Devi Sadhana Shield: How to Create a Protective Circle During Mantra Chanting

During Tantric Devi Sadhanas, especially with fierce energies like Mahakali, Tara, Chhinnamasta, or Tripura Sundari, it is essential to protect yourself within a divine boundary known as the Raksha Rekha or Kavach Mandala. This shield not only maintains the sanctity of your aura but also repels psychic and energetic interference.

Certain sadhana could even be life threatening if not done with proper protection and one must always put on all the protection. Remember, when you chant a mantra, no only the beings for our world get attracted but also the ones from other dimension pop in. So you must be prepared for everything.

1. Purification and Preparation

• Bathe or wash with intention, wearing clean clothes.
• Sanctify the space with incense, camphor, ghee lamp, and holy water.
• Chant the purification mantra while sprinkling water:

ॐ अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोऽपि वा।
यः स्मरेत् पुण्डरीकाक्षं स बाह्याभ्यन्तरः शुचिः॥

2. Constructing the Protective Mandala (Raksha Rekha)

Use your index finger or ring finger dipped in water or sandal paste. Begin from the east and draw a circle around your sitting space clockwise, chanting:

ॐ रक्ष रक्ष हुम् फट् स्वाहा।

Visualize a glowing lotus or fiery orb forming around you. Mentally invite your Ishta Devi to sit with you in the center of this mandala.

You may aditionally do any one or both of the following bor extra layer of protection

Option 1: Chant the following while visualizing a divine circle of light forming around you:

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे।

Chant this once or three times, facing each direction (East, South, West, North, Up, Down).

Visualize a shimmering fire circle or devi’s aura forming around you, blocking all negativity.

Option 2: Sit on an asana (preferred woolen or kusha grass mat).

With your right hand’s middle or ring finger, draw an invisible circle clockwise around your sitting area (mentally or physically).

Chant the mantra below as you visualize a fiery, divine wall forming:

ॐ क्लीं दुं दुर्गायै नमः।

Repeat it at least 3 or 9 times while visualizing the Devi's Shakti forming a shield around you.

4. Perform Karanyas (Finger Nyas)

Activate energy in your hands for japa, mudras, and offerings.

Touch the respective fingers of both hand and keep touched until the process completes.

• Thumb: ॐ ऐं अंगुष्ठाभ्यां नमः।
• Index: ॐ ह्रीं तर्जनीभ्यां नमः।
• Middle: ॐ क्लीं मध्यमाभ्यां नमः।
• Ring: ॐ चामुण्डायै अनामिकाभ्यां नमः।
• Little: ॐ विच्चे कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां नमः।
• Palms: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे करतलकरपृष्ठाभ्यां नमः।
  (Touch palms of both hands both sides in clockwise direction)

3. Perform Hridayadi Nyas (Heart to Weapon)

Touch each body part with the mantra to energize it before Devi invocation:

• Heart: ॐ ऐं हृदयाय नमः।
• Head: ॐ ह्रीं शिरसे स्वाहा।
• Crown: ॐ क्लीं शिखायै वषट्।
• Armor: ॐ चामुण्डायै कवचाय हुम्।
• Eyes: ॐ विच्चे नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट्।
• Keep snapping with your right hand, move it anticlockwise over your head and clap with you right hand's index and middle finger on the left hand's palm ending the mantra:
  ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे अस्त्राय फट्

5. Begin Sadhana Inside the Protective Circle

Sit within the raksha rekha. Close your eyes, visualize the Devi seated in your heart. Begin the mantra chanting or offerings as per your tradition.

If you are doing a specific sadhana (like Tripura Sundari, Chandi, Kali), chant the relevant Kavach if you know it (e.g., Devi Kavach from Durga Saptashati) I have also provided few known ones in the list.

If you are still not sure, here’s a universal protective invocation:

ॐ महादेव्यै च विद्महे दुर्गायै च धीमहि।
तन्नो देवी प्रचोदयात्॥

Reading a strotram, atleast 101 names and kawach is always helpful. Also if you don't have akawach, you may add evi Kavach from Durga Saptashati for all the devis.

6. Individual Devi Kavach Tips

Durga:

Mantra: ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः।

Invoke Maa Durga as the fierce yet compassionate protector. Visualize Her riding a lion, surrounded by a blazing aura of red and golden light. Chant the Durga Kavach from the Markandeya Purana to build a spiritual shield around you. Imagine Her ten arms forming a protective circle, each holding a divine weapon guarding your energy from all sides. Offer red hibiscus flowers, rice mixed with vermilion, a red cloth, and incense in front of Her Yantra or image to invite Her energy into your sadhana.

Kali:

Mantra: ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः।

Chant the Kali Kavach from the Tantra Sagara or Brahmanda Purana. Visualize Her in the cremation ground and wrap your body in black light. Offer red hibiscus, sweets, and a black cloth in front of Her Yantra.

Tara:

Mantra: ॐ ह्रीं स्त्रीं हुं फट्।

Use Her Neel Saraswati Stotra before mantra chanting. Offer blue lotus, cloves, and a blue cloth before Her Yantra.

Tripura Sundari:

Mantra: ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं ऐं सौः।

Focus on beauty and bliss. Draw a Shri Chakra mentally and sit within it. Offer white flowers, coconut, and kumkum in front of Her Yantra.

Chhinnamasta:

Mantra: ॐ क्षें क्षेम क्षौं च्छिन्नमस्तिकायै नमः।

Do Trishul nyas. Visualize Her decapitating ego and encircling you with red flames. Offer mustard seeds, red flowers, and a flame or incense in front of Her Yantra.

Baglamukhi:

Mantra: ॐ ह्लीं बगलामुखि सर्वदुष्टानां वाचं मुखं पदं स्तम्भय जिव्हां कीलय बुद्धिं विनाशय ह्लीं ॐ स्वाहा।

Use turmeric and chant the Baglamukhi Kavach. Envision a golden paralyzing net around your aura. Offer yellow flowers, turmeric, and a yellow cloth in front of Her Yantra.

Matangi:

Mantra: ॐ ह्रीं ऐं श्रीं मतंग्यै नमः।

Chant the Matangi Gayatri before japa. Use green yantras and sound vibrations for shield. Offer green leaves, jaggery, and a peacock feather to Her.

Kamala:

Mantra: ॐ श्रीं श्रीं कमलवासिन्यै स्वाहा।

Invoke Lakshmi and chant the Kamala Kavach. Visualize a rain of golden coins forming a shield. Offer lotus flowers, saffron, and a copper coin in front of Her Yantra.

Dhumavati:

Mantra: ॐ धूं धूमावत्यै नमः।

Visualize a smoky veil around your space. Chant her kavach from Dhumavati Tantra silently. Offer dried flowers, sesame seeds, and black sesame oil in front of her Yantra.

Bhuwaneshwari:

Mantra: ॐ ह्रीं भूवनेश्वर्यै नमः।

Create a palace of light in your mind. Chant her bija ‘ॐ ह्रीं’ and place it in all directions as a wall. Offer fresh fruits, coconut, and ghee lamps in front of her Yantra.

Shodashi:

Mantra: ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं सौः।

Chant the Shodashi Stotra. Mentally draw a triangle with three circles of white, red, and gold light around yourself. Offer red flowers, white cloth, and milk in front of her Yantra.

7. Conclude with Gratitude

Once japa ends, mentally dissolve the protective circle back into your heart. Offer thanks to the Devi for protection, guidance, and presence. Take a few moments of silence to ground the energies before resuming daily activity.

chant the following : ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Most Important before you get up

put a drop of water on the ground, touch it with your middle finger and touch it on your forehead saying ॐ शक्राय नमः ॐ इन्द्राय नमः . Do this three times to get the blessings of your sadhana or else things go to Indra dev as per another story that I would mention some other day.

Disclaimer: While every mantra been written with utmost precision, but you still need a guru with you to guide you throughout the process as he will know what is right for you. not every power is for everyone and The guru is the one who decides what is right. Note: Beej mantras are extremely powerful and when we speak about Devi or Mahavidya, it could be extremely fatal if you are new and do not have a proper guidance.