Kandha Shasti Kavasam

For those who praise it, swift karma departs; sorrow departs; for those who imprint it in their hearts, wealth multiplies and they rise in glory; even steadfastness is attained—such is the grace of the immaculate One, the Kandar Shasti Kavasam.

O mind, fix your aim on the feet of Kumara, who performed the immortal deed to relieve the distress of the celestials.

As one observes the Shasti (the six-day fast), Saravana Bhava, the Lord of the radiant spear, helps the virtuous; on His two feet, multi-gemmed anklets sing melodies, and little bells dance.

He whose vehicle is the peacock, performing the ecstatic dance, comes willingly to protect me with the spear in His hand; as He approaches, the wielder of the spear, the Lord of the peacock, comes, comes, comes.

Worshipped by Indra and all the eight directions, the spear that is the embodiment of mantra—come, come! O nephew of Vasava (Indra), come, come! O Lord who thinks of the loving hunter maiden, come!

O Lord who possesses six faces, come! O wielder of the spear smeared with sacred ash, come daily! O Lord of the hill of Sira, come quickly! O Saravana Bhava, come swiftly!

Rahana bavasa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra; rihana bavasa ri ri ri ri ri ri ri; vina bavasa rahana, O hero, salutations to You; nipa bavasa rahana, stand, stand, stand.

Vasara vanapa—come, come! O Lord who destroyed the clans of asuras, come! In the hand of the young One who rules me, the twelve weapons and the noose and goad.

With the twelve radiant eyes spreading wide, may the Lord of the spear come swiftly to protect me. The five elements, the kili (parrot?), together with the savva (all?), the brilliant light of salvation, the life-force, and the kili.

May the kili and the savva, the blazing light, be firmly established and shine before me always. O Shanmukha, You are the matchless light; O Guha, who is the kundalini, come daily!

The six faces, the six crowned heads, the forehead smeared with sacred ash, the long eyebrows, the twelve eyes, the coral-red mouth, the auspicious forehead adorned with a nine-gemmed mark.

On the twelve ears, the shining earrings; on the twelve strong shoulders, the beautiful chest adorned with many ornaments and a pendant, and a necklace of nine gems.

The sacred thread, the chest adorned with pearls, the beautiful belly and navel, the slender waist with a radiant cloth, and the splendid waistband set with nine gems.

The beauty of the two thighs, the two full legs, and on the sacred feet the sound of anklets resounding: "chekakana chekakana chekakana chekana, mogamoga mogamoga mogamoga mogena."

"naganaga naganaga naganaga nagena, diguguna digudigu diguguna diguna, rararara rararara rararara rarara, riririri riririri riririri ririri."

"dudududu dudududu dudududu dududu, dagudagu digudigu dangu dingugu, vindu vindu, the Lord of the peacock is the drop; mundu mundu, Murugavel advances."

The son of the wealthy Lord of Eragam, who rules me, grants the boons I desire with delight. "Lala lala lala vesham," and "Lila lila lila vinodan" (the playful One).

Considering Your sacred feet as my firm support, I place my head on Your pair of feet—may they protect me. May the Lord who is the life of my life protect me. May the One with twelve eyes protect this child.

May the beautiful spear protect my face. May the holy spear protect my forehead adorned with sacred ash. May the two radiant spears protect my eyes. May the Lord of the spear protect both my eyes and ears.

May the good spear protect both my nostrils. May the great spear protect my speaking mouth. May the pointed spear protect my thirty-two teeth. May the beautiful spear protect my tongue that speaks.

May the radiant spear protect both my cheeks. May the sweet spear protect my tender neck. May the gem-like spear protect my chest. May the sacred spear protect my beautiful breasts.

May the beautiful spear protect my two shoulders, bestowing prosperity. May the great spear protect both my shoulder blades. May the gracious spear protect my back with beauty. May the great spear protect my sixteen (ribs?).

May the victorious spear protect my belly, making it shine. May the beautiful spear protect my slender waist gracefully. May the good spear protect the cord of modesty. May the sharp spear protect the two male organs.

May the great spear protect both buttocks. May the beautiful spear protect the round hips. May the great spear protect the two full thighs.

May the radiant spear protect the knees of the bow-like legs. May the gracious spear protect the soles of the feet with five toes. May the compassionate spear protect both hands.

May the opposing spear protect both forearms. May the later spear protect both hind arms, with Saraswati on my tongue as a good support. May the good spear protect the lotus of the navel. May the pointed spear protect the threefold channels (nadis).

May the opposing spear protect me at all times. At the moment when my words falter, may the golden spear come quickly and protect me. May the adamantine spear protect me during the day. May the matching spear protect me in the dead of night.

May the opposing spear protect me at dawn and dusk. Removing delay, may the skillful spear protect me. Protect, protect, O golden spear, protect. Look, look, in an instant look. Strike, strike, strike without hindrance.

Look, look—may sins be ground to dust. May black magic and sorcery, great enmity depart. May powerful spirits, wicked ghosts, troublesome and unyielding sages, and the child-devouring backyard goblin (depart).

May the fire-mouthed ghosts, the deceitful ghosts, the brahmarakshasas that pursue women, when they see this servant, may they shriek and tremble. May the ghouls and vampires, this army of affliction, and the demons that appear at dusk and in darkness (depart).

May all those who perform intense worship to Kali, the exorcists, the many powerful ghosts, the staff-wielders, and the outcasts—when my name is uttered, may they flee as if struck by lightning.

May the elephant-foot-shaped roots, cat hair, children's bones, nails, hair, long-haired skulls, dolls, and various ritual substances buried in the house (be destroyed).

May the treachery buried in the house, the pride of the possessed, the attached doll, the coins and money, the offerings of food, the recited incantations, and the one-way spells (be destroyed).

When they see this servant, may they be agitated and collapse. May enemies and deceivers come and bow down. May the messengers of Death tremble at the sight of me. May they fear, shake, be terrified, and writhe.

May they open their mouths and scream, lose their minds and flee, stumble on the ground. With the rope of bondage, bind their limbs so they cry out—bind, bind, roll them, break their hands and feet.

Bind, bind, bind until they cry out. Strike, strike, strike until their eyes bulge. Crush, crush, crush them into shreds. Consume, consume, consume the enemy of Suran (Murugan's foe).

Stab, stab with the sharp-tipped spear. Seize, seize with the blazing fire of the sun. May the blazing fire, the blazing fire, become fire itself. Release, release the spear—may the enraged one flee.

May tigers, jackals, wild dogs, rats, bears, and all such pursue them. May scorpions, snakes, centipedes, and poisonous insects bite and cause painful afflictions.

May the poisons that have risen descend easily. May hidden diseases, sprains, one-sided headaches, wind disorders, consumption, convulsions, insanity, colic, tumors, wasting, and scabies (depart).

May itching, spider bites, intestinal disorders, side abscesses, spreading thigh ulcers, boils, severe abscesses, hand and foot blisters, spider bites, tooth decay, and large hernia (depart).

May all diseases, upon seeing me, flee without stopping—grant me this boon. May the fourteen worlds be under my control. May all men and women be for my benefit.

May earthly kings dwell with me in delight. So that I may praise You, Your sacred names: Saravana Bhava, the Lord of mountain radiance, the Lord of Tripura, the Lord of shining light.

The Lord of fullness, the Lord of the light of existence, the rare nephew (of Vishnu), You who freed the celestials from harsh imprisonment and protected the celestial realm—O Kanda, O Guha, O Lord of the radiant spear.

O son of the Krittikas, O Lord of the kadamba tree, O sweet-speared Muruga who destroyed the demon Idumban, O Lord of the unique hill, O son of Shankara, O radiant-speared Muruga who dwells in the grove of light.

O child Balakumara who dwells in the town of Pazhani, O beautiful-speared Lord who dwells in Avinankudi, O Lord of the red-ant-hill mountain, O king of Shanmukha who dwells in the battlefield.

May the dark-tressed goddess of speech (Saraswati) dwell well on my tongue so that I may sing of You. I have sung of my Lord Muruga who ever follows me; I have danced, I have become ecstatic.

I have danced, I have sought the sacred ash of Avinankudi. With love I apply it to my forehead. May the bonds of karma be loosened and depart, so that I may attain Your feet by Your grace.

Protect me with love, both food and speech. Abundantly, O Lord of the spear, may this servant attain success and live in splendor. Long live, long live the Lord of the peacock!

Long live, long live the beautiful spear! Long live, long live the Guru of the mountain! Long live, long live the Lord with the hunter maiden! Long live, long live the flag of the elephant!

Long live, long live—may my poverty depart! However many faults, however many mistakes, however many things this servant may do, You are my father, O Guru; it is Your duty to forgive.

The hunter maiden is indeed my mother. With love, calling me "child," grant me affection. Be pleased with me, O son, and grant grace so that the devotees who take refuge in You may flourish.

The Kandar Shasti Kavasam, which the devotee Devarayan (or the child Devarayan) recited, should be recited morning and evening with focused mind daily, with purity, and after cleansing the limbs.

With love, becoming one-pointed in thought, those who meditate on this Kandar Shasti Kavasam without a wavering mind, reciting it thirty-six times a day, chanting it with joy and applying sacred ash.

All beings within the eight directions will come under their control. The eight regents of the directions will grant their favor without fail. All enemies will come and bow down.

The nine planets will be pleased and bestow goodness. They will be like the nine gems and attain great beauty. They will live for sixteen (years? or forever?) every day. The feet of the Kavasam, which is the hand-held spear of Kanda.

When seen as the path, it shines as truth. When seen with the eye, ghosts flee in terror. It reduces the wicked to dust. It dances in the minds of the good.

The foot that destroys all enemies—knowing this, my heart (offers) to the eight Lakshmis, especially to Veera Lakshmi, as a feast. By the hand that severed Surapadma, He gave abundant nectar to the twenty-seven (stars?).

The supreme Guru who dwells on the hill of Pazhani—salutations to the holy feet of the little child! To take me and claim me as His own, my heart (yearns).

O Lord of the spear who assumes the form that pervades me, salutations! O Lord of the celestial army, salutations! O King who delights the heart of the hunter maiden, salutations! O body of supreme skill and divinity, salutations!

O Lord who wields the club (Idumban), salutations to Idumban! Salutations to the Lord of the kadamba tree! Salutations to Kanda! Salutations to the spear adorned with the vetchi flower! O King of the golden hall on the high hill!

O Lord who dances the peacock dance, I take refuge at Your flower-like feet! Refuge, refuge, O Saravana Bhava, Om! Refuge, refuge, O Shanmukha, refuge! Refuge, refuge, O Shanmukha, refuge!