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First stage in the creation
of the Kavach
A 'Kavach
' is in its preparatory stage only a silver or gold tablet, on which the Jyotisha Yantras of the FBs
are first of all engraved, beginning the whole work during an auspiciously chosen Muhurta. Once the Jyotisha
Yantras are engraved in an auspicious moment of time, synchronous with the invocation of Isvara's grace, which
 is achieved through a
small Hindu Pooja (worship); the
'Kavach
' has to be placed in an 'environment', which is
not polluted by negative & malefic vibrations inimical to its newly-created sacred-life. The engraving is often
performed by a skilled silversmith with the astrologer usually synchronously worshipping his Ishta Devata,
Lord Vinayaka and/or his Spiritual
Masters, for drawing the Divine grace, necessary
for creating the Kavachs
.
Prior to the actual Kavach Pooja, which
constitutes the second stage in the creation of
the Kavach ; at the time
of Kavach-engraving in the first stage, the astrologer invokes Isvara Anugraha by worshipping his Masters as God.
The Mulamurti (Main Deity) in the small Pooja Mandapa above is Sri Sri Bhagavan &
Sri Sri Amma . The other Masters
seen are Sri. J. Krishnamurti, Sri. Ramana Maharshi & Sri. Nisargadatta Maharaj.
The achari
(silversmith) commences the Kavach engraving at the time of the Kavach engraving Muhurta (KEM) which is
an auspicious moment highly favourable for the activity to be blessed by Isvara Anugraha (God's grace). The
invocation of Isvara Anugraha by the astrologer is synchronised with the Kavach engraving. Apart from 'the
fundamental model of the Kavach', which is made in the likeness of 'the original SA model' of the Kavach, other
models of the Kavach are also used, which entail engraving on copper leaves & enfolding the same into a compact
silver locket. During the first stage of the creation of the Kavach, the Jyotisha Yantra Shakti, the astrologer's
Samkalpa Shakti, the astrologer's Chitta-Shuddhi-Shakti
& the Anugraha Shakti from the Kavach engraving Muhurta,
all come together to spiritually empower the Kavach even in this first stage.
Second stage in
the creation of the Kavach
In the next & second stage, the Kavach so engraved is worshipped and thereby energized afresh as a sacred object,
through Mantra Shakti, i.e. through repeated devotional incantations and this Kavach Pooja is also begun in another
auspiciously chosen Muhurta, which alone will be highly conducive for the descent of Divine grace into the Kavach,
during the course of the Pooja. Sometimes it does happen that the Kavach Pooja follows immediately, after the Kavachs
have been engraved. In such cases, the engraving Muhurta will also be the Muhurta for the Pooja. The Kavachs which
have emerged from such Poojas are usually retained in the custody of the Vedic astrologer, who will ensure that the
'atmosphere' in which the Kavachs are placed in the wake of such Pooja, is auspicious & entirely devoid of malefic
vibrations inimical to the freshly impregnated spiritual powers of the Kavachs.
The Pooja Mandapa has the SriMurti of the astrologer's Masters in the upper tier & in the lower tier we see the
SriMurti of the Divine
Mother as Sri Tripura Sundari , along with the SriMurti of the astrologer's other Masters.
Also seen is the SriMurti of Sri
Sarada Devi and the vigrahas of the goddess of Hindu vidyas,
Sri Saraswati & Sri
Vigneswara. The patron God of Hindu
astrology, corresponding to the planet Jupiter
is Lord Vigneswara
.
Beginning with the Kavach Pooja Muhurta, the astrologer will blend his Samkalpa Shakti & the Chitta-Shuddhi-Shakti,
during Prarthana
(Prayer) & Pooja (Worship), so as to harness the Anugraha-Shakti of Isvara (Grace of God) for
'drenching & infilling' the Kavachs.
The astrologer in his mood of devotion & sincerity is seen spontaneously breaking into some ritualistic actions
that resonate with his Samkalpa of
'drenching & infilling' the Kavachs with the Anugraha Shakti of Isvara.
Usually the power of Divine grace, which 'drenches and infills' the Kavachs during such Kavach Poojas is invoked
directly by the consciousness of the Vedic astrologer. He must have the spiritual orientation to easily get into
the shoes of the people who come seeking his guidance. This capacity to easily feel for the difficulties of
others, coupled with consummate astrological skill, is what makes for a competent Vedic astrologer. It is the
soul-power of his Samkalpa-Shakti (power of determination), which on account of its palpable intensification
through his powerful devotional & empathetic mood during the Kavach Pooja, which merges with the other auspicious
energies, thereby 'drenching and infilling' the Kavachs. A typical Samkalpa may go something like this:
"Oh Bhagavan! Let
all those who come to me, through your divine
will, for seeking your grace through the
Remedial Measures [the Kavach & the
Pariharas], easily secure your Divine
grace for surmounting all the 'karmic
-
obstacles' in their lives." In this
Samkalpa, somehow, it is the intensity
of feeling which is important, and not merely
the verbal expression of it. This usually
happens because the Vedic astrologer is
himself one who has a good capacity for empathy,
as well as devotional attunement to
Isvara and it is this feeling which
becomes heightened during the Kavach
Pooja
.
The Kavachs created in this manner usually also undergo an additional "drenching and infilling" with Divine grace,
almost on a daily basis, in the course of the daily worship of the astrologer, for he will invariably have all the
Kavachs in the Pooja room before he commences his daily worship and invocation of Isvara's grace. Thus, all
misconceptions that 'Old-Kavachs' may have less-power are utterly groundless.
Jyotisha
Yantras Of Mystical Numbers
Third stage in
the creation of the Kavach
In the third & final stage these Kavachs are supplied on demand to those who seek their protection. The Kavach
as a sacred object should be worn on the body of the individual at an auspiciously chosen moment of time. This
Kavach wearing Muhurta (KWM) is supplied by the Vedic astrologer, who prepares the Kavachs in the manner
described above. The Kavach has a 'destiny' of its own, in view of the highly auspicious manner in which it has
been prepared & the wearing of the Kavach actually
tantamounts to being 'associated'
(satsangh ) with the Kavach,
which carries the blessings of Isvara - made possible by the purity of the Vedic astrologer's consciousness, as
well as by his selfless commitment to serve the world, through the dedicated cultivation of Jyotir Vidya. This is
one of the important sutras
underlying the use of the Kavach as an astrological Remedial Measure. The Vedic
astrologer may use at best, his consummate SA astrological skills in arriving at an auspicious 'destiny' for the
Kavach and this is 'enfolded' into the Vimshottari dasa-bhuktis which characterise the Kavach Wearing Muhurta
(KWM).
Prof. V. K. Choudhry, the founder of the Systems Approach to Vedic astrology, and as the architect of 'the original
model of the SA Kavach', in the following passage makes us aware, as to what an extent, the Vedic astrologer's
consciousness is responsible for making the Kavach into a sacred object capable of bestowing grace. The emphasis
is naturally on the Vedic astrologer leading a virtuous life, with his heart turned towards Isvara.
"The protection power of the KAVACH is energised by the spiritual healing power of the astrologer advising
the use of such a KAVACH. For developing the spiritual healing power one has to follow the divine conduct
which includes practise of kindness, generosity, benevolence, contentment and to avoid deeper involvement in
sensual pleasures, anger, pride, greed & envy."
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Types &
Models of the Kavachs
The Jyotisha Yantras which were originally engraved on copper leaves, during an auspiciously chosen Muhurta,
are carefully rolled, synchronising the same with the chanting of my Masters' Mulamantra for the invocation of
Isvara's grace, and placed compactly within a silver locket, which is eventually sealed off. This enclosing
silver locket comes in two geometrical forms. A cylindrical shaped (linga-rupa) Kavach with a floral design
and an oval-shaped (locket) Kavach with an embossed Pranava at the very centre of it. As these Kavach are sealed,
their identity is kept track of, as to which Asdt they actually belong to, by embossing the leading alphabet of
that Asdt at a suitable spot on the reverse side of the Kavach.
How to Relate to
the Kavach ?
The string which is supplied along with the Kavach usually has a life-time of about six months. Once worn, these
Kavachs are permanently left on the body, not even removing them during the daily bath, for only then they have a
maximum beneficial impact on the wearer. As soon as the Kavach is received, it may be 'greeted & welcomed' with a
good feeling, since it is coming to the wearer as a sacred object & as a messenger of Divine grace. Thereafter, it
may be placed before the family Deity in the Pooja room of the house, till the actual arrival of the moment of the
Kavach wearing Muhurta (KWM).
How does the
Kavach Work?
The power of the Kavach - in so far as its ability to raise the energies of the Navagrahas, which are FBs in the
chart of the wearer - can be traced to a confluence of at least 6 or 7 significant contributory factors. We shall
consider these factors one by one.
a)
Samkalpa-Shakti of the Vedic Astrologer
The Vedic astrologer will in all probability have a strong urge from within to help his fellow beings cope more
intelligently & wisely with the onslaughts of their karmic-sufferings that are part of their 'destiny'. Being
impelled from within by such a strong humanitarian urge is one thing & being ethical according to the norms
laid down in Yoga Shastra, Dharma Shastra, or in one or other of the authoritative scriptural books of Sanatana
Dharma is another. When we have a Vedic astrologer, who not only has such a strong humanitarian urge welling up
from within him, but who also in his day-to-day life ensures that Dharma is followed in all its aspects; then
we have the Samkalpa Shakti of the Vedic astrologer shining brightly as the lamp of his 'knowingness' (Jnana -
the Jyoti), which is the combined fruit of his devotion & surrender to his Masters or Isvara (Bhakti - the oil) on
the one hand
and his mature willingness to be self-sacrificing & to die to the burden of the past, on the other [Thyaga - the
Wick].
b)
Chitta-Shuddhi-Shakti (power of the 'purity' of consciousness) of the
Wearer
The second important contributory factor or power comes from the receiving consciousness of the wearer of the
Kavach. This 'energy-level' of the seeker's faith, devotion & surrender to God, as well as his attunement to
the Samkalpa Shakti of the Vedic astrologer, is of vital importance.
c)
Anugraha-Shaktis of the Kavach (Its auspicious 'destiny')
It is important for us to realize that this whole procedure of preparing & sanctifying the Kavach, through this
3-stage process, not only bestows on the Kavach a highly auspicious 'destiny', but more importantly the seeker
who wears this Kavach on a later day, becomes a participant as well as a recipient of the blessings this good
'destiny' of the Kavach brings into his life. Thus, a number of significant contributory factors enter into a
confluence and result in the Kavach becoming a messenger of Divine grace in the life of the seeker.
The picture of
the grace of the Kavach could not be
copied.
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