Activity specific sloka

Slokas for our kids - categorised based on activity.

Every activity in one's life is viewed as a result of the powers above. Hence each activity is revered and a prayer chanted to execute the task on hand more out of sincerity and devotion rather than out of "i know everything" attitude.

It is said that:
Two things define your success in life:
1) The way you manage when you have nothing
2) The way you behave when you have everything

These slokas help not only keep one grounded but also reduce greatly the haste involved.

Recalling the sloka and chanting it, by itself and unknowingly induces a pause before the start of the activity which helps free flow of thoughts and a cooler approach to activity on hand...

1) 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"

2) Prarthana
Twameva mata cha pita twameva
Twameva bandhushcha sakha twameva
Twameva vidya dravinam twameva
Twameva sarvam mama deva deva

You are my mother and my father You are my relative and friend You are my knowledge and my wealth You are my all O Lord of Lords.

3) EARLY MORNING PRAYERS (No idols, God is in our own self)
The first thing when we get up in the morning before we see anyone or anything we must look at our open palms joint together and recite this mantra

Karaagre vasate lakshmi
karamadhye saraswati
karamooleh tu govinda
prabhaate karadarshanam

The front part of the hands (the finger tips) are ascribed to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, the middle part (the palm proper) to Goddess Saraswati - the Goddess of learning and the root (the part of of hand near the wrist) to Govinda (God). Therefore, every morning, one should have a respectful look at one's hand which symbolizes honest labor.

4) BEFORE GETTING DOWN FROM THE 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.

5) WHILE TAKING A BATH
Gange cha Yamune chaiva
Godaavari Saraswati,
Narmadhe Sindhu Kaveri
Jale asmin sannidhim kuru

In this water, I invoke the presence of holy waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri

6) BEFORE EATING
Brahmaarpanam brahma havih
brahmaagnau braahmanaa hutam
brahmaiva tena gantavyam
brahma karma samaadhinaa

A process of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the instrument of offering is Brahman, the fire to which the offering is made is also Brahman. For such a one who abides in Brahman, by him alone Brahman is reached

7) AFTER EATING
अगस्त्यम कुम्भकर्णं च शनिंच बडवानलं
आहार परिपाकार्थ स्मरेद भीमं च पंचमं
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.

8) a) WHILE LIGHTING A LAMP
Shubham karoti kalyaanam
aarogyam dhana sampadaa
shatrubuddhi vinaashaaya
deepajyoti namostute

I salute the One who is the lamplight, that brings auspiciousness, prosperity, good health, abundance of wealth, and the destruction of the intellect's enemy

b) WHILE LIGHTING THE LAMPS DURING KARTHIGAI FESTIVAL
Keetaha PatangAha MashakAha cha vrukhshAha

JalE sthalE ye nivasanti JeevAha

DruShTvA pradeepam na cha janma bhAjAha

SukhinAha Bhavantu svapachAha hi viprAha

Keetaha - insects; PatangAha - fireflies; MashakAha - mosquitoes; cha - and vrukhshAha - trees;

ye  JeevAha - those living beings nivasanti - whose abode is; JalE - water; sthalE - land; 

DruShTvA pradeepam - see this kartigai deepam; na cha janma bhAjAha - may they attain the end of the cycle of samsaram

SukhinAha Bhavantu - may they all be happy; svapachAha hi viprAha - be they chandalas or highly revered vedic pandits.

Learned people say that just by seeing the brightly lit kartigai deepam, insects, birds, reptiles, trees and all living things residing in water and land can be permanently liberated from bondages and cycle of rebirth and stay happy, be it chandalas or revered pandits.

9) MANTRA FOR REMOVING ANY OBSTACLES

1) Vakra Thunda Maha Kaya,
Koti Soorya Sama prabha,
Nirvignam Kuru me Deva,
sarva karyesshu sarvadha

God who has an immense body, God who has a broken tusk, God who shines like millions of Suns, Remove all my problems, From all that I do and at all times.

2) Sanjeeva parvathoddhara mama dukham nivaraya
ghoran upadravan sarvan nasha yakshasuranthaka
markatesha mahothsaha sarva shoka vinashaka
shatrun samhara mama raksha shriyam dhathwa cha mambhara

10) Guru slokas
1) Gurur brahmaa gurur vishnuh
gurur devo maheshvarah
gurur saakshaat parabrahma
tasmai shree gurave namah.

Know the Guru to be Brahma himself. He is Vishnu. He is also Shiva. Know Him to be the Supreme Brahman, and offer thy adorations unto that peerless Guru

2) Gnanananda Mayam Devam
Nirmala Spatika Kruthim
Aadharam Sarva Vidyanam
Hayagrivam Upasmahe

I promise myself before the Goddess who is the personification of knowledge and Happiness, who is very pure, and who is the basis of all learning

3) Namaste Shaarade-Devi
Kaashmiira-pura Vaasini
Tvaam-Aham Praartthaye Devi
Vidyaa-Buddhimcha Dehi Meh

I bow to Goddess Shaarada, resident of the regions of Kashmir, I pray to you to give us the gift of education and knowledge.

4) Saraswathi Namasthubyam,
Varadey Kaamarupinee
Vidhyarambham Karishyami
Sidhir bhavathu mey sada

Oh Goddess, Saraswathi, my humble salutations to you, who are the fulfiller of all my wishes. I start my studies with the request that thou will bestow Thy blessings on me

11) 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

12) BEDTIME PRAYER
Karacharanam kritam vaa kaayajam karmajam vaa
shravananayanajam vaa maanasam vaaparaadham
vihitamavihitam vaa sarvametatkshamasva
jaya jaya karunaabdhe shriimahaadeva shambho

Oh Lord kindly forgive my wrong actions done knowingly or unknowingly, either through my organs of action (hand, feet, speech) or through my organs of perception (eyes, ears) or by my mind. Glory unto Thee who is the ocean of kindness.

13) 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)

14) For healing your body from any afflictions while taking medicine
1) Om namo bhagavathe Vaasudevaya
Dhanvanthreye amruta kalasa hasthaya
Sarva aamaya naashanaya thrailoka naathaya
sOm shri Mahavishnave namah.

2) Sharire jarjari bhute
vyadhi graste kalevare
oushadham jaanhavi toyam
vaidhyo naraayano Harihi

15) SEEKING VICTORY (in all our activities)
Jaya cha Vijaya Chaiva
Jayanthi Saparajitha
Kupchika Kalika Sasthri
Veena Pusthaka Daarini

16) SEEKING WEALTH
Maha Lakshmi Maha Kali
Maha Kanya Saraswati
Bhoga Vaibhava Santhathri
Bhakta anugraha Karini

17) 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.

18) To ward off bad dreams
Rama Skanda hanumantam
vainateyam vrukodaram
Shayana yah smaren nityam
duhswapnah tasya nasyati

19) 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

20) To regain lost items
Karthaveeryaarjuno naama raaja baahu sahasra bruth
Tasya smarana maathrena Hrutham Nashtam cha Labyathi

21) SLOKA TO RECITE BEFORE OUR 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.

22) Praying for long life and good health and cleansing of sins:
Akala Mrityu haranam
Sarvavyadhinivaranam
Sarva papa kshayakaram
Vishnupadodakam shubham

23) 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

24) 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

25) 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.

26) Slokas from Upanishads
1) Om Sahana Bhavatu, Sahanao Bhunaktu
Sahaveeryam Karvaa vahai
Tejaswee Naava Dheeta Mastu
Ma Vidvishaa vahai
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

May He protect both of us. May He nourish both of us. May we both acquire the capacity (to study and understand the scriptures). May our study be brilliant. May we not argue with each other. Om peace, peace, peace.

2) Lead from darkness to light, ignorance to wisdom:
Asatho Maa Sadh Gamaya
Thamaso Maa Jyothir Gamaya
Mrithyor Maa Amritham Gamaya
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Lead me from untruth to truth; Lead me from darkness to light; Lead me from death to immortality.

3) Om poornamadah poornamidam
Poornaat poornamudachyate
Poornasya poornamaadaya
Poornamevaavashishyate

That (pure consciousness) is full (perfect); this (the manifest universe of matter; of names and forms being maya) is full. This fullness has been projected from that fullness. When this fullness merges in that fullness, all that remains is fullness. - Peace invocation -Isa Upanishad

4) Om sham no mitrah sham varunah
sham no bhavatvaryamaa
Sham na indro brihaspatih
sham no vishnuru-rukramah
Namo brahmane namaste vaayo
twameva pratyaksham Brahmaasi
twaameva pratyaksham brahma vadishyaami
Ritam vadishyaami satyam vadishyaami
Tanmaam avatu tadvaktaaram avatu
Avatu maam avatu vaktaaram
Om shantih shantih shantih!

May Mitra, Varuna and Aryama be good to us! May Indra and Brihaspati and Vishnu of great strides be good to us! Prostrations unto Brahman! (Supreme Reality). Prostrations to Thee, O Vayu! Thou art the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim Thee as the visible Brahman. I shall call Thee the just and the True. May He protect the teacher and me! May he protect the teacher! Om peace, peace, peace!

5) Shanti Mantra (Universal Prayer)
Om sarveshaam swastir bhavatu
Sarveshaam shantir bhavatu
Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu
Sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah
Sarve santu niraamayaah
Sarve bhadraani pashyantu
Maakaschit duhkha bhaag bhavet

Auspiciousness (swasti) be unto all; peace (shanti) be unto all;fullness (poornam) be unto all; prosperity (mangalam) be unto all. May all be happy! (sukhinah)May all be free from disabilities! (niraamayaah) May all look (pashyantu)to the good of others!May none suffer from sorrow! (duhkha)

6) Hiranmayena patrena satya sapihitam mukham
Tat twam pusam apavarnu satya dharmaya drustaye.

Like the lid of a vessel, O Sun, your gold covers the entrance to the truth. Please open the door to lead me to the truth. (Isavasya Upanishad). Generally, Prayer said before performing Surya Namaskar.

7) Om tachhan yoraavRiNeemahe Gaatum yagyaaya
Gaatum yagya-pataye Daivii svasti-rastu naH
Svastir-maanushhebhyaHa Uurdhvam jigaatu bheshhajam
Shanno astu dvipade Shan chatushhpade
OM shaanti shaanti shaantiH

We pray so that we may chant in praise of yagnya (sacrifice) and sing in praise of Lord of Yagnyas. May we be granted Divine Blessings. May peace be unto the whole human race. May healing herbs (crops) grow in abundance. Bheshhajam = crops. Let two-legged (humans) & 4-legged (animals) beings thrive and be peaceful and happy. Dvipade- 2-legged; Chatushpade- 4-legged. Peace, Peace, Peace (Peace to the Body, Mind and Soul)

8) Gayatri Mantra
Aum Bhoor Bhuwah Swaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasaya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachodayat

Om, I adore the Divine Self who illuminates the three worlds -physical, astral and causal; I offer my prayers to that God who shines like the Sun. May He enlighten our intellect.

27) Sloka for Mangal Aarti
1) Karpoora Gauram Karunavataram
Samsara Saram Bhujagendra Haram
Sada Vasantam Hridayaravinde
Bhavam Bhavani Sahitam Namami

I salute to the merciful Bhava (i.e. Shiva) who is with his consort Parvati,Adorned with the necklace of the serpant

2) Mangalam Bhagavan Vishnum
Mangalam Garudadhwajah
Mangalam Pundareekaksham
Mangalayatano Harih

All auspiciousness to God Vishnu All auspiciousness to One who has Garuda as His flag All auspiciousness to One who has eyes like the lotus flowers And auspiciousness to Hari

3) Sarva Mangala Mangalye
Shive Sarvartha Sadhike
Sharanye Tryambake Gauri
Narayani Namostute
Narayani Namostute
Narayani Namostute

O Parvati, you who makes all desires possible the most auspicious of the auspicious My refuge, Gauri, Triambika, I salute to You I salute to you I salute to you.

28) For Rotation (on the spot thrice clockwise from the right side) before namaskaram

1) Yani kani cha papani
Janmantara kritanicha
Tani tani vinashyanti
Pradakshinam pade pade

I rotate in my place(in front of the Deity) to kill all my sinsThat I may have committed in my past births

2) Prakrishta papa nashaya
Prakrishta phala siddhaye
Pradakshinam karomityam
Praseeda Parameshwari

O Parameshwari, please show mercy on me. I rotate in my place in front of you, To kill all my sins And to seek Your blessings

3) Anyatha sharanam nasty
Twameva sharanam mama
Tasmat karunya bhavena
Raksha Raksha Maheswara

29) Sloka for doing namaskaram
Kayena vacha manasendriyairva
Buddhyatmana va prakrite swabhavath
Karoomi yadyad sakalam parasmai
Narayanayeti samarpayami

Whatever I do with my mind, body, speech or with other senses of my body, Or with my intellect or with my innate natural tendencies I offer everything to Narayana

30) Sloka for appropriate death and peaceful life with steadfast Bhakti

अनायासेन मरणं विनादैन्येन जीवनं ।

देहि मे कृपया शम्भो त्वयि भक्तिं अचन्चलं ॥

Anaayesaena maranam ,Vinaa dhainyaena jeevanam
Daehi mae Kripayaa shambho ,Thvaya bhakthim achanchalam

Meaning : Requesting Lord Shiva to kindly grant three wishes:-

• To give a peaceful death without any bodily troubles
• A life without any trouble for the basic needs
• Total Bhakti to Lord shiva.