Stotras of Chinnamasta

Stotras of Chinnamasta are not mandatory practises like the ritual worship. The practitioner is however encouraged to chant these mantras daily after completing the ritual worship. The stotra elucidates upon the greatness of goddess Chinnamastika. The stotras comprises of lauds and depiction of Chinnamasta and her both attendants, Varnini and Dakini. The stotras are foremost a tribute to goddess Chinnamasta. This is very well evident by the bracketing of praises to Chinnamasta in the first and last paragraphs. The worshipper remains in a superior company because the supreme gods, Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, as well as yogis pay homage to Chinnamasta in the text. A devotee professes faith, while establishing loyalty and veneration to the goddess. Moreover by chanting the stotras one gets to known about the form and formless aspects of the goddess and hence becomes closer to her. It is the general belief of the devotee that by chanting the name and mantra of the goddess all efforts and dedication will result in receiving the desired goals, wealth, grain, great knowledge and the eight siddhis.

Kavaca
Kavaca means armour or a coat of mail. In the nyasa of the ritual section Kavaca refers to crossing of one`s arms and touching the shoulders. By reciting the mantra the practitioner secures his full body. These mantras should be recited at designated places of the body, beginning with the head and ending with the feet. The practitioner needs to wear amulets empowered by mantras. This practise secures the practitioner as he requests the deities to guard particular parts of the body. These deities are summoned by reciting the appropriate mantras and are appealed to stay at these parts of the body in order to neutralise negative influences, to propitiate planets. They are also welcomed to ward off untimely death and to provide general protection against all adverse circumstances. By the blessings of these deities one can deactivate potential negative forces. The name of this kavaca means victorious over the three worlds. The three worlds are: the earth, intermediate space and the sky. Thus they encompass the entire Hindu conception of the universe.