Siddhi of the Krishna Kavach — A Seven-Day Janmashtami Anushthan, and What the Kavach Then Protects

What should a Krishna bhakta perfect first on the sadhana marga?

The speaker says that those who do ananya bhakti of Bhagavan Shri Krishna, who wish to obtain the madhurya swaroop and the kripa of Bhagavati Radha and Bhagavan Krishna, and who want to take up Krishna-related mantras and subjects on the sadhana marga and the tantra marga, should first of all perfect the kavach of Bhagavan Shri Krishna.

The talk is addressed, the speaker says, to people who do ananya bhakti of Bhagavan Shri Krishna, who wish to obtain the madhurya swaroop of Bhagavati Radha and Bhagavan Krishna and to obtain their kripa. And to those who wish that on the sadhana marga, on the tantra marga, they should take up subjects connected with Bhagavan Shri Krishna and do sadhana of the mantras and the rest connected with him. For them, first of all and before everything, the siddhi of the Kavach of Bhagavan Shri Krishna should be done.

What does perfecting the Krishna kavach at Janmashtami give?

He says that if this kavach is perfected at the time of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, then whenever it is afterwards used — even if it is only remembered — protection is certainly obtained through Bhagavan Shri Krishna. Those who do the seva and puja of Bhagavan Shri Krishna and Bhagavati Radha should certainly perfect it.

The speaker states that he is placing before listeners the vidhi for making the kavach of Bhagavan Shri Krishna siddh, and how through it protection comes about in the body. If these kavach are made siddh at the time of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, he says, then whenever we use it afterwards — even if we merely do smaran of it — rakshan is certainly obtained through Bhagavan Shri Krishna. Those people who do the seva and puja of Bhagavan Shri Krishna and Bhagavati Radha should certainly make this kavach siddh.

On which tithis does the Krishna kavach anushthan run?

The paath of the kavach should be begun at the time of Shri Krishna Janmashtami from the Dwitiya tithi of the Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada, and continued until the day after Shri Krishna Janmashtami, that is up to the Navami tithi. It is an anushthan of roughly seven days.

At the time of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, the speaker says, the paath of this kavach should be begun from the Dwitiya tithi of the Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada Maas. It should be done until the day following Shri Krishna Janmashtami, that is, up to the Navami tithi. This is an anushthan of approximately seven days.

Which portion of the Krishna kavach is written on the bhojpatra?

On a white bhojpatra, or whatever bhojpatra one can obtain, the kavach mula is to be written — that is, only the portion in which protection is asked for each separate form of Bhagavan Krishna, leaving out the purva pithika and the phalashruti. From the first shloka up to the eighth shloka; the last shlokas are dropped.

In the anushthan, the speaker says, first of all the kavach mula should be written on a white BhojpatraBirch bark, used to write a mantra or a person's name with a pomegranate-twig pen and red sandalwood ink for Tantric applications, such as placing a name upon a Shivlinga's base for a honey Abhisheka., or on whatever bhojpatra one is able to obtain. Kavach mula means that portion in which, for protection alone, each separate swaroop of Bhagavan Krishna has been invoked — leaving aside the purva pithika and the phalashruti. That is, from the first shloka up to the eighth shloka we will go. The shlokas at the last we will leave out.

What ink and pen are used to write the Krishna kavach?

If gopi chandan can be obtained, write with that. Otherwise ashtagandha ink with kesar and gorochan mixed into it, written with a silver lekhani if one has it; or with a chandan lekhani, white chandan or red chandan. If nothing else is available, write these mantras, this kavach, on the bhojpatra with a tulsi pen, in very small letters.

That much shloka, the speaker says, is to be written first on the bhojpatra with gopi chandan if one can get it. Otherwise, with AshtagandhaA fragrant paste made of eight substances, applied as a tilak before vermilion (sindoor) in remedy and worship rites. ink into which kesar and gorochan are mixed, and if one has a lekhani of silver, write with that. Or if one wishes, it may be written with a chandan lekhani — a lekhani of white chandan or of red chandan. And if after this nothing further can be found, then with a tulsi pen write these mantras, this kavach, on the bhojpatra in very small letters.

How many paths of the Krishna kavach are done, and over how many days?

After writing, the kavach is placed at the feet of Bhagavan Shri Krishna, and because the kavach is very short, 108 paths are done daily, for seven days. If possible, as many paths as one can should be done on the night of Krishna Janmashtami so that 1100 paths are completed.

After writing it, the speaker says, place it at the charan of Bhagavan Shri Krishna. Because the kavach is a very small one, do 108 paths every day. This for seven days. If it is possible, do as much paath of it as can be done on the night of Krishna Janmashtami, so that your 1100 paths are completed.

The written bhojpatra goes into a silver khol bearing Krishna's swaroop, his names, or the name of Bhagavati Radha.

Once the 1100 paths are complete, the kavach written on the bhojpatra is put into a silver casing — a beautiful khol on which the swaroop of Bhagavan Shri Krishna is made, or his names are written, or the name of Bhagavati Radha is written. The speaker says such kavach are also being made by his own side so that Krishna bhaktas too may obtain the benefit.

After the completion of the 1100 paths, the speaker says, take a silver khol for the kavach written on the bhojpatra — a beautiful khol, on which the swaroop of Bhagavan Shri Krishna is made, or their names are written, or the name of Bhagavati Radha is written; get a kavach made in this manner. He adds that such kavach are being made by his own side as well, so that Krishna bhaktas too may obtain the benefit of it.

What havan and offerings complete the Krishna kavach anushthan?

On the day after Shri Krishna Janmashtami, when the pujan of Bhagavan Shri Krishna is done, the kavach is worn after performing havan. The havan is done with Krishna's satnamavali, his 108 names, or if one wishes with the sahasranama. In it men will offer with ordinary ghee; women will offer with havan samagri, the mixed and paushtik havan samagri. After purnahuti, at the least, bhog such as makhan mishri should be given to bal gopals — small children — to at least five boys and to small girls.

The bhojpatra is put into that khol, the speaker says, and then on the day after Shri Krishna Janmashtami, when the pujan of Bhagavan Shri Krishna takes place, it is worn after performing Havan. The havan will be done with the satnamavali of Bhagavan Shri Krishna, with his 108 names, or if one has the wish then with the sahasranama and so on as well. As for havan samagri: men will do it with ordinary ghee. Women will do it with havan samagri — with the mixed havan samagri, the paushtik havan samagri. Having done Purnahuti and the rest, at the very least one should give to the bal gopals, to the small children, some bhog to eat, makhan mishri and whatever else is possible — to at least five children, and to small girls.

How should the Krishna kavach be put on?

After that the kavach should be worn on the neck. If there is a small child in the house, an unknowing child of up to five or seven years, then having it placed on your neck or arm by that child's hand and taking their blessing is said to be very excellent. It is said that wherever one goes wearing this kavach, protection comes everywhere through Bhagavan Krishna's Sudarshan Chakra and through his gopis.

After this, the speaker says, the kavach should be worn on the neck. If there is some small child in your house, an abodh balak, a child of up to five or seven years, then if you wear this kavach on your neck or on your arms through that child, from their hand, and obtain their blessing, that too is very excellent. It is said, he continues, that whenever you go anywhere wearing this kavach, protection is done for you everywhere by Bhagavan Krishna's Sudarshana ChakraLord Vishnu/Narayana's discus weapon, invoked in scripture as the protector of devotees who observe vows like Ekadashi with strict devotion. and by Bhagavan Krishna's gopis.

Its most distinctive fruit is santan prapti — worn where a child is not being obtained, the possibility is said to open.

The speaker says the single most distinctive importance of this kavach of Bhagavan Krishna is that if some person, some woman or man, is facing obstruction in obtaining a child, then by wearing this kavach the possibility increases in their life that they may soon obtain a child — that a putra ratna or a putri ratna may be obtained.

One most special significance of this kavach of Bhagavan Krishna, the speaker says, is this. If any person, any woman or man, is meeting with badha in the obtaining of santan, then by the wearing of this kavach the sambhavna increases in their life that they may shortly obtain a shishu — that a putra ratna, a putri ratna may be obtained.

What kinds of badha does the Krishna kavach guard against?

He says that along with this, if you do specific seva of Bhagavan Shri Krishna, then through this kavach — if any kind of abhicharik badha is present in your life, any graha-caused badha, any pret or pishaach caused badha — you are protected everywhere by it. Protection is had at the place of work, and advancement comes. Through this kavach, he says, every kind of benefit that ought to be in your life is obtained.

Along with this, the speaker says, if you do the specific seva of Bhagavan Shri Krishna, then through this kavach — if any kind of Abhichara badha is arising in your life, any graha-caused badha, any Preta and Pishach caused badha arising — your protection is done everywhere by it. Protection is done for you at the place of work; padonnati takes place. That is, through this kavach you obtain every kind of benefit that ought to be present in your life.

How does a weak bhagya show in the janma kundali, and what does the kavach do about it?

The speaker says it often happens that our bhagya is weak — we are doing all the work but the expected result is not coming. On analysing the janma kundali it is found that the grahas of our bhagya are somewhere afflicted, in a nich rashi, or in a wrong bhava, so their effect is not being received rightly; or they are seized by Rahu and Ketu, and so their effect is not coming — this we call durbhagya. By wearing this kavach, he says, such graha-caused badhas and the kundali effect that is not being received begin to come to you as shubh effect.

Many times it happens, the speaker says, that our bhagya is quite weak. It is such that we are doing all the work but the expected result we look for is not being obtained. Then when we do the analysis of the janma kundali, it is found there that whichever grahas of our bhagya there are, they are afflicted somewhere, they are in a nich rashi, they are in a wrong bhava, on account of which their effect is not being received in the right manner. Or they are seized by Rahu and Ketu, on account of which their effect is not able to be had in that way — and this we call durbhagya. By the wearing of this kavach, he says, whatever graha-caused badhas of this kind there are, and the effect of the kundali which is not being received, that shubh effect begins to be obtained by you.

What should be done with the Krishna kavach on a tirtha yatra?

Whenever you set out on a yatra of Shrimad Dham Vrindavan, Golok, Mathura and the like, or to any swaroop of Bhagavan Narayan, to Gaya Dham, Gaya ji, or to any such chief swaroop sthan — all the puris, the Saptapuri — or go to Ganga ji, Yamuna ji, the Triveni Sangam and the rest, then while wearing this kavach you should certainly do as much japa of it there as you can, even walking about. Its effect increases greatly.

Whenever you set out, the speaker says, on the yatra of Shrimad Dham Vrindavan, Golok and the rest, of Mathura and the rest; or to any swaroop of Bhagavan Narayan, at Gaya Dham ji, at Gaya ji, or at any such chief swaroop sthan — as many puris as there are, the Saptapuri — go to all these places. Go to Ganga ji, Yamuna ji, the Triveni Sangam and the rest; then, while you remain wearing this kavach, you should certainly there again do as much japa of this kavach as possible. Walking and moving about, you may do its japa in those dhams. The effect of this kavach increases very greatly. Remaining lifelong in the shelter of this kavach, he says, you can obtain the kripa of Bhagavan Krishna and Bhagavati Radha, and those who take benefit from this subject move one step further forward in their samarpan towards their ishta.