A preliminary overview of the text amulet entitled Śivakavaca

Abstract

The emergence of Dhāraṇī studies has made it possible to highlight and study the textual amulets called dhāraṇī used in Buddhist contexts. On the other hand, textual amulets called kavaca, used in Hindu or Brahmanical contexts, have not been extensively studied or even recorded. Although some are often attributed to tantric works, many claim to be extracts from purāṇas. My preliminary examination of the available sources clearly shows that several manuscripts extracts were widely circulated and that purāṇic kavacas are still used today for protective purposes. This paper is the first step in an incipient research project on purāṇic kavacas, which have not yet been studied. In order to provide a preliminary overview of the variety and the breadth of these sources and to highlight the research questions involved, I will focus on a single type of kavaca: that labelled Śivakavaca. This has been attributed to at least two different purāṇas, the Skandapurāṇa and the Brahmavaivartapurāṇa. This paper will first present a sample of the diversity of sources whose media, dates and places of preservation indicate a long-term practice. This will provide an initial overview of the dissemination and transmission of the Śivakavaca. It will then compare the texts inscribed on the media and the various attributions in order to identify their content. Finally, it will briefly analyze the ritual described, the mantras used in it and the benefits associated with it.