective armour in words) built on twelve names of Hanumān. It is found in the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Manohara Khaṇḍa, in the thirteenth sarga (chapter). Bhagavān Śiva teaches it to Devī Pārvatī. The Rāma Kavaca follows it in the same chapter.

The occasion

Devī Pārvatī came to Bhagavān Śiva with a request. She asked for a protective teaching that would guard devotees against three great fears: war and violence, sudden calamity (āpad), and bhūta-bhaya, the fear that comes from harmful spirits and beings without a body.

Bhagavān Śiva was moved by her request and by her care for those who suffer these fears. He taught her the Hanumān Kavaca.

Origin: from Rāma to Vibhīshaṇa

Bhagavān Śiva explains that Bhagavān Rāma first spoke the Hanumān Kavaca to Vibhīshaṇa at Laṅkā, after the war. Vibhīshaṇa was the righteous rākshasa who had surrendered to Rāma and been crowned king of Laṅkā. He received this kavaca from Rāma as a special gift.

The twelve names of Hanumān

The Hanumān Kavaca is built on twelve names of Hanumān. Each name holds one side of his nature and power.

  1. Hanumān: the first name; the one with the broken jaw (from Indra’s vajra in childhood).
  2. Añjanā-sūnu: son of Añjanā.
  3. Vāyuputra: son of Vāyu, the Wind.
  4. Mahābala: the one of great strength.
  5. Rāmeshṭha: dear to Rāma.
  6. Phalguṇa-sakha: friend of Arjuna (Phalguṇa).
  7. Piṅgāksha: the tawny-eyed one.
  8. Mitavikrama: the one whose valour is measured.
  9. Udadhikramaṇa: the one who crossed the ocean.
  10. Sītāśoka-vināśana: destroyer of Sītā’s sorrow.
  11. Lakshmaṇa-prāṇadātā: giver of life to Lakshmaṇa.
  12. Daśagrīva-darpahā: destroyer of the pride of the ten-headed one, Rāvaṇa.

The Rāma Kavaca

In the same sarga the Hanumān Kavaca is followed by the Rāma Kavaca. It is a protective teaching built on Bhagavān Rāma’s own names, qualities and divine presence.

Sources

  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Manohara Khaṇḍa, Chapter (sarga) 13