Kanda Sashti Kavasam

Kaappu (protective preamble): May all sins and sorrows leave, and may wealth, spiritual growth and every heartfelt prayer be granted, for those who take up this Kandhar Sashti Kavasam.

Kural Venba (dedication): We meditate on the feet of Kumaran, who ended the suffering of the Devas through his own great battle.

Lines 1–16: Muruga arrives gracefully on his peacock, his anklets chiming, and is invited to come quickly and protect the devotee with his Vel — welcomed as the son-in-law of Indra, the beloved of Valli, the six-faced Lord adorned with sacred ash.

Lines 17–22: The mystic seed-syllables of Muruga’s sacred name are chanted in rhythmic repetition, honouring him as the valiant Lord of the Saravana pond and battle-leader of the Devas.

Lines 23–26: Muruga is described holding twelve weapons in his twelve hands — including the noose and the goad — with his twelve wide eyes casting a protecting glance on the devotee.

Lines 27–31: More sacred seed-syllables are chanted, representing the subtle mystic power held within Muruga’s name.

Line 32: Muruga, indwelling as the Kundalini Shakti and son of Shiva, is asked to come daily to protect the devotee.

Lines 33–46: A loving, detailed description of Muruga’s six faces, jewelled crowns, ash-marked foreheads, twelve eyes, coral lips, ear ornaments, garlands and anklets that chime as he walks.

Lines 47–56: A cascade of rhythmic mystic syllables representing the sound of Muruga’s anklets and the drumbeat accompanying his arrival, ending with a call for him to come swiftly.

Lines 57–63: The devotee declares Muruga’s holy feet their only refuge, asking the Lord — dearer than their own life — to protect them completely.

Lines 64–92: The kavasam’s central body: part by part, the devotee entrusts their whole body to Muruga’s Vel for protection — face, brow, eyes, ears, nose, teeth, tongue, cheeks, neck, chest, shoulders, back, ribs, stomach, waist, thighs, knees, feet, hands and forearms.

Lines 93–96: May Saraswati bless the devotee’s speech, and may the heart-lotus and the subtle nerve-channels be protected by the Vel at all times.

Lines 97–102: The golden Vel is called to come swiftly and protect the devotee at every hour — day and night, dawn and dusk, every watch of time, without delay.

Lines 103–106: An urgent, repeated call for the Vel to protect, to watch, and to strike down every obstacle the instant it appears, reducing all sin to dust.

Lines 107–119: Protection is sought from black magic, curses, and a long list of malevolent spirits — including those said to trouble children, haunt graveyards, or follow young women — asking that they flee in terror at the mere mention of the devotee’s name.

Lines 120–135: Protection from harmful charms and sorcery objects (buried effigies, cursed items); the kavasam asks that those who intend harm instead lose their nerve, while enemies and slanderers come humbly to bow before the devotee.

Lines 136–148: Powerful, rhythmic commands to bind and strike down every threat, and for wild animals, poisonous creatures and venom to lose their power and flee.

Lines 149–157: A prayer for freedom from a long list of ailments — from migraines and rheumatism to skin disease, stomach trouble and fever — asking that no illness linger once it recognises the devotee as Muruga’s own.

Lines 158–161: A wish for goodwill from all fourteen worlds, from both men and women, and even from rulers, all pleased with the one who praises Muruga’s name.

Lines 162–175: A litany of loving names for Muruga, recalling how he freed the Devas from bondage, and naming his sacred abodes — Tiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Tiruthani, Pazhamudircholai and more.

Lines 176–192: Inspired by Saraswati’s grace upon their tongue, the devotee sings and dances in ecstatic devotion, seeking freedom from the bonds of karma and to receive the sacred ash with love — closing with blessings: hail to the Rider of the peacock, hail to his sharp Vel, hail to Valli’s beloved.

Lines 193–199: The devotee asks Muruga — as a parent forgives a child’s faults — to overlook their shortcomings and receive them with the same love Valli, their mother, would show.

Lines 200–220: How this kavasam should be recited — morning and evening, after bathing, with a focused and loving mind, thirty-six times a day — and the blessings this brings: favour of the eight guardian deities and the nine planets, protection from spirits, and a long, fulfilled life.

Lines 221–226: Recalling Muruga’s victory over the demon Surapadman and his blessing of the twenty-seven Devas, the devotee bows at the feet of the child-Lord who resides on the Palani hills.

Lines 227–238: A closing series of praises (“Potri”) to Muruga in each of his beloved forms and abodes, ending in complete surrender at his lotus feet — “Saranam, saranam, Saravanabhava Om; saranam, saranam, Shanmukha saranam.”