Vakratunda Mahakaya
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
Vakratunda mahakaya, suryakoti samaprabha
Nirvighnam kuru me deva, sarva-karyeshu sarvada
Meaning. O Lord with the curved trunk and the mighty body, who shines like a million suns: please remove the obstacles from everything I do, always.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. A well-known traditional verse to Ganesha. It is not tied to one scripture; it is passed down in family prayer books.
How it is traditionally used. Said at the start of a new piece of work, a journey, a lesson or a ceremony, because Ganesha is the one invoked first.
Saying it. Say the double "tt" in a relaxed way: vak-ra-TUN-da. Keep an even, unhurried pace.
Gayatri Mantra
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं ।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Om bhur bhuvah svah
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
Meaning. Om. Earth, space and sky. We meditate on the adorable light of the divine Sun; may it inspire and awaken our understanding.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. Rigveda 3.62.10, a hymn addressed to Savitr, the sun as the giver of light. The opening "Om bhur bhuvah svah" is added in the traditional recitation.
How it is traditionally used. Traditionally recited at the junctions of the day, most often at sunrise, facing the east.
Saying it. Savitur is "sa-vi-tur"; varenyam is "va-RE-nyam". The ending "-yat" is soft.
Saha Nav Avatu (the study peace prayer)
ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om saha nav avatu, saha nau bhunaktu
Saha viryam karavavahai
Tejasvi navadhitam astu, ma vidvishavahai
Om shantih shantih shantih
Meaning. May we be protected together, and nourished together. May we work together with energy. May our learning be bright, and may there be no quarrel between us. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. A shanti (peace) verse of the Krishna Yajurveda, found at the start and end of the Taittiriya and Katha Upanishads.
How it is traditionally used. Traditionally said by a teacher and student before study, and used today by families, classes and teams who share a task.
Saying it. Say it slowly, as a wish for two people. The three "shantih" are spoken softly, each a little quieter.
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ॥
Om tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushti-vardhanam
Urvarukam iva bandhanan mrityor mukshiya mamritat
Meaning. We honour the three-eyed Lord, fragrant and nourishing. As a ripe cucumber is freed from its vine, may we be freed from the bond of death, and not from immortality.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. Rigveda 7.59.12, and repeated in the Yajurveda. It is addressed to Rudra, a name of Shiva.
How it is traditionally used. Often chanted in 108 repetitions with a mala, and offered by families for the wellbeing and peace of someone who is unwell. It is a prayer, not a medical treatment, and it never replaces a doctor.
Saying it. Tryambakam is "try-AM-ba-kam"; mrityor is "mri-tyor". Many people find it easiest with a steady, slow beat.
Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Gurur brahma gurur vishnu gurur devo maheshvarah
Guruh sakshat param brahma tasmai shri gurave namah
Meaning. The teacher is Brahma, the teacher is Vishnu, the teacher is the Lord Maheshvara. The teacher is the Supreme itself. I bow to that teacher.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. A famous verse of the Guru Gita, a devotional text of the guru tradition, placed in the Skanda Purana.
How it is traditionally used. Said before a lesson or a practice, on Guru Purnima, and when remembering a teacher.
Saying it. Gurur and gurur-vishnu run together: "gu-rur-brah-ma gu-rur-vish-nuh". Pause at the end of each line.
Dhyana Mulam Guror Murtih
ध्यानमूलं गुरोर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलं गुरोः पदम् ।
मन्त्रमूलं गुरोर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरोः कृपा ॥
Dhyana-mulam guror murtih, puja-mulam guroh padam
Mantra-mulam guror vakyam, moksha-mulam guroh kripa
Meaning. The root of meditation is the form of the teacher. The root of worship is the teacher's feet. The root of mantra is the teacher's word. The root of freedom is the teacher's grace.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. A verse from the Guru Gita.
How it is traditionally used. Said with the Guru Brahma verse before practice, in gratitude to one's teachers.
Saying it. Moksha is "mok-sha" with a soft "sh".
Akhanda Mandalakaram
अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम् ।
तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Akhanda-mandalakaram vyaptam yena characharam
Tat-padam darshitam yena tasmai shri gurave namah
Meaning. I bow to the teacher who showed me that Reality, which fills the whole world, moving and unmoving, as one unbroken whole.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. A verse from the Guru Gita tradition.
How it is traditionally used. Said in remembrance of a teacher, often before the Guru Brahma verse.
Saying it. Characharam is "cha-ra-CHA-ram": the moving and the unmoving.
Brahmanandam Parama Sukhadam
ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं केवलं ज्ञानमूर्तिं
द्वन्द्वातीतं गगनसदृशं तत्त्वमस्यादिलक्ष्यम् ।
एकं नित्यं विमलमचलं सर्वधीसाक्षिभूतं
भावातीतं त्रिगुणरहितं सद्गुरुं तं नमामि ॥
Brahmanandam parama-sukhadam kevalam jnana-murtim
Dvandvatitam gagana-sadrisham tattvamasyadi-lakshyam
Ekam nityam vimalam achalam sarva-dhi-sakshi-bhutam
Bhavatitam trigunarahitam sad-gurum tam namami
Meaning. I bow to the true teacher: the bliss of the Absolute, the giver of deep joy, one alone, the form of knowledge, beyond opposites, vast as the sky, the aim of "That you are"; one, eternal, spotless and unmoving, the witness of every thought, beyond all states of mind and free of the three gunas.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. A traditional guru verse chanted in the Advaita Vedanta tradition and often grouped with the Guru Gita verses.
How it is traditionally used. A longer verse for quiet morning sitting, when remembering a teacher.
Saying it. Learn one line at a time. Dvandvatitam is "dvan-dvaa-TEE-tam".
Karagre Vasate Lakshmi
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती ।
करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥
Karagre vasate Lakshmih, karamadhye Sarasvati
Karamule tu Govindah, prabhate kara-darshanam
Meaning. At the tip of the hand lives Lakshmi, in the middle Sarasvati, and at the base Govinda. So in the early morning, look at your palms.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. A traditional morning verse of household prayer.
How it is traditionally used. Said on waking, looking at the open palms, before getting out of bed.
Saying it. Our own page has a recitation: see the full Kara Darshana page.
Open the full Kara Darshana page with audio
Prataha Smarami (morning remembrance of Shiva)
प्रातः स्मरामि भवभीतिहरं सुरेशं
गङ्गाधरं वृषभवाहनमम्बिकेशम् ।
खट्वाङ्गशूलवरदाभयहस्तमीशं
संसाररोगहरमौषधमद्वितीयम् ॥
Pratah smarami bhava-bhiti-haram suresham
Gangadharam vrishabha-vahanam ambikesham
Khatvanga-shula-varadabhaya-hastam isham
Samsara-roga-haram aushadham advitiyam
Meaning. In the early morning I remember the Lord of the gods, who takes away the fear of worldly life; who carries the Ganga, rides the bull, and is the Lord of Ambika; who holds a staff and a trident and shows the gestures of blessing and fearlessness; the one and only medicine for the sickness of worldly life.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. The first verse of the Pratah Smarana Stotra, traditionally credited to Adi Shankaracharya.
How it is traditionally used. A morning verse, usually said after waking and washing. "Sickness" in the verse means the restlessness of worldly life, not physical illness.
Saying it. Khatvanga is "khat-VAANG-ga".
Samudra Vasane Devi (asking pardon of the Earth)
समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डले ।
विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे ॥
Samudra-vasane devi parvata-stana-mandale
Vishnu-patni namastubhyam pada-sparsham kshamasva me
Meaning. O Goddess whose garment is the ocean and whose body is the mountains, wife of Vishnu: I bow to you. Please forgive me for touching you with my feet.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. A traditional verse of household prayer, spoken to Bhumi Devi, Mother Earth.
How it is traditionally used. Said in the morning just before the feet first touch the floor.
Saying it. Kshamasva is "ksha-MAS-va": the "ksh" sounds like "ksh" in "worksheet".
Sarveshaam Svastir Bhavatu
ॐ सर्वेषां स्वस्तिर्भवतु । सर्वेषां शान्तिर्भवतु ।
सर्वेषां पूर्णं भवतु । सर्वेषां मङ्गलं भवतु ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om sarveshaam svastir bhavatu, sarveshaam shantir bhavatu
Sarveshaam purnam bhavatu, sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu
Om shantih shantih shantih
Meaning. May all be well. May all be at peace. May all be fulfilled. May all have what is auspicious. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. A traditional shanti verse, often placed at the end of Vedic recitation and in daily prayers.
How it is traditionally used. Said at the end of a prayer or practice, as a wish for everyone.
Saying it. Sarveshaam is "sar-VAY-shaam". Say it as a wish, with a smile if you like.
Purnam Adah (the verse of wholeness)
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om purnam adah purnam idam purnat purnam udachyate
Purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavashishyate
Om shantih shantih shantih
Meaning. That is whole, this is whole; from the whole the whole comes forth. Take the whole from the whole, and the whole remains.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. The peace verse of the Isha Upanishad (also the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad).
How it is traditionally used. Said at the start of study or meditation. It reminds us that the Infinite is not reduced by giving.
Saying it. Udachyate is "u-DACH-ya-te". Keep the rhythm even, like a slow walk.
Asato Ma Sad Gamaya
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om asato ma sad gamaya
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
Mrityor ma amritam gamaya
Om shantih shantih shantih
Meaning. Lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.3.28), the Pavamana mantra.
How it is traditionally used. A favourite evening and opening prayer in schools and ashrams, and sung widely in the form of a bhajan.
Saying it. Jyotir is "jyo-tir". Say it as a gentle request, in a rising and falling tune.
Om Namah Shivaya
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om namah shivaya
Meaning. Om, I bow to Shiva, the auspicious one.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. The five-syllable (panchakshara) mantra "na-mah-shi-va-ya", found in the Yajurveda (Shri Rudram) and in many Shaiva texts.
How it is traditionally used. Chanted aloud or silently, often in 108 repetitions with a mala, and sung in kirtan.
Saying it. Namah is "na-mah" with a soft "h"; shivaya is "shi-VA-ya".
Om Namo Narayanaya
ॐ नमो नारायणाय
Om namo narayanaya
Meaning. Om, I bow to Narayana, the name of Vishnu, who rests upon the waters and is the refuge of all beings.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. The eight-syllable (ashtakshara) mantra of Vishnu, found in the Narayana Upanishad and central to the Vaishnava tradition.
How it is traditionally used. Chanted silently or aloud, with a mala, as a prayer of surrender and trust.
Saying it. Narayanaya is "na-ra-ya-NA-ya".
Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram
श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम
Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram
Meaning. Glory to Shri Rama, the compassionate and courageous hero of the Ramayana. "Jai" means victory or praise.
Where it comes from, and how it is used
Source. The thirteen-syllable Rama mantra, traditionally associated with the saint Samarth Ramdas and widely sung in kirtan.
How it is traditionally used. Sung together at gatherings and chanted with a mala. It is easy to learn, which is why it is so loved.
Saying it. The thirteen syllables fit one steady, joyful beat.
No mantra matches that. Try a shorter word.