Prayer for peace or shanti mantra, which is chanted at the beginning of any activity or project: ॐसहनाववतु सहनौभुनक्तु। सहवीर्यंकरवावहैतेजस्विनावधीतमस्तुमाविद्विषावहै॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥ OM Saha Naavavatu Saha Nau Bhunaktu Saha Veeryam Karavaavahai Tejasvi Naavadheetamastu Maa Vidvishaavahai OM Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih OM may the God protect us, may He cause us to enjoy, may we exert together, may our studies be thorough and faithful, may we never quarrel with each other. OM Peace, Peace, Peace. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A shloka to Sri Ganesh:
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ । निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥ Vakra Tunda Mahaa Kaaya Soorya Koti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kuru May Deva Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvadaa I meditate on Sri Ganesh, who has a curved trunk, large body and who has the brilliance of a million suns. O Deva, please make all my activities free from obstacles, always. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Goddess Saraswati is the embodiment and source of all knowledge. The following prayer invokes Her blessings.
सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि । विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥ Saraswati Namastubhyam Varade Kaama Roopinni Vidyaarambham Karishyaami Siddhir Bhavatu May Sadaa
Salutations to Devi Saraswati, who is the giver of boons and fulfiller of wishes. When I begin my studies, please bestow on me the capacity of right understanding, always. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Our teachers teach us in many ways, the knowledge and skills to conduct our lives, to succeed and be happy. We seek their blessings with folded hands: गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरु साक्षात परब्रह्म: तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ Gurur Brahmaa Gurur Vishnu Gururdevo Maheshvarah Guru Saakshaat Parabrahmah Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru Deva is Maheswara. The Guru is verily the Para-Brahman (or the Supreme Brahman), we bow to that Guru. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The following shloka must be recited soon after waking up by looking into our open palms: कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मिः करमूले सरस्वति । करमध्ये तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥ Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamoole Saraswati Karamadhye Tu Govindah Prabhaate Karadarshanam At the top of the hands dwells Devi Lakshmi. At the base of the hands is Devi Saraswati. In the middle of the hands resides Sri Govinda. Therefore one should look at one's hands in the early morning. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It is customary in our culture to take a shower every morning to cleanse our body. Before pouring water on our head or body, we must collect a little water in our palms and chant: गङ्गेच यमुने चैव गोदावरी सरस्वति । नर्मदा सिन्धु कावेरी जलेऽस्मिन् संनिधिं कुरु ॥ Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godaavari Saraswati Narmadaa Sindhu Kaaveri Jalesmin Samnidhim Kuru
O holy rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaaveri, please be present in this water and make it holy. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It is a noble practice to remind ourselves of the Supreme Brahman within us before we consume food, especially our lunch or dinner. We pray that the food we are about to eat gives us the nourishment, strength and energy to live our lives in a righteous manner on a path that eventually leads us onto HIM. ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणाहुतम् । ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्म कर्म समाधिना ।। Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir Brahmagnau Brahmanaahutam Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam Brahma Karma Samaadhinaa The act of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, by Brahman it is offered into the fire of Brahman. Brahman is that which is to be attained by anyone who performs actions pertaining to Brahman. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The following shloka is a very popular one. त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव । त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणम् त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वम् मम देव देव ॥ Tvameva Maataa Cha Pitaa Tvameva Tvameva Bandhushcha Sakhaa Tvameva Tvameva Vidyaa Dravinam Tvameva Tvameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva You truly are my mother and you truly are my father. You truly are my relative and you truly are my friend. You truly are my knowledge and you truly are my wealth. You truly are my all, my God of Gods. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Gaayatri Mantra from the Rig Veda:
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं । भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥ OM Bhoor Bhuvah Svah Tat Savitur Varennyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayaat OM, we meditate on the Divine Illumination which pervades the consciousness of the physical elements, the astral space and the causal plane. May that Divine Effulgence which is the source of all creation, most adorable and fit for worship awaken our spiritual consciousness and propel us towards the higher reality. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Here is a universal prayer that can be chanted by anyone, anytime, anywhere and captures the core message of our religion for the entire creation. सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥ Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Sarve Santu Niraamayaah Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu Maa Kashchid Duhkha Bhaag Bhavet May all be happy, may all be healthy, may all see auspiciousness, may none suffer. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A simple yet powerful mantra, that creates a feeling of infinity, fullness, completeness, wholesomeness, limitlessness or Divine Consciousness.
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पुर्णमुदच्यते । पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥ OM Poornamadah Poornamidam Poornaat Poornamudachyate Poornasya Poornamaadaaya Poornamevaavashishyate OM Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih OM - That is infinity. This is infinity. From infinity emerges infinity. If infinity is taken away from infinity, what remains is infinity alone. OM Peace, Peace, Peace. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
