Shri Narayan kavach - Complete meaning and benefits of chanting

Narayan Kavach is a Sanskrit prayer dedicated to Lord Narayana, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Composed in the form of a protective shield, it consists of verses that invoke the divine blessings of Lord Narayana for protection from negative influences, physical ailments, and spiritual obstacles. Devotees recite the Narayan Kavach seeking divine protection, inner strength, and spiritual well-being.

Table of Contents
1. Stotra

2. Meaning

3. Benefits of chanting Shri Narayan kavach

4. Who can chant Shri Narayan kavach & When to chant?

5. How to chant the stotram?

Stotra

Yayā guptah sahastrākṣhah savāhān ripusainikān।
Krīḍanniv vinirjitya trilokyā bubhuje shriyam ।।1।।

Bhagavanstanmamākhyāhi varma nārāyaṇātmakam।
Yathā’’tatāyinah shatrūn yen gupto’jayanmṛudhe ।।2।।

Vṛutah purohitostvāṣhṭro mahendrāyānupṛuchchhate।
Nārāyaṇākhyan varmāh tadihaikamanāah shṛuṇu ।।3।।

Dhautānghripāṇirāchamya sapavitra udan mukhah।
Kṛutaswāngakaranyāso mantrābhyāan vāgyatah shuchiah।।4।।

Nārāyaṇamayan varma sannahyedbhaya āgate।
Pādayorjānunorūrvorūdare hṛudyathorasi ।।5।।

Mukhe shirasyānupūrvyādoankārādīni vinyaset।
Ūँ namo nārāyaṇāyeti viparyayamathāpi vā: ।।6।।

Karanyāsan tatah kuryād dvādashākṣharavidyayā।
Praṇavādiyakārantamangulyanguṣhṭhaparvasu ।।7।।

Nyased hṛudaya onkāran vikāramanu mūrdhani।
Ṣhakāran tu bhruvormadhye ṇakāran shikhayā dishet ।।8।।

Vekāran netrayoryunyjyānnakāran sarvasandhiṣhu।
Makāramastramuddishya mantramūrtirbhaved budhah ।।9।।

Savisargan faḍantan tat sarvadikṣhu vinirdishet।
Ūँ viṣhṇave nam iti ।।10।।

Stotra with meaning

Yayā guptah sahastrākṣhah savāhān ripusainikān।
Krīḍanniv vinirjitya trilokyā bubhuje shriyam ॥1॥
Bhagavanstanmamākhyāhi varma nārāyaṇātmakam।
Yathā’’tatāyinah shatrūn yen gupto’jayanmṛudhe॥2॥
Meaning - King Parikshit asked - O Lord! Please narrate to me the Narayan Kavach by which the King of the Gods Indra easily defeated the four-fold army of his enemies in a game and enjoyed the Laxmi of the three worlds. Also tell me how he, protected by it, conquered the attacking enemies in the battlefield. ॥1-2॥


Vṛutah purohitostvāṣhṭro mahendrāyānupṛuchchhate।
Nārāyaṇākhyan varmāh tadihaikamanāah shṛuṇu ॥3॥
Meaning - Shri Shukradev Ji said- Parikshit! When the Gods made Vishwaroop their priest, then on Devraj Indra's question Vishwaroop preached the Narayan Kavach. You should listen to it with a concentrated mind.॥3॥

Dhautānghripāṇirāchamya sapavitra udan mukhah।
Kṛutaswāngakaranyāso mantrābhyāan vāgyatah shuchiah॥4॥
Nārāyaṇamayan varma sannahyedbhaya āgate।
Pādayorjānunorūrvorūdare hṛudyathorasi ॥5॥
Mukhe shirasyānupūrvyādoankārādīni vinyaset। Om namo nārāyaṇāyeti viparyayamathāpi vā ॥6॥
Meaning - Vishwaroop said - Devraj Indra! When there is an occasion of fear, one should protect one's body by wearing the Narayana armor. Its method is that first wash hands and feet, then rinse your mouth, then wear a kusha sacred thread in hand and sit facing north. Thereafter, make a resolve not to speak anything till the time one wears the armor and with purity do nyas from heart to body parts and from finger to hand with the mantras "Om Namo Narayanaya" and "Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevay". First do nyas of the eight letters from Om to this ashtakshar mantra "Om Namo Narayanaya" on the feet, knees, thighs, stomach, heart, chest, mouth and head respectively or do nyas of the eight letters from Ya to Om of the aforesaid mantra starting from the head in the reverse order on the same eight body parts. ॥4-6॥


Karanyāsan tatah kuryād dvādashākṣharavidyayā।
Praṇavādiyakārantamangulyanguṣhṭhaparvasu ॥7॥
Meaning: Thereafter, meditate on the twelve letters starting from Om etc. of the twelve letter mantra “Om namo Bhagwate Vasudevay” in the eight fingers of both hands from the right index finger to the left index finger and in the two joints of both thumbs. ॥7॥

Nyased hṛudaya onkāran vikāramanu mūrdhani।
Ṣhakāran tu bhruvormadhye ṇakāran shikhayā dishet ॥8॥
Vekāran netrayoryunyjyānnakāran sarvasandhiṣhu।
Makāramastramuddishya mantramūrtirbhaved budhah ॥9॥
Savisargan faḍantan tat sarvadikṣhu vinirdishet।
Om viṣhṇave nam iti ॥10॥
Meaning:- Then, of the first syllable of the mantra “Om Vishnuve Namah”, ‘Om’ should be meditated in the heart, ‘Vi’ in the Brahmarandhra, ‘Sha’ between the eyebrows, ‘N’ in the top of the head, ‘Ve’ in both the eyes and ‘N’ in all the joints of the body. Thereafter, close the wings by saying ‘Om Ma: Astraaya Phat’. By meditating in this manner, the person who knows this method becomes filled with mantras.॥8-10॥

Benefits of chanting Shri Narayan kavach

Narayan Kavach, a sacred prayer to Lord Vishnu, is believed to offer various benefits to its devotees, including

1. Protection
2. Blessings
3. Spiritual Growth
4. Inner Peace
5. Healing
6. Fulfillment of Desires
It's important to note that the benefits are often interpreted through personal faith and devotion, and results may vary for individuals.

Who can chant Shri Narayan kavach and when to chant?

Shri Narayan Kavach can be chanted by anyone who wishes to seek the divine protection and blessings of Lord Narayana. There are typically no restrictions based on age, gender, or religious background. Devotees often recite the Narayan Kavach with sincerity and devotion to invoke the blessings of Lord Narayana for protection from negative energies, physical ailments, and spiritual obstacles.

As for when to chant Shri Narayan Kavach, there are no strict guidelines. However, it is often recited during morning or evening prayers, as well as before embarking on significant endeavors or facing challenging situations. Some devotees also chant it daily as part of their spiritual practice to maintain a connection with the divine and seek ongoing protection and guidance from Lord Narayana. Ultimately, the timing of chanting the Narayan Kavach can be based on personal preference and one's spiritual routine.

How to chant the stotram?

Before chanting the Surya Ashtakam, here are some traditional practices that devotees may follow to prepare for a more focused and meaningful experience:

1. Take a bath or wash your hands and face to feel physically clean. This can symbolize inner purification as well.
2. Find a quiet, clean space free from distractions where you can focus on the chanting.
3. Wear comfortable and clean clothes that allow you to sit comfortably.
4. Approach the chanting with reverence and devotion to Lord Narayan. Set an intention for your chanting, whether it's seeking protection, peace, or spiritual growth.
5. You can offer a short prayer to Lord Narayan before chanting, expressing your gratitude and seeking his blessings.