Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8
The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca
Māruti-kavaca
हनुमान् पूर्वतः पातु दक्षिणे पवनात्मजः । पातु प्रतीच्यामक्षघ्नः सौम्ये सागरतारकः ॥ ८ ॥
hanumān pūrvataḥ pātu dakṣiṇe pavanātmajaḥ | pātu pratīcyāmakṣaghnaḥ saumye sāgaratārakaḥ || 8 ||
கிழக்கில் ஹனுமான் என்னைக் காக்கட்டும்; தெற்கில் பவனபுத்திரன் காக்கட்டும். மேற்கில் அக்ஷனை வதைத்தவன் காக்கட்டும்; வடக்கில் கடலைத் தாண்ட உதவியவன் காக்கட்டும்.
Narada (teaching a protective directional invocation as part of technical/ritual application)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It functions as a directional protection (dik-rakṣā) invocation, remembering Hanumān through specific epithets tied to his deeds, establishing inner fearlessness and steadiness for sādhana.
Bhakti is expressed through nāma and līlā-smaraṇa: each title of Hanumān recalls a sacred act (service to Rāma), turning remembrance into a living devotional refuge in every direction.
It reflects mantra-prayoga and ritual structuring—assigning deities/epithets to directions for protective recitation (kavacha-style), a practical application often taught alongside technical disciplines in Purāṇic instruction.