Devi

Devi Kavacham: the Nine Durgas (opening verses)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच
यद्गुह्यं परमं लोके सर्वरक्षाकरं नृणाम् ।
यन्न कस्यचिदाख्यातं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१॥

ब्रह्मोवाच
अस्ति गुह्यतमं विप्र सर्वभूतोपकारकम् ।
देव्यास्तु कवचं पुण्यं तच्छृणुष्व महामुने ॥२॥

प्रथमं शैलपुत्री च द्वितीयं ब्रह्मचारिणी ।
तृतीयं चन्द्रघण्टेति कूष्माण्डेति चतुर्थकम् ॥३॥

पञ्चमं स्कन्दमातेति षष्ठं कात्यायनीति च ।
सप्तमं कालरात्रीति महागौरीति चाष्टमम् ॥४॥

नवमं सिद्धिदात्री च नवदुर्गाः प्रकीर्तिताः ।
उक्तान्येतानि नामानि ब्रह्मणैव महात्मना ॥५॥

Meaning

1. Markandeya said: O Grandsire, tell me that which is the highest secret in the world, which protects people in every way, and which you have told to no one.

2. Brahma said: O learned one, there is a most secret, holy armour of the Devi, which benefits all beings. Listen to it, great sage.

3–5. The first is Shailaputri, the second Brahmacharini, the third Chandraghanta, the fourth Kushmanda, the fifth Skandamata, the sixth Katyayani, the seventh Kalaratri, the eighth Mahagauri, and the ninth Siddhidatri. These are known as the nine Durgas; these names were spoken by the great Brahma himself.

About this bhajan

Before the seven hundred verses of the Durga Saptashati are read, the Devi Kavacham is recited, and its opening gives the nine names that order all of Navratri: Shailaputri on the first day, through Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri and Mahagauri, to Siddhidatri on the ninth. Brahma tells them to Markandeya. Only these first five verses are given here. The full kavacha, some fifty-six verses, goes on to place each part of the body under a form of the Mother, and is best read whole from a Gita Press Durga Saptashati.

Devyāḥ Kavacam (Durgā Saptaśatī, aṅga before the pāṭha), verses 1–5, Sanskrit Wikisource देव्याः कवचम्