Kethu Stotram

[Prayer to Kethu]
From Skanda Purana
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[Kethu is an asura (unlike other planets) and son of sage Kasyapa and an ogre called Simihika. He was
born with a serpent head. When Mohini (the feminine form of Lord Vishnu) was distributing the nectar
to the devas, Kethu entered the row and ate the nectar. The Sun and moon who saw this informed Lord
Vishnu about this. Lord Vishnu cut him in to two pieces. The piece with the head is Rahu. The piece
without head is Kethu. Both pieces continued to live and circle the earth in an anti clock wise manner.
Kethu creates all the problems that are created by planet Mars. This prayer should be read on Tuesdays
to ward of any evil caused by this planet.]

Kethu, Kaala, kalayitha, dhhomrakethur, vivarnaka,

Loka Kethu, maha Kethu, sarva kethur, bhaga pradha. 1

Kethu, he who causes death, he who makes time, smoky headed one,
One who is multi coloured, head of people, great head,
One who has only head, one who torments the Sun.

Roudhro, Rudhra priyo, rudhra, kroora karma, suganda druk,

Palala dhooma sankkhasa, chithra yagnopaveetha druk. 2

He who is angry, he who likes Shiva, he who is fierce,

He who does cruel deeds, He who is seen by pleasant smell,
One who resembles the smoke of husk, one who is seen wearing sacred thread.

Thara gana vimardhi cha jaimineeyo grahadhipa,

Ganesa dhevo, vignesa, visha rogarthi nasana, 3

One who troubles star groups, one who belongs to the clan of Jaimini,
One who is the lord of all planets, one who is God Ganesa,
One who is the lord of obstacles, one who destroys disease de to poison,

Pravrujyadho jnanadhascha theertha yathra pravarthaka,

Pancha vimsathi namani kethoryahatham padeth. 4

One who has forsaken everything, one who is wise ,

And one who makes pilgrimages to sacred places happen.
If these twenty five names of Kethu are read,

Thasya Nasyathi badha cha sarva Kethu prasadatha,

Dhana dhanya pasoonaam cha bhaved vrudhir na samsaya. 5

Due to the grace of Kethu all his troubles will come to an end,
And without doubt his wealth, cereals and animals will increase.
Kethu Kavacham
[Protective Armour of Kethu]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[Kethu is an asura (unlike other planets) and son of sage Kasyapa and an ogre called Simihika. He was
born with a serpent head .When Mohini (the feminine form of Lord Vishnu) was distributing the nectar
to the devas, Kethu entered the row and ate the nectar. The Sun and moon who saw this informed Lord
Vishnu about this. Lord Vishnu cut him in to two pieces. The piece with the head is Rahu. The piece
without head is Kethu. Both pieces continued to live and circle the earth in an anti clock wise manner.
Kethu creates all the problems that are created by planet Mars. This Kavacham should be read on
Tuesdays to ward of any evil caused by this planet.]

Kethum karala vadanam, chithra varnam, kireetinam,

Pranamami sada kethum, dwajaakaaram graheswaram. 1

I always salute Kethu, who has face filled with horror,

Who is of multiple colours, has a crown,
Who is shaped like a flag and is the Lord of planets.

Chithra varna sira pathu, bhalam dhoomra samudhyuthi,

Pathu nethre pingalaksha, sruthi may raktha lochana. 2

Let the multicolored one protect my head,

Let my hair be protected by he who produces smoke,
Let my eyes bye protected by one with reddish brown eye,
And let what I hear be protected by he who has red blood eyes.

Granam pathu swarnabha, schibukam simhikasutha,

Pathum cha kandam may Kethu, skandou pathu grahadhipa. 3

Let my smell be protected by him who shines like gold,

Let my chin be protected by the son of Simhika,
Let my neck and feet be protected by Kethu,
And let the lord of planets protect my shoulder

Hasthou pathu sura sreshta, kukshim pathu maha graha,

Simhasana katim pathu, madhyam pathu mahasura. 4

Let my arms be protected by the chief of devas,

Let the great planet protect my belly,
Let my hip be protected by he who sits on the throne,
And let the great asura protect my middle.

Ooru pathu maha seersho, januni may athi kopana,

Pathu padhou cha may kroora, sarvangam nara pingala. 5

Let my thighs be protected by the great head,

Let my knees be protected by him with great anger,
Let my feet be protected by the cruel one,
And let all my parts of body be protected by the reddish brown god.

Ya idham kavacham divyam, sarva roga vinasanam,

Sarva shathru vinasam cha, dharanad vijayi bhaved. 6

This holy armour destroys all diseases,

Destroys all enemies and,
Once worn will make you victorious.

Ithi Brahmanda Purane Kethu Kavacham sampoornam.

Thus ends the armour of Kethu from Brahmanda Purana.

Shiva Panchakshara Stotram

Translated by P. R. Ramachander
[Shiva is the destroyer among the trinity and is worshipped as their main deity by millions of
Hindus. The holy word chant to worship him is made of five letters and is popularly called
Panchakshara- “Na Ma Si Va ya”. In this popular stotra each of these letters is considered as him
and he is praised for his great qualities.]
Nagendra haraya Trilochanaya,
Basmanga ragaya maheswaraya,
Nithyaya shudhaya digambaraya,
Tasmai nakaraya namashivaya.
My salutations to the letter “Na” , which is Shiva,
Who wears as garland the king of snakes.
Who has three eyes,
Who wears ash all over Him,
Who is the greatest Lord,
Who is forever,
Who is the cleanest,
And who wears the directions themselves as dress
Mandakini salila chandana charchithaya,
Nandeeswara pramadha nadha maheswaraya,
Mandra pushpa bahu pushpa supoojithaya,
Tasmai makaraya namashivaya.
My salutations to the letter “Ma” , which is Shiva,
Who is bathed by waters of ganges,
Who applies sandal paste all over him,
Who has Lord Nandi as his chiefton,
Who is the greatest lord,
And who is worshipped by Mandhara and many other flowers.

Shivaaya gowri vadanara vinda,

Sooryaya daksha dwara naasakaya,
Sri neela kantaya vrisha dwajaya,
Tasmai sikaraya namashivaya.
My salutations to the letter “Si” , which is Shiva,
Who is peace personified,
Who is like Sun to the Lotus face of Gowri[1],
Who destroyed the fire sacrifice of Daksha[2],
Who has a blue neck,
And who has a bull in his flag.
Vasishta kumbhodhbhava gowthamadhi.
Munendra devarchitha shekaraya,
Chandrarka vaiswanara lochanaya,
Tasmai vakaraya namashivaya.
My salutations to the letter “Va” , which is Shiva,
Who is worshipped by great sages like,
Vasishta, Agasthya and Gowthama ,
As also the devas,
And who has sun , moon and fire as his three eyes.

Yaksha swaroopaya jada dharaya,

Pinaka hasthathaya sanathanaya,
Divyaya devaaya digambaraya,
Tasmai yakaraya namashivaya.

My salutations to the letter “Ya” , which is Shiva,

Who takes the form of Yaksha,
Who has a tufted hair,
Who is armed with spear,
Who is forever filled with peace,
Who is godly,
Who is the great God,
And who wears the directions themselves as dress.
Phalasruthi
Panchaksharamidham punyam,
Ya padeth Shiva sannidhou,
Shivaloka maapnothi,
Shive na saha modathe.
Those who read these holy five letters great,
In the temple of Shiva,.
Would go to the world of Shiva,
And be forever happy with Him.
[1] Another name of his consort Parvathy signifying she is of white colour
[2] Daksha who was the father in law of Shiva insulted him by not inviting him to the fire
sacrifice he conducted and Sathi Devi who was the consort of Shive jumped in the fire and gave
up her life.Shive destroyed the fire sacrifice being conducted by Daksha.