கவசத்தின் வரலாறு · About the Kavasam
What the hymn is, how it moves from start to end, the poet who sang it and the seashore temple it is linked with.
கந்த சஷ்டி கவசம்
திருச்செந்தூர்
செந்தின்மா மலையுறும் செங்கல்வ ராயா
சமரா புரிவாழ் சண்முகத் தரசே
கவசம் என்றால் என்ன · What it is
கவசம் means armour. The Kandha Sasti Kavasam is a Tamil prayer to Murugan that asks his Vel to guard the one who sings it: every part of the body, every hour of the day and night, and every road ahead.
It opens with two short verses (the காப்பு), then runs for 238 flowing lines that are easy to sing together. Its sound is part of its strength: the long lists, the repeated calls of வருக வருக and காக்க காக்க, and the rhythm of Murugan’s anklets.
People read it for courage, peace of mind and a feeling of being looked after. Homes play it at dawn, and many read it every day of the six-day Kandha Sasti.
ஏழு பகுதிகள் · The seven parts
- 1அழைப்பு · Calling Murugan (lines 1-32)Murugan is called to come at once, on his peacock with the Vel, and the sacred sounds of his name ring out.
- 2திருக்கோலம் · His holy form (lines 33-60)His six faces, twelve eyes, jewels and anklets are seen one by one, and he comes dancing to the beat of his anklets.
- 3உடல் காவல் · Guarding the body (lines 61-106)The Vel is asked to guard each part of the body, head to toe, and every hour of the day and night.
- 4தீமை விலகல் · Sending harm away (lines 107-157)Every fear is sent away: evil spirits, spells, enemies, wild animals, poison and illness.
- 5போற்றியும் வேண்டுதலும் · Praise and prayer (lines 158-199)His names and holy places are praised, and the singer asks, as a child to a parent, to be forgiven and cared for.
- 6பலன் · The blessing of reading (lines 200-219)The poet names himself and tells the good that comes to those who read the Kavasam with a clean, calm mind.
- 7போற்றி · Closing praise (lines 220-238)Praise to the little child of Palani and the Lord of the Vel, ending in surrender: Saravanabhava Om.
தேவராய சுவாமிகள் · The poet
The hymn names its own poet. Near the end (line 201) he calls himself பாலன் தேவராயன், a child of Murugan. He is remembered as Devaraya Swamigal and is generally placed in the 19th century.
Tradition says he sang six Kavasams, one for each of Murugan’s six holy abodes (ஆறுபடை வீடுகள்). The one that begins சஷ்டியை நோக்க is by far the most sung, and it is the one on this site.
திருச்செந்தூர் · Thiruchendur
Thiruchendur is Murugan’s temple on the seashore in Thoothukudi district, one of his six holy abodes and the one this Kavasam is linked with. Tradition holds that Murugan defeated Soorapadman here.
On the last day of Kandha Sasti, Soorasamharam is enacted by the sea, and large crowds gather on the shore. Many of them have read the Kavasam on each of the six days before.
The six abodes are Thiruparankundram, Thiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Thiruthani and Pazhamudircholai. The hymn calls out to several holy places by name, among them Swamimalai (ஏரகம், line 57), Thiruthani (தணிகை, line 170), Palani and Thiruvavinankudi (lines 172-173) and Senthil (line 174).
சொற்கள் · Words you will meet
- கவசம் · Kavasam
- Armour. A prayer that asks God to guard you on every side.
- சஷ்டி · Sasti
- The sixth day of the waxing moon, a day for Murugan.
- வேல் · Vel
- Murugan's holy spear, given by his mother Parvati. In the hymn it is the one that protects.
- சரவணபவ · Saravanabhava
- His six-letter name: the one who appeared in the Saravana pond.
- சூரசம்ஹாரம் · Soorasamharam
- Murugan's victory over Soorapadman, kept on the last day of Kandha Sasti.
- வள்ளி · Valli
- Murugan's consort, the girl of the hill tribe (குறமகள்) named again and again in the hymn.
Good to know
- What does Kandha Sasti Kavasam mean?
- Kandha is Murugan, Sasti is the sixth day of the waxing moon, and Kavasam means armour. It is a hymn of protection sung to Murugan.
- Who sang it?
- Devaraya Swamigal, who calls himself பாலன் தேவராயன் in line 201. He is generally placed in the 19th century.
- Why is it linked with Thiruchendur?
- Tradition says Devaraya Swamigal sang a Kavasam for each of Murugan's six abodes, and this one, which begins சஷ்டியை நோக்க, is the one for Thiruchendur, the seashore abode where Soorasamharam is held.