MORNING PRAYER Samudra Vasane Devi, Parvata Stana 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.

MORNING PRAYER Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Kara Madhye Saraswathi Kara Moole Sthita Gauri Prabahate Kara Darshanam Meaning: [This is to be recited in the morning as soon as we get up from the bed and has to be chanted looking at the palm of our hands]. On the tip of my fingers resides Lakshmi, the Goddess of propserity and wealth. In the middle of my hands is Saraswathi, the Goddess of knowledge and learning. In the palm of my hands sits Mother Gauri, the Goddess of protection. Visulaizing in this manner, I take darshan of my hands every morning.

NIGHT TIME PRAYER Kara Charana Kritham Vaak Kaayajam Karmajam Vaa Sravana Nayanajam Vaa Maanasam Vaa Aparadham Vihitham Avihitham Vaa Sarvametat Kshamasva Jaya Jaya Karunaabdhe Sri Maha Deva Shambho Meaning: [This is to be recited in the night before going to bed]. Oh Lord, please forgive me for all the wrong actions that I have committed with my hands, feet, speech, body, ears, eyes and mind. Please pardon me for all the wrong actions that I have done knowingly or unknowingly. Victory to You, oh Lord of compassion and mercy.

ASATHOMA PRAYER

Asatho Maa Sad Gamaya Thamaso Maa Jyothir Gamaya Mrithyor Maa Amritham Gamaya Meaning: Lead me from untruth to truth; Lead me from darkness to light; Lead me from death to immortality.

PEACE PRAYER [Repeated three times] Loka samastha sukhino bhavantu May the whole world be peaceful and happy

Shanti Mantra - Om Sahana Vavatu

Om Sahana Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu Sahaveeryam Karavavahai Tejas Vinavati Tamastuma vidhwishavahai Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning Saha- both; nau-us; avatu- may he protect; bhunaktu-may he nourish; viryam karavavahai-may we acquire the capacity; tejasvi-be brilliant; nau-for us; adhitam- what is studied;astu-let it be; ma vidvisavahai-may we not argue with each other.

Translation

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.

Brief explanation At the beginning of a class, the teacher and students generally recite this peace invocation together. Both seek the Lords blessings for study that is free of obstacles, such as poor memory, or the inability to concentrate or poor health. They also seek blessings for a conducive relationship, without which communication of any subject matter is difficult. Therefore, this prayer is important for both the teacher and the student.

Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshvarah Guru Shakshat Param Brahma Tasmai Sri 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 Adoration Unto That Peerless Guru.

Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir Brahmagnau Braahmanaa Hutam Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam Brahma Karma Samadhina

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning

Brahma- Brahman; arpanam- the means of offering; havih-oblation; brahmagnauunto the fire that is Brahman; brahmana-by brahman; hutam- is offered; eva- indeed; tena- by him; gantavyam- to be reached; brahma-karma-samadhina-who is abiding in Brahman

Translation Any means of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the fire in which the offering is made is Brahman, and the one who offers is Brahman. Such a person who abides in Brahman indeed gains Brahman

Brief Explanation This verse from the Bhagavad Gita (chapter 4, verse 24) and is traditionally chanted before meals. Brahman is the name of the Lord, the cause of the whole creation. Looking at the whole creation as an effect, Brahman is seen as the cause of everything. The effect does not exist separate from its cause. This verse likens food that is eaten to an oblation poured into the fire during ritual. By chanting this prayer before meals, the food that is eaten is offered to Brahman, the Lord.

Aham Vaishvanaro Bhutva Praninam Dehamashritah Prana Pana Sama Yukta Pachamyannam Chaturvidham

Becoming the life-fire in the bodies of living beings mingling with the upward and downward breaths

I digest the four kinds of food.

OM POORNAMADAH POORNAMIDAM POORNAAT POORNAMUDACHYATE POORNASYA POORNAMAADAAYA POORNAMEVAAVASHISHYATE OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIH THAT (BRAHMAN) IS WHOLE THIS (CREATION) IS ALSO WHOLE FROM THAT WHOLE (I.E. BRAHMAN ONLY) THIS WHOLE HAS COME OUT (CREATION) BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS WHOLE HAS COME OUT OF THAT WHOLE YET THAT WHOLE REMAINS WHOLE ONLY (i.e. Brahman remains unaffected, retains His/Its fullness and completeness.) Let there be no discard anywhere in the world. Let peace prevail.

While taking the bath

Gange cha Yamune chaiva Godavari Saraswati | Narmade Sindhu Kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru|| Meaning : In this water, I invoke the presence of holy waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.

Deepam-jyothi paraBrahma Deepam jyothi Janardhanaha Deepo Haratume Papam Sandhyaa deepam namostute
I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp whose light is Supreme Knowledge which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved