Gāyatrīkavaca

Gāyatrīkavaca is a devotional text dedicated to the recitation of the Gāyatrī mantra. The text is believed to to act as a protective shield for the devotee like an amulet as the name of the text suggests, being part of a tantric tradition. It is attributed to the Agastasaṁhitā but it is not an individual work it is commonly attributed to certain sections of purāṇic texts and other works. Same text present in Ms. Coll. 390; Item 407. The Gāyatrī mantra is a highly revered vedic verse found in the 3rd Mandala; 62nd Sukta; 10th Mantra of the Ṛgveda Saṃhitā. It is dedicated to Savitā (the Sun deity), the ṛṣi associated is Viśvāmitra and the meter of the verse is Gayatri from which the verse is named. Gayatri meter consists of 24 varnas (syllables) and three pādas (stanzas) in total. This Ms. is written 9–10 lines per folio. Cover page contains title. Title also present in colophon (f.3b) along with date śake 1716 bhāvanā 0 mārgaśīrṣaśuddha 7. Mistakes are covered with orange or blacked out.