Daily Prayers 2

Mantras and Shlokas

Om Mantra

Om, Om, Om

Om is the original sound, the sound of Brahman, the supreme universal reality


Prayer for Education, Enlightenment and Success

Om Saha Naavavatu, Saha Nau Bhunaktu
Saha veeryam karavaavahai.
Tejasvi-navadhee-tamastu
Maa vidvishaavahai

Om, may the Lord protect us both (guru and disciple), may he cause us to enjoy (the supreme), May we exert together. May our studies be through and faithfull (to become brilliant). May we never quarrel/hate each other.


Ganesh Shloka

Vakratunda Mahakaya
Surya Koti Samaprabha
Neervigna Kurume Deva
Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada

O Lord Ganesha possessing a large body
curved trunk, with the brilliance
of a million suns, please make all
my work free of obstacles—always.


Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra is the most sacred of the RigVeda Mantras. Gayatri means, “the savior of the singer.” Reciting this prayer protects one from harm, dispels the darkness of ignorance and illuminates the world.

Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

Mother who subsists as all three Kalas, in all three Lokas, and all three Gunas, I pray to you to illuminate my intellect and dispel my ignorance, just as the splendorous sunlight dispels all darkness. I pray to you to make my intellect serene and bright.

Kalas = Lapses of time: past, present and future
Lokas = Worlds or realms of experience
Gunas = Universal Attributes: harmony, agitation and inertia


Prayer to Saraswati

Yaa Kundendu Tushara Haara Dhawalaa
Yaa Shubhra Vastraavritra
Yaa Weena Wara Danda Mandita Karaa
Yaa Shweta Padmaasanaa

Yaa Brahmaachyuta Shankarah Prabhritibhih
Dewaih Sadaa Wanditaa
Saa Maarn Paatu Saraswatee Bhagawatee
Nisheshaa Jaadyaa Pahaa

May Goddess Saraswati,
who is bedecked with white kunda flowers, who has worn pure white clothes resembling snow and moon,
who is holding a veena as her danda or instrument to draw the attention of her devotees/students,
who is sitting on a white lotus and one who is worshipped at all times by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
May she remove my laziness and ignorance.
My salutations to such a Goddess of knowledge.


Prayer to the Teacher

Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu,
Guru Devo Maheshwara;
Guru Sakshat Parabrahma
Tasmai Shri Guruve Namaha

The teacher is like
Lord Brahma as he fosters knowledge within us,
Lord Vishnu as he turns the knowledge in our mind to the right path,
Lord Shiva as he destroys the wrong concepts that come with knowledge, while helping us to the path of enlightenment.
Thus the teacher is like our ultimate God and we should pray and give respect to our teacher.


Universal Prayer for Enlightenment and Immortality

In this mantra the devotee prays to the Lord for freedom from ignorance and attainment of immortality.

Asato Maa Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityor Maa Amritam Gamaya
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Oh Lord,
lead me from untruth to truth,
from darkness to light,
from death to immortality.
Peace, Peace Peace.


Complete Surrender to God

This mantra is usually recited at the conclusion of a prayer session, meditation, or religious function. Here the devotee surrenders his or her individuality to the Lord for his Grace.

Twameva Mata, Chapita Twameva
Twameva Bandhu, Cha Sakha Twameva
Twameva Vidya, Dravinum Twameva
Twameva sarvam mama deva-deva

Oh Lord!
You alone are my mother, father, brother, friend, the knowledge and wealth.
You are everything to me and the God of all Gods.


Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Niramayah
Sarve Bhadrani Pushyantu
Maa Kaschid Dukhabhaag Bhavet
Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaanti

Shubhamastu…Kalyaanamastu…
Aishwaryamastu… Udayostu… Udayostu

May everybody be happy.
May everybody be free from disease.
May everybody have good luck.
May none fall on evil days.
Peace, peace, peace.


Miscellaneous Mantras and Shlokas


Shanti Mantra

Om Shanti Antarikshagunda
Shanti Prithvi
Shanti Raapa
Shanti Roshadaya
Shanti Vanaspataya
Shanti Vishvayedeva
Shanti Brahma
Shanti Sarva Gunda
Shanti Shanti Reva
Shanti Saama
Shanti Redhi
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om

May there be peace in the universe and the world.
May peace be on our earth.
May peace reside in nature and everything that is created.


Shree Ganesha Slokham

Pranamya sirasa devam gauri putram vinayakam
Bhaktavasam smarennityam-ayuh kamartha-siddhaye (1)

Prathamam vakra-tundam ca ekadantam dvitiyakam
Trtiyam krsna-pingaksam gaja-vaktram catuthakam (2)

Lambodaram pancamam ca sastham vikatam-eva ch
Saptamam vighna-rajam ca dhumra-varnam tathastamam (3)

Navamam bhala-candram ca dasamam tu vinayakam
Ekadasam ganapatim dvadasam tu gajananam (4)

Dvadasaitani namani tri-sandhyam yah pathen-narah
Na ca vighna-bhayam tasya sarva-siddhi-karam prabho (5)

I respectfully offer my daily prayers
to Lord Ganesa for a meaningful life and right guidance.
I invoke Sri Ganesa with the following description:
curved mouth, single tusk, black eyes, elephant face, big stomach, giant structure, savior of all, grey colored, moon like forehead, protector, ganapati, and Gajanana.


Morning Prayer

This mantra is recited as soon as one wakes up and is spoken while observing the right hand

Karagre vasate laxmi, kara-madhye saraswati,
Kara-mule tu govindam; prabhate kara darshnam.


Prayer to the Supreme

This prayer is the universal oneness of the Brahma through the many manifestations.

Akashat patitam toyam, yada gachchati sagram,
Sarva devo namaskaraha, keshavam pratigachchati.


Meal Time Prayer

This prayer is chanted before a meal and expresses a feeling of gratefulness for the food that one is about to benefit from.

Danaa detaa, paka karta, tahta bhogata, sukhi bhava.


Prayer for good fortune

This prayer is said in front of the deity when a diya (burning lamp) is lit.

Shubham karoti, kalyanam, arogyam, dhana sampada,
Shatru-buddhi vinashaya, deepat-jyoti namo-stute.


Peace Invocation

The following Upanishadic mantra affirms that this manifestation of Brahman

Om poornam-adah, poornam-idam,
poor-nath Poornam-udachyate;
Poor-nasya poornam-adaya,
Poornam-eva-vashishyate.