Shiva Stuti and Shiva Kavacha

Shiva Stuti:

‘Namo Rudraya, Neelaaya, Bhimaya Paramaatmaney, Kapardiney Sureshaya, Vyomakeshaya vai Namah/ Vrushabhadwajaaya Somaaya Somanathaaya Shambhavey, Digambaraaya Bhargaaya Umaakaanthaya vai Namah, Tapomayaya Bhavyaya Sivasreshthaaya Vishnavey, Vyalapriyaya Vyaalaaya Vyalaanaampathaye Namah / Mahidharaya Vyaghraya Pashunam pathaye Namah, Puraanthakaaya Simhaaya Shaardulaaya Makhaaya cha / Meenaya Meena nathaaya Siddhaya Parameshtiney, Kaamaanthakaya Buddhaaya Buddheenaam pathaye namah / Kapothaya Vishishtaaya Sishtaaya Sakalaatmaney, Vedaaya Veda Jeevaaya Veda Guhyaya vai Namah / Deerghaya Deergha Rupaya Deerghaarthaya vinaashiney, Namo Jagatprathishthaaya Vyomarupaaya vai Namah/ Gajaasura Mahaakaalay andhakaasura bhediney, Neelalohitha Suklaaya Chanda Munda Priyaya cha / Bhakti Priyaya Devaaya Jnaaney Jnaanavyaya cha, Maheshaya Namasthubhyam Mahadeva Haraaya cha / Trinetraya Tri Vedaya Vedaangaaya Namo Namah, Arthaya cha Artha rupaaya Paramaarthaya vai Namah / Viswa Bhushaya Viswaya Vishwanaadhaya vai Namah, Shankaraayacha Kaalaaya Kaalaavayarupiney / Aruupaaya Viruupaaya Sukshma Sukashmaya vai Namah, Smashaana vaasiney Bhuyo Namasthey krutthi vaasasey/ Shashaanka Shekharayeshaa yograbhumishayaya cha, Durgaya Durgapaaraya Durgaavayava sakshiney/ Linga Rupaaya Lingaaya Lingaanaam pathayenamah, Namah Pralaya Rupaaya Pranavarthaya vai Namah/ Namo Namaha kaarana kaaranaaya Mrityunjayaaya atmabahva swarupiney, Sri Thriyambikaayaasitikantha Sarva Gauripathey Sakala Mangala hetavey namah/

[My Greetings to Rudra, Nila, Bhima, Paramaatma, Kapardi (Jatajuta dhaari), Sureswara (Super Lord of Devaas), Sky coloured like thick haired Vyomakesha; Greetings to Vrishabhadwaja or Carrier of Flag with Bull Insignia, Soma accompanied with Uma, the Lord providing safety to Chandra, Bhagavan Shambhu, Digambara or the Wearer of clothes of all Dishas or Ten Directions (that is naked), Bharga or the resplendent personality worthy of devotion, and Umakantha. My veneration to the Embodiment of ‘Tapas’, Bhavya or the personification of Auspiciousness, Sivasreshtha, Vishnurupa, Vyalapriya or who has penchant for Snakes, has the Form of Snakes and is the Chief of Snakes; Mahidharaya or wears the brunt of Prithvi, Vyaghraya or Tigerlike, Pashupathi or the Lord of Beings, the annihilator of Demon Tripura, Lionlike and Yagnamaya. Greetings to Siva who is  Fishlike, the Lord of Fishes, Siddha, Parameshthi, the destroyer of Kamadeva or the alternate name of desire, the core of Knowledge and mental maturity, Sarva Sreshtha, Sadhu Purusha or the Essence of Goodness and Sarvaatmaney or the Soul of one and all. My adulation to Veda Swarupa, the Provider of Life toVedas, Vedagruhnaya or the inner tatva of Vedas, Dirghaya, Dirgha Swarupa, Dirghaartha Swarupa and Avinaashaya or Indestructible, the Creator of Universe, the All Pervasive, and the Destroyer of Demons Gajasura and Andhakaura. My exaltation to the Beloved of Bhaktas, Parama Deva, the hub of Gyan and the Source of knowledge, Mahesha, Maha Deva, Hara, Trinetra, Tri Veda, Vedanga, the means of Artha ( wealth), Kama (Desire) and Paramartha (Salvation).My respects to Viswabhusha, Viswarupa, Viswanadha, Shankara, Kaala and Kaala-avayava Rupa. My salutations to Siva who has no Rupa, has Vikruta Rupa, and ‘Sukshmakshma Swarupa’ or the Tiniest Form. My esteem to ‘Smashanavaasi’ or the Dweller of Grave Yards, Vyaghracharma dhaari or the Wearer of Tiger Skin, Chandra -sekhara or who sports Moon on His head and the Supreme God who sleeps on frightening grounds. My worship to Paramatma who is ‘Durgama’or unattainable and a limb to limb visualiser of Devi Durga. My devotion to Lingarupa, the Cause of Linga and the Cause of Causes or the Chief of Causes. My ‘Sashtanga Namaskar’to Maha Pralaya Rudra, the heart of Pranava or Omkara, Mritunjaya or the Triumph of Death, Sri Triambika, Nilakantha or the Blue Throated, Sharva, Gauripathey and ‘Mangala hethavey’ or The Origin and Foundation of Auspiciousness.] Whoever is desirous of performing Pradosha Vrata ought to recite the Siva Stothra; by so saying Guru Briahaspathi asked to perform the Padosha Vrata at once and take on Demon Vritrasura to secure Glorious Victory by the Grace of Maha Siva.Deva Guru also explained the background of Vritrasura who was cursed by Devi Uma Herself in his earlier birth as Chitrarath, a Celestial King. The latter was travelling various Dwipas by air and witnessed Siva with Devi Uma on His lap and joked that Siva too like human beings could not resist the temptation of women. Devi Uma cursed the King at once to give birth and assume the form of a Raakshasa and that was the origin of Demon Vritrasura.

Shiva Kavacha:

Realising that Bhagavan Siva was the Origin of ‘Srishti’ (Creation) which was far beyond human comprehension; Sage Sharabha scripted the famed Siva Kavacha or the Body Safeguard to humanity: ‘May Sarvadevamaya Mahadeva save me from this deep Samsaara Kupa; may His Sacred name relieve me from the totality of sins from my heart. May Bhagavan Siva save me whose Body Form is His Universe and whose resplendent and happy embodiment of ‘Chidaatma’ or Ever Happy Soul is Eternal. May Eswara, whose presence is all pervading from even the small to the smallest existence is replete in the Universe, save me from the massive stock of sins from my life! May ‘Ashtamurthi’Girisha who had taken the Form of Earth save me from my daily tribulations. May Parama Siva who assumed the appearance of Water which is life-giving provide me security of life. May Maha Siva who ends up the Universe with fearful flames and performs Rudra Tandava (dance) while enjoying the destruction of Life bestow relief to me from heat and fury.May the Three Eyed and Five Faced Siva, the’Satpurusha’ grant me Vidya (Knowledge), Abhay (shelter) and ‘Vara’(boon) at all times out of His endless mercy fron the Eastern side. May Siva, who wears Kuthara, Ankusha Pasha, Shula Nagaada and Rudrakshamaala and is also known as Neelaruchi, Trinetra, and ‘Aghora’, keep me safe in the Dakshina (Southern) side. May Omni Potent ‘Sadyojata’ who sports Chandama, Shankha and Sphatikamala on His Body look after me on the Western front. May ‘Vamadeva’Bhagavan save me from the Northern Front. May ‘Ishana’save me from the above or the sky! May Bhagavan Chandramouli save my head, Phaalanetra my forehead, Bhaganetrahaari my eyes, Viswanaatha my nose, Shrutageetakirti my ears, Panchamukha my face, Vedajihva my tongue, Girisha my neck, Neelaantha my two hands, Dharmabaahu my shoulders, DakshaYagna Vidhvmavsi my Vakshasthal Girindradhanva my stomach, Kamadevanaashak my Mahyadesh, Ganesha Pita  my navel, Dhurjati my ‘Kati’, Kubera Mitra my Pindaliyas, Jagadeeswar my Ghutnas, Pungavakethu (two janghas or thighs), and Suravandyacharan (both the feet worshipped by Devas). May Maheswara save me during the first Prahara Time; Vaamadeva the second Prahara, Triayambak the third Prahara and Vrishabhadwaja the final Prahara; Sisireswar at the begnning of the night; Gangadhar save me midnight; Gauripati at the end of night; and may Mrityunjaya save me always.Shankar should protect me from the Internal Physique; Sthhaanu from the Bahya Stithi or Extrenal Being, Pashupati saves me from the intermediate Stage of consciousness and Sadasiva may protect everybody always. Let Bhuvanaikanath save me while standing, Prananath in motion; Vedantavedya while my standing, Avinaashi Siva during my sleep; Neelakantha during our tavel; Tripuraari while passing rocky places; Mrigavyaaghra passing through forests; and Mrigavyaghya in Maha Pravaasa or deep and dense  jungles. I seek the refuge of Veerabhadra whose high blast and frightening presence shakes up the whole Universe. May Bhagavan Mrida who could devastate crore-strong of armies in split seconds and has the unimaginable might and speed to do so, and Tripurantaka whose‘Pralayakaal’Trisula could submerge the entire Creation into an endless sheet of water, save me from my bad dreams, awful omens, dreadful feelings of mind, durbhiksha (extreme poverty), Durvyasanas (terrible habits), diseases, fear of poisonous species, and victimisation of evil ‘grahas’, natural mishaps like cylones, earthquakes and floods and all such unfortunate experiences. I greet Sadasiva who is the embodiment of all Tatvas and their interpretation, the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of all the Worlds,  the unique witness of existence, the Donor, Sin Remover, the epitome of Propitiousness, the Nirguna, the Unparalelled, Nirakar, Niraabhas, Niramaya, Nishprapancha, Nishkalanka, Nidvandhya, Nissanga, Nirmala, Gati Sunya, Nithya Rupa, Nithya Vaibhava Sampanna, Anupama Iswarya, Adhara Sunya, Nithya, Shuddha Buddha, Paripurna, Sachhidanandaghana, Adviteeya, Parama Shanta, Prakashamaya, and Teja Swarupa. Hey! Rudra, Maha Roudra, Bhadraavataar, Duhkhadavagni vidarana, Maha Bharava, Kaala Bharava, Kalpanta Bhairava, and Kapaala Maalaadhari. Hey, Wearer of Khatvanga, Khatga, Dhala, Paasha, Ankusha, Damaru, Shula, Dhanush, Baana, Gada, Shakti, Bhidipaala, Thomar, Mushal, Mudgar, Pattisha, Parashu, Parigha, Bhushundi, Shataghni, Chakra such other frightful weapons! Hey, Mukhadamshtra karaala, Vikata Attahaasya visphaarita Brahmaandala mandala, Nagendra kundala, Nagendravalaya, Nagendracharmadhara, Mritunjaya, Triambaka,Tripurantaka, Viruupaksha, Visweswara, Viswarupa, Vrishavaahana, Vidyubhushana and Vishvatomukha.You guard me, burn off fear of my death, demolish my Apamrityu and my fear of external and internal diseases, shield me from ‘Arishatvargas’or the Six Enemies of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsara ; tear down my terror of Raakshasas, Bhutaas, Kushmandas, Betalas, Brahma Raakshasas and such other Kshudra Shaktis. Oh Lord, equip me against Naraka Bhaya (Terror of Hell), Kshudha Trishna (hunger and thirst), and apprehensions. Victory to You Bhagavan! Do strengthen my physique, mind and Soul and insulate me from all possible risks of life with this Parama Shakti Maha Siva Kavacha. [Essence of Skanda Purana]