Rādhā Kavaca
The Rādhā Kavaca is a hymn of protection, a kavaca (armour), addressed to Rādhā. It gives one name of Rādhā to each limb of the body, one to each of the eight directions, and one for the states of waking and sleep. It is found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakriti Khaṇḍa, Chapter 55.
The Purāṇa calls it the greatest of all kavacas. A divine visitor gave it to king Suyajña as one part of the full Rādhā sādhana (spiritual practice).
Its greatness
The kavaca opens by telling what it has done. By this Rādhā kavaca:
- Brahmā obtained Sāvitrī as his consort.
- Bhagavān Śiva married Pārvatī.
- Bhagavān Kṛshṇa performs the act of creation.
- Bhagavān Vishṇu is the protector.
- Ādiśesha holds up the cosmos.
- Dharmarāja became sarvā-sākshī (witness of all).
- Kubera became lord of wealth.
- Indra became lord of the devas.
- Manu became lord of human beings.
- Bhagavān Sūrya is worshipped in all three worlds.
- Agni is parama-pavitra (supremely pure).
- Vāyu purifies the three worlds.
- Paraśurāma destroyed the lines of kshatriyas twenty-one times.
There is no kavaca greater than this Rādhā kavaca in the three worlds.
Ṛshi, chandas and devatā
- Ṛshi: Brahmā
- Chandas: Gāyatrī
- Devatā: Rāseśvarī Rādhā
- Purpose: Kṛshṇa-bhakti (devotion to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa)
Protection of the limbs
Each limb is protected by a mantra that calls on Rādhā by one of her names.
| Limb | Mantra | Name of Rādhā |
|---|---|---|
| Head (śiras) | Oṃ Rādhāyai svāhā | Rādhā |
| Hair, śikhā | Oṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ Rādhikāyai svāhā | Rādhikā |
| Cheeks, nose, face | Oṃ rāṃ Rādhāyai svāhā | Rādhā |
| Throat | Oṃ klīṃ Kṛshṇapriyāyai svāhā | Kṛshṇapriyā |
| Arms | Oṃ rāṃ Rāseśvaryai svāhā | Rāseśvarī |
| Back | Oṃ rāṃ Rāsavilāsinyai svāhā | Rāsavilāsinī |
| Chest | Oṃ Bṛndāvanavilāsinyai svāhā | Bṛndāvanavilāsinī |
| Hips | Oṃ Tulasīvanavāsinyai svāhā | Tulasīvanavāsinī |
| Feet and all limbs | Oṃ Kṛshṇaprāṇādhikāyai svāhā | Kṛshṇaprāṇādhikā |
Protection of the directions
Rādhā guards each of the eight directions under a different name.
| Direction | Name |
|---|---|
| East (Pūrva) | Rādhā |
| South-east (Āgneya) | Kṛshṇapriyā |
| South (Dakshiṇa) | Rāseśvarī |
| South-west (Nairṛta) | Gopīśa |
| West (Paścima) | Nirguṇā |
| North-west (Vāyavya) | Kṛshṇapūjitā |
| North (Uttara) | Mūlaprakṛti Īśvarī |
| North-east (Īśāna) | Sarveśvarī |
Protection in every state
In water, on land, in sleep (svapna) and in waking (jāgrat), Śrīmahāvishṇu’s mother Rādhā protects the reciter.
The phala
- Reciting the kavaca ten lakh (daśa-laksha) times gives siddhi (success) in the kavaca.
- One who has made the kavaca siddha is protected in royal courts, in cremation grounds and forests, and from diseases, enemies and imprisonment.
- The kavaca protects in all dangers: battles, wild animals, fire and water.
- No kavaca greater than this exists in the three worlds.
Place in the Rādhā sādhana
The kavaca was given to Suyajña together with the rest of the Rādhā sādhana: the mūla mantra (root mantra) Oṃ Rādhikāyai svāhā, the pūjā vidhi (method of worship) and the stotra. Suyajña wore the kavaca through all his tapas at Pushkara. Through this whole sādhana he received the darśana of Rādhā and went up to Goloka.
Sources
- Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakriti Khaṇḍa, Chapters 52–55 (the kavaca itself in Chapter 55)