A Composition of Daily Prayers
Vedic Prayers Before Any Task
ॐ गणानां त्वां गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कविनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् ।
ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणं ब्रह्मणस्पत आनः शृण्वन्नुतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ । निर्विघ्नं कुरुमे देव सर्व कार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
सिद्धि बुद्धि शक्ति सहित श्रीमन् महागणाधिपतये नमो नमः । निर्विघ्नं कुरु ॥
oṃ gaṇānāṃ tvāṃ gaṇapatiṃ havāmahe kaviṃ kavināṃ upamaśravastamam ।
jyeṣṭharājaṃ brahmaṇaṃ brahmaṇaspata ānaḥ śṛṇvannu tibhiḥ sīda sādanam ॥
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprabha ।
nirbighnaṃ kurume deva sarva karyeṣu sarvadā ॥
siddhi buddhi śakti sahita śriman mahā gaṇādhipataye namo namaḥ ।
nirvighnaṃ kuru ॥
O Ganesha, ruler of all gods, the wisest among all wise ones,
the eldest among gods, the leader of all gods, we offer oblations to you.
Listening to our humble praise, may you come and sit among us and fulfill our learning.
With curved tusk, big body, and effulgence equal to a thousand suns,
Oh deva, may my duties always be free of obstacles.
Accomplished, intelligent and powerful, the lord of hosts, we bow to you.
May I be free of all obstacles.
या कुन्देन्दु तुषार हार धवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता । या वीणावरदण्डमण्डित करा या श्वेतपद्मासना ॥
या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकर प्रभृतिर्भिः देवैसदा बन्दिता । सा मां पातु सरस्वति भगवति निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥
yā kundendu tuṣāra hāra dhavalā, yā śubhra vastrāvṛtā ।
yā vīṇā varadaṇda maṇdita karā, yā śveta padmāsanā ॥
yā brahmā cyuta śaṃkara prabhṛtirbhiḥ, devai sadā vanditā।
sā māṃ pātu sarasvati bhagavati niḥśeṣa jāḍyāpahā ॥
Oh, the white, delicate one, who wears a white garment;
who is like a garland of dew drops on the moon;
who plays a Vīṇā, with ornamented hands (bestowing blessings); who sits on a white lotus; who is always worshiped by Brahma, Vishnu and Śiva;
May that great goddess Saraswati protect me and remove ignorance from my consciousness.
Prayers To The Teacher
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥
gururbrahmā gururviṣṇuḥ gururdevo maheśvaraḥ ।
guruḥ sākṣāt para-brahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ॥
Guru is the creator (Brahma); Guru is the preserver (Vishnu);
Guru is the destroyer (Maheshvara);
Guru is the Supreme Absolute. To that Guru we prostrate.
ध्यानमूलम् गुरोर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलम् गुरोर्पदम् ।
मन्त्रमूलम् गुरोर्वाक्यम् मोक्शमूलम् गुरोर्कृपा ॥
dhyānamūlam gurormūrtiḥ pūjāmūlam gurorpadam ।
mantramūlam gurorvākyam mokshamūlam gurorkṛpā॥
The root of meditation is The Guru's form; the root of worship is the Guru's feet;
The root of Mantra is the Guru's word; the root of liberation is the Guru's Grace.
ॐ सह नाववतु सह नौ भुनक्तु सह वीर्यं कर्वावहै ।
तेजस्विना वधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ saha nāvavatu saha nau bhunaktu saha vīryaṃ karvāvahai ।
tejasvinā vadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahai ।
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥
Om, May god protect us and nourish us. May we work together with great energy,
May our study be vigorous and fruitful. May there be no animosity between us.
Om, peace, peace, peace.
Morning Prayers Before Leaving Bed
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मिः करमध्ये सरस्वति ।
करमूले स्थिता गौरीः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥
karāgre vasate lakṣmiḥ karamadhye sarasvati ।
karamūle sthitā gaurīḥ prabhāte karadarśanam ॥
At the tip of the hands resides Lakshmi, and in the middle, Saraswati;
at the root is seated Gauri, (so first) see the palm of the hand at dawn.
समुद्र वसने देवी पर्वत स्तनमण्डले ।
विष्णुपत्निनमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे ॥
samudra vasane devi parvata stanamaṇḍale ।
viṣṇupatni namastubhyaṃ pādasparśaṃ kṣamasva me ॥
O Goddess, dressed with the oceans, bedecked in the chest with mountains,
O consort of Vishnu, forgive me for touching you with my feet.
शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥
śuklāmbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam ।
prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyet sarvavighna upaśāntaye ॥
Wearing white clothes of purity, Vishnu
possessing the brilliance of the moon, having four arms,
a (compassionate) pleasant-face,
Meditate on him for the pacification (and elimination) of all obstructions.
Evening Prayers
दीपं ज्योतिः परब्रह्म दीपं ज्योतिर्जनार्दनः ।
दीपो हरतु मे पापं संध्यादीपं नमोऽस्तुते ॥
dīpaṃ jyotiḥ parabrahma dīpaṃ jyotirjanārdanaḥ ।
dīpo haratu me papaṃ saṃdhyādīpaṃ namo’stute ॥
The light of the lamp represents the supreme brahman,
The light of the lamp represents Janardhan (Sri Vishnu),
May this light remove my sins,
I offer salutations to the light of this evening lamp.
कायेन वाचा मनसेद्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात् ।
करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयामि ॥
kāyena vācā manasendriyairvā buddhyātmanā vā prakṛteḥ svabhāvāt ।
karomi yadyatsakalaṃ parasmai nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi ॥
By body, speech, mind or sense organs,
using my intellect, feelings or unconsciously through natural tendencies of my mind,
All of what I do,
I surrender and submit to the supreme divine Narayana.
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चित् दुःखभाग्भवेत्
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ sarve santu nirāmayāḥ ।
sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścidduḥkhabhāgbhavet ।
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥
Om, may all be happy, may all be free from illness,
may all see goodness, may no one suffer.
Om, peace peace peace.
Prayers Before Food
अन्नं ब्रह्मा रसो विष्णुः पक्तोदेवो महेश्वरः ।
एवं ज्ञात्वा तुयो भुङ्क्ते अन्नदोषो न लिप्यते ॥
annaṃbrahmā raso viṣṇuḥ paktodevo maheśvaraḥ ।
evaṃ jñātvā tuyo bhuṅkte annadoṣo na lipyate ॥
Food is Brahma (the creator); the nutrition it gives is Vishnu (the preserver);
the one who eats is Maheshvara;
Knowing this when you enjoy it,
impurities in food will not be a part of you.
अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः ।
प्राणापान समायुक्तः पचाम्यन्नं चतुर्विधं ॥
ahaṃ vaiśvānaro bhūtvā prāṇināṃ dehamāśritaḥ ।
prāṇāpāna samāyuktaḥ pacāmyannaṃ caturvidhaṃ ॥
Becoming the fire of life, I live inside the bodies of all creatures,
mingling with the prāṇa (Incoming breath) & apāna (outgoing breath),
I digest the four kinds of food (Chewed food, drinks, licked food, and sucked food).
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविः ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् ।
ब्रह्मैव तेन गंतव्यं ब्रह्मकर्म समाधिना ॥
हरि ॐ तत् सत् ॥
brahmārpaṇaṃ brahma haviḥ brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam ।
brahmaiva tena gaṃtavyaṃ brahmakarma samādhinā ॥
hari om tat sat ||
A practice of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman,
The;lo 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.
Prayers To Bring Focus (e.g. Before Study)
ॐ भुर्भुबः स्वः तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं ।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
oṃ bhūrbhubaḥ svaḥ tat saviturvareṇyaṃ ।
bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ॥
Om, Pervading the Bhu Loka, Bhuvar Loka and Swarga Loka,
that Savitri, the divine essence of the Sun which is the most Adorable,
I meditate on that divine effulgence.
May that awaken our Intelligence (Spiritual Consciousness).
(Bhuh - Earth, Consciousness of the physical plane, visible world,
Bhuvah - Antariksha, The consciousness of prana, invisible world inside us,
Svah - Heaven, consciousness of the divine mind, invisible world outside us)
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरुमे देव सर्व कार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
vakratuṇda mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprabha ।
nirvighnaṃ kurume deva sarva kāryeṣu sarvadā ॥
O god with the twisted trunk, broad-bodied, brilliant as thousand suns,
bless me with freedom from obstructions and hindrances in all my works and for all times.
सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥
sarasvati namastubhyaṃ varade kāmarūpiṇi ।
vidyārambhaṃ kariṣyāmi siddhir bhavatu me sadā ॥
Salutation to you, O Saraswathi,
giver of blessings, who fulfills all our wishes.
As we begin our learning, our path to wisdom,
please bestow upon us the capacity of right understanding always.
Shanti Path - Prayers to Bring Peace
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ asato mā sadgamaya tamaso mā jyotirgamaya ।
ṃṛtyormā amṛtaṃ gamaya oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥
Om, lead me from the unreal to the real, lead me from darkness to light,
lead me from death to immortality. Om, peace peace peace.
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूणात्पूर्णमुदच्यते
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṃ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate
pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evā vaśiṣyate
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥
Om, all that is (invisible world) is complete, and all of this (visible world) is also complete.
From completeness (invisible infinite world of God) comes completeness (finite visible world).
When something complete is taken from complete, it still remains complete.
Om, peace peace peace.
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ।
स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवां सस्तनूभिः व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ॥
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः स्वस्ति नः पूषाः विश्ववेदाः
स्वस्ति न स्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ bhadraṃ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devāḥ bhadraṃ paśyemākṣabhiryajatrāḥ ।
sthirairangaistuṣṭuvāṃ sastanubhiḥ vyaśema devahitaṃ yadāyuḥ ॥
svasti na indro vṛddha śravāḥ svasti naḥ pūṣāḥ viśvavedāḥ ।
svasti na stārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ svasti no bṛhaspatirdadhātu ॥
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥
O Deities! By ears may we hear what is auspicious; by eyes may we see what is auspicious;
O worshiped ones! With hale and hearty limbs may we live offering our praises (unto Thee).
May we live the entire span of life for the benefit of God (others).
May the ancient and famous Indra give blessings to us. May the all-knowing Sun give blessings to us. May the Lord of swift motion (Garuda), who removes our obstacles give blessings to us. May Brhaspati (Guru of deities) give blessings to us. Om, peace peace peace.
ॐ ध्यौः शान्तिः अन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः
पृथिवि शान्तिः आपः शान्तिः ऒषधयः शान्तिः ।
वनस्पतयः शान्तिः विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिः ब्रह्म शान्तिः सर्वं शान्तिः
शान्तिरेव शान्तिः सा मा शान्तिरेधि ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ dhyauḥ śāntiḥ antarikṣaṃ śāntiḥ
pṛthivi śāntiḥ āpaḥ śāntiḥ oṣadhayaḥ śāntiḥ
vanaṣpatayaḥ śāntiḥ viśvedevāḥ śāntiḥ brahma śāntiḥ
sarvaṃ śāntiḥ śāntireva śāntiḥ sā mā śāntiredhi
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥
May peace radiate in the whole sky and in the vast ethereal space everywhere.
May peace reign all over this earth, in water and in all herbs, in trees and creepers.
May peace flow over the whole universe. May peace be in the supreme being Brahman.
And may all be in peace and peace alone.
May that peace, real peace be mine.
Om, peace peace peace.
देवी सुरेश्वरी भगवती गङ्गे त्रिभुवनतारिणी तरलतरङ्गे ।
शंकरमौलि विहारिणि विमले मम मतिरास्तां तव पदकमले ॥
भागीरथि सुख दायिनि मातः तव जल महिमा निगमे ख्यातः ।
नाहं जाणे तव महिमानं पाहि कृपामयि मामज्ञानम् ॥
devī sureśvarī bhagavatī gaṅge tribhuvanatāriṇī tarala tarange ।
śaṃkaramauli vihāriṇī vimale mama matirāstāṃ tava padakamale ॥
bhāgirathi sukha dāyini mātaḥ tava jala mahimā nigame khyātaḥ ।
nāhaṃ jāṇe tava mahimānaṃ pāhi kṛpāmayi māmajñanam ॥
O Goddess Gaṅgā! You are the divine river from heaven, you are the savior of all three worlds,
you adorn Lord Śiva’s head, you are pure and restless, may my mind always rest at your lotus feet.
O Bhagirathi! You are the mother that gives happiness.
The significance of your holy water is famous in the Vedas.
I do not have the power to comprehend your greatness.
Give me protection from my ignorance, O compassionate devi.