SLOKAS

 

Before the start of any activity 

 

Suklam baratharam vishnum sasivarnam sathurbujam 

Prasanna vadanam dyayeth sarva vignoba santhaye 

 

one who wears a white garment, all pervading one who has a brilliant complexion (like the full moon) one who has four hands, one who has an ever smiling face I meditate upon thee for the removal of all obstacles. 

 

A quick mind teaser: Any idea which god is invoked in this sloka?! Well, this as all our elders have taught us, is indeed a ganesha sloka but the name never figures and so the confusion. Well, the clue to the God is here: 

a) "sasi varnam" - Vishnu is gen. megha varnam but here it is mentioned sasi varnam. 

b) "sarva vignoba santhaye" - Ganesha is the only god called upon to remove obstacles and as maha periyava puts it he is the only vigna nashaka and hence this sloka refers to Ganesha. 

c) "Visnum" - Lord Ganesha is actually called upon to protect and hence the word "visnum" or "the one who protects"

 

 

Early Morning Sloka 

 

Early Morning is considered as the best time to worship God. Early morning is also known as "Brahma Mahurat" in the Hindu Mythology. It is regarded that prayers made at this time reach directly to the God. Early Morning Shloka (Sloka) is given here which also serves as the first prayer of the day to the almighty. 

 

Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Sarasvati, 

Karamuule Tu Govinda Prabhaate Karadarshanam, 

Samudravasane Devi Parvatastanamandale, 

Vishhnupatni Namastubhyam Paadasparsham Kshamasva Me

 

Meaning: The front part of the hands (the finger tips) is credited to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. The middle part or palm is credited to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and the root (the part of hand near the wrist) to Govinda. So, every morning, one should have a reverent look at one's hand which represents sincere labor.

 

I bow to Mother Earth, who has mountains and jungles on her body and whose clothing is made by the ocean. The wife of Lord Vishnu, please pardon me for touching you with my feet.

 

It is considered propitious to start the day with this sincere prayer. 

 

 

Before Getting Down from Bed

 

Samudravasane devi 

parvatastana mandale 

vishnupatni namastubhyam 

paada sparsham kshamasva me 

 

O! Mother Earth, who has the ocean as clothes and mountains and forests on her body, who is the wife of Lord Vishnu, I bow to you. Please forgive me for touching you with my feet. 

 

 

Holy Bath Sloka

 

Bathing is a time when people take a shower to shed the physical impurities and dirt of their body. Following is the Shloka/ Sloka for a Holy Bath, which can be recited while taking a bath. 

 

"Ganga Cha Yamuna Chaiva Godavari Saraswati, 

Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru" 

 

Meaning: The literal meaning of this mantra is: "In this water, I invoke the presence of divine waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. These rivers are considered as goddesses and I pray to them for considering me for their blessings. 

 

Significance: God has given us a beautiful life to live and has created this beautiful world. There are massive rivers and oceans in it. Many rivers like, Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati etc have their own significance. Taking bath in these rivers is considered auspicious. So, reciting this Sloka with a sincere heart brings you the benefit of taking bath in these rivers.

 

Sloka For Lighting Lamp 

 

Light is considered as a symbol of auspiciousness, prosperity and abundance in the Hindu religion. Light brings brightness with it and removes the darkness. Light makes it possible to see things clearly. Following Sloka / Shloka can be recited while lighting the lamp. This prayer is also known ''deepa shlokam'' 

 

"Subham Karoti Kalyanam 

Arogyam Dhana Sampadah 

Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya 

Dipa Jyotir Namostute" 

 

Meaning: The accurate meaning of the mantra is: "I fold my hands before the light that brings prosperity, auspiciousness, good health, abundance of wealth and destruction of the enemy's intellect". Here, Darkness symbolizes enemy's intellect and with the arrival of light, darkness disappears. Likewise, light (God's Grace) destroys darkness (enemy's intellect). 

 

"Deepajyothi Parabrahma 

Deepajyothi Janardhana 

Deepo Me Hara Tu Paapam 

Deepaa Jyothir Namostute"

 

Meaning: The literal meaning of the mantra is: "I fold my hands before the lord, the maintainer of this creation, in the form of this light. I adore this light, which destroys all the pains resulting from my omissions and commissions". 

 

 

Sloka While Eating 

 

Eating is an important activity, which is required in order to live. It is God, who has created each and every thing. Food, hunger, living beings, all of them form the part of God's creation. One should remember God, the omnipresent, who has given both, sweet and sour delicacies to satisfy our taste buds. Following is the Sloka/ Shloka which can be recited while eating or taking your food.

 

"Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havih Brahmaagnau Brahmana Hutam, 

Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam Brahmakarmasamaadhina" 

 

Meaning: The accurate meaning of this mantra is: "A practice of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the device of offering is Brahman, and the fire (hunger) to which the offering is made, is also Brahman. For such a one, who abides in everything (Brahman), by him alone Brahman is reached". 

 

Significance: Brahman refers to God himself. This Shloka suggests that god is everywhere, in the food, inside the devotee and even the hunger is God. So, devotee is taking the food (God) to the hunger (God). To put succinctly, we always thank god for his divine grace.

 

Sloka After Eating 

 

Agastyam kumbhakarnam cha shanim cha badavaanalam 

Aahaara paripaakaartham smared bhimam cha panchakam 

 

Chant this mantra while caressing your stomach with your left hand in the anti clock wise direction after having your meal. It helps in quick digestion. 

 

Seeking forgiveness for any errors in pronounciation or utterance 

 

yadakshara pada-bhrashTam mAtra hInantu yad bhavet 

tatsarvam kshyamyatAm deva nArAyaNa namostute 

visarga bindu mAtrANi pada pAdAksharANi cha 

nyUnAni chAtirikdhAni kshamasva purushottamah

 

Seeking Good Health: Maha Mrutunjaya Mantra (for long and healthy life) 

 

Om Trayambakam Yajamahe 

Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam 

Urvarukamiva Bandhanat 

Mrityormukshiya Mamritat 

 

Om-We worship the three eyed-one (Lord Shiva) who is fragrant and who nourishes well all beings; may He liberate us from death for the sake of Immortality even as a cucumber is severed from its bondage(to the creeper) 

 

For healing your body from any afflictions while taking medicine 

 

Om namo bhagavathe Vaasudevaya 

Dhanvanthreye amruta kalasa hasthaya 

Sarva aamaya naashanaya thrailoka naathaya 

sOm shri Mahavishnave namah. 

 

Sharire jarjari bhute 

vyadhi graste kalevare 

oushadham jaanhavi toyam 

vaidhyo naraayano Harihi 

 

Seeking Victory (in all our activities) 

 

Jaya cha Vijaya Chaiva 

Jayanthi Saparajitha 

Kupchika Kalika Sasthri 

Veena Pusthaka Daarini 

 

Seeking Wealth 

 

Maha Lakshmi Maha Kali 

Maha Kanya Saraswati 

Bhoga Vaibhava Santhathri Bhakta anugraha Karini 

 

On receiving all goodness, to retain sanity lest it goes to the head 

 

Na Punyam Na Paapam Na Soukhyam Na Dukham, 

Na Manthro Na Theertham Na Veda Na Yagna, 

Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Na Bhoktha, 

Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham 

 

Never do I have good deeds or sins or pleasure or sorrow, Neither do I have holy chants or holy water or holy books or fire sacrifice, I am neither food or the consumer who consumes food, I am Shiva, I am Shiva, of nature knowledge and bliss. 

 

To ward off bad dreams 

 

Rama Skanda hanumantam 

vainateyam vrukodaram 

Shayana yah smaren nityam 

duhswapnah tasya nasyati 

 

To ward off enemies and poison 

 

Ananthou vaasuki shesho 

Padmanabhascha kambalaha 

Shanka padou darta rashtrou 

Takshakaha kaliya sootha 

Yethani nava naamani 

Naagaa naamcha mahatmanaam 

Saayam kaale pate nithyam 

Pratha kaale visheshaha 

Tasmay visha bhayam naasti 

Sarvatra vijayee bhaveth 

 

To regain lost items 

 

Karthaveeryaarjuno naama raaja baahu sahasra bruth 

Tasya smarana maathrena Hrutham Nashtam cha Labyathi

 

Sloka to Recite Before Journey 

 

Vanamali Gadi Sharangee 

Changee chakreecha Nandaki 

Sriman NarayanoVishnur 

Vasudevobi Rakshatu 

 

Lord Narayana who also took the form of Krishna! Who holds the bow,sudharshana wheel to protect us from dangers. Please protect us from any danger and make our journey smooth. 

 

Praying for long life and good health and cleansing of sins: 

 

Akala Mrityu haranam 

Sarvavyadhinivaranam 

Sarva papa kshayakaram 

Vishnupadodakam shubham 

 

Sloka to wish someone on their Birthday (or for any occasion - sort of blessings) 

 

Swastya Stute kushala mastu 

Chirayurastu Vidhya Viveka 

Krithi Koushala Siddirastu 

Aishwaryamastu Bhalamastu 

Sadaa Jayostu Vamshasya Daiva Bhavatahee 

Sudeepya Thu Asthu 

 

Sloka to Bless Someone 

 

SathamAnam bhavathy SathAyu: 

Purusha syathendriyaha 

Ayush yEvendhriyah 

Prathithishtathi 

 

Life for 100 years with faculties and functions in tact is invoked here, as one looks at the Lord at the center of 

Soorya MaNDalam 

 

Tulasi Sloka 

 

1) namah tulasi kalyaaNi namo vishnu priye shubhe 

namo moksha pradaayike devi namaH sampatpradaayike 

 

Salutations to the benevolent Thulasi, Salutations to the holy darling of Vishnu Salutations to goddess giving salvation, Salutations to her who grants wealth. 

 

2) Yanmule sarva thirthani yanmadye sarva devatha 

yadagre sarva vedashcha Tulasi thvam namam mayham 

 

I bow to the Tulasi at whose base (Yanmule) are all the holy places (Sarva thirthani), at whose middle (yanmadye) are all deities (sarva devatha) and on whose top (yadagre) reside all Vedas (sarva vedashcha) . We see Tulasi as the embodiment of everything. 

 

 

Bedtime Sloka 

 

Bedtime is the time when people want to relax themselves after the long hectic schedules of the day. It is considerable to remember God at such time. Following Bedtime Sloka / Shloka is a bedtime prayer of the Hindus.

 

"Karacharana Krn Itam Vaakkaayajam Karmajam Vaa, 

Shravananayanajam Vaa Maanasam Vaaparaadham, 

Vihitamavihitam Vaa Sarvametatkshamasva, 

Jaya Jaya Karunaabdhe Shriimahaadeva Shambho"

 

Meaning: The literal meaning of the mantra is: "O God, kindly pardon my incorrect actions done consciously or unconsciously, either through my organs of action (hand, feet, and speech) or through my organs of perception (eyes, ears) or by my mind. I adore the God, who is the ocean of kindness".

 

Significance: By God's grace, we have completed one more day of our life. So, in order to thank god and to ask for his mercy, one can recite this Sloka. This bedtime Sloka is a prayer to God asking him to excuse our mistakes and maintain his mercy on us.