॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥हिन्दी
कथाविधिKathaVidhi

Widely used in Hindu homes and schools · Every day: on waking, before study, before meals, at lamp-lighting and at night

Daily prayers

How to read the Roman letters

ā, ī, ū are long vowels (as in father, machine, rule). ṛ sounds like ri. ś and ṣ are both close to sh. c is ch as in church; ch is the aspirated chh. ṃ is a nasal m; ḥ is a soft echo of the vowel before it. ṭ, ḍ, ṇ are said with the tongue curled back.

Step 1 / 7

On waking

Sit up, hold your palms together like an open book and look at them while saying Karāgre. Then touch the ground with your hand and ask Mother Earth’s forgiveness before stepping on her.

These two verses are the first of many morning remembrance verses (prātaḥ-smaraṇa) that families say.

On waking · Karāgre vasate Lakṣmīḥ

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती।
करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम्॥

karāgre vasate lakṣmīḥ karamadhye sarasvatī|
karamūle tu govindaḥ prabhāte karadarśanam||

Lakshmi dwells at the fingertips, Saraswati in the middle of the palm and Govinda at its base. So, at daybreak, look at your hands.

हाथ के अग्रभाग में लक्ष्मी, मध्य में सरस्वती और मूल में गोविन्द का वास है। इसलिए प्रातःकाल अपनी हथेलियों का दर्शन करें।

sanskritdocuments reads करमूले भवे गौरी, placing Gauri (Parvati) at the base of the hand. Some copies write सरस्वति.

Before stepping down · Samudravasane devi

समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डले।
विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे॥

samudravasane devi parvatastanamaṇḍale|
viṣṇupatni namastubhyaṃ pādasparśaṃ kṣamasva me||

O Goddess Earth, clothed in the oceans, whose bosom is the mountains, consort of Vishnu: I bow to you. Forgive me for touching you with my feet.

हे समुद्र-रूपी वस्त्र धारण करने वाली, पर्वत-रूपी वक्ष वाली देवी, विष्णुपत्नी पृथ्वी! आपको नमस्कार। मेरे पैरों के स्पर्श के लिए मुझे क्षमा करें।

sanskritdocuments reads पर्वतस्तनमण्डिते (“adorned with mountains as her bosom”); the meaning is the same.

Our family’s way

Saved only on this device. Your family book →

Step 2 / 7

Morning prayer

After bathing, at the puja place or facing the rising sun, remember Ganesha and say the Gāyatrī mantra.

Many families repeat the Gāyatrī three, eleven or 108 times. Read the note on the Gāyatrī about family practice.

Remembering Ganesha (Vakratuṇḍa)

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥

vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭisamaprabha|
nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā||

O Lord with the curving trunk and mighty body, radiant as ten million suns: always keep all my undertakings free of obstacles.

हे वक्र सूँड़ वाले, विशाल शरीर वाले, करोड़ों सूर्यों के समान तेजस्वी देव! मेरे सभी कार्यों को सदा विघ्नरहित करें।

ॐ श्रीगणेशाय नमः।

oṃ śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ|

Om, salutation to Shri Ganesha.

ॐ, श्री गणेश को नमस्कार।

Gāyatrī mantra

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः।

oṃ bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ|

Om. Earth, sky and heaven (bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ, svaḥ): the three worlds.

ॐ। भूः, भुवः, स्वः — पृथ्वी, अन्तरिक्ष और स्वर्ग, तीनों लोक।

Added in recitation; not part of the Rigveda verse.

तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥

tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi|
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt||

We meditate on that adorable radiance of the divine Savitṛ, the Sun who sets all in motion. May he inspire our minds.

हम सविता देव के उस वरणीय तेज का ध्यान करते हैं। वे हमारी बुद्धि को प्रेरित करें।

Our family’s way

Saved only on this device. Your family book →

Step 3 / 7

Before study

Before homework, a lesson or an exam, pray to Saraswati. When a teacher and student sit together, say Saha nāvavatu.

A parent helping with homework is a teacher too; say Saha nāvavatu together.

Before study · Sarasvati namastubhyam

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि।
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा॥

sarasvati namastubhyaṃ varade kāmarūpiṇi|
vidyārambhaṃ kariṣyāmi siddhirbhavatu me sadā||

O Saraswati, giver of boons, who takes any form at will: I bow to you. I am about to begin my studies; may I always succeed.

हे वर देने वाली, इच्छानुसार रूप धारण करने वाली सरस्वती! आपको नमस्कार। मैं अध्ययन आरम्भ करने जा रहा/रही हूँ; मुझे सदा सफलता मिले।

sanskritdocuments writes सरस्वती with a long ī; the short ī of the other copies is the form used when addressing her.

Before study · Saha nāvavatu

ॐ सह नाववतु।
सह नौ भुनक्तु।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै।

oṃ saha nāvavatu|
saha nau bhunaktu|
saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai|
tejasvi nāvadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahai|

Om. May he protect us both together; may he nourish us both together; may we work together with vigour; may our study be full of light; may we never resent each other.

ॐ। वे हम दोनों की साथ-साथ रक्षा करें; हम दोनों का साथ-साथ पोषण करें; हम साथ मिलकर पराक्रम करें; हमारा अध्ययन तेजस्वी हो; हम कभी परस्पर द्वेष न करें।

“Us both” are the teacher and the student, who recite it together before a lesson. Many schools and families also say it before meals.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ||

Om, peace, peace, peace.

ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।

Our family’s way

Saved only on this device. Your family book →

Step 4 / 7

Before meals

Before eating, say Brahmārpaṇam, or the Annapūrṇā prayer, or both, as your family prefers.

Many families first set aside a little food as an offering, and wait until everyone at the table is ready.

Before meals · Brahmārpaṇam (Gītā 4.24)

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्।
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना॥

brahmārpaṇaṃ brahma havirbrahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam|
brahmaiva tena gantavyaṃ brahmakarmasamādhinā||

The act of offering is Brahman, the offering is Brahman, poured by Brahman into the fire that is Brahman. One who sees Brahman in every action reaches Brahman alone.

अर्पण ब्रह्म है, हवि ब्रह्म है, और ब्रह्मरूप अग्नि में ब्रह्म के द्वारा ही आहुति दी जाती है। जो हर कर्म में ब्रह्म को देखता है, वह ब्रह्म को ही प्राप्त होता है।

Said before eating, so that the meal itself is received as an offering.

Before meals · Annapūrṇe sadāpūrṇe

अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे।
ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति॥

annapūrṇe sadāpūrṇe śaṅkaraprāṇavallabhe|
jñānavairāgyasiddhyarthaṃ bhikṣāṃ dehi ca pārvati||

O Annapūrṇā, ever full, dearer than life to Shankara: O Parvati, grant me alms, so that I may gain wisdom and freedom from attachment.

हे अन्नपूर्णा, सदा परिपूर्ण, शंकर को प्राणों से प्रिय! हे पार्वती, ज्ञान और वैराग्य की सिद्धि के लिए मुझे भिक्षा दो।

माता च पार्वती देवी पिता देवो महेश्वरः।
बान्धवाः शिवभक्ताश्च स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम्॥

mātā ca pārvatī devī pitā devo maheśvaraḥ|
bāndhavāḥ śivabhaktāśca svadeśo bhuvanatrayam||

Goddess Parvati is my mother and Lord Maheshvara my father; the devotees of Shiva are my kin, and the three worlds are my homeland.

देवी पार्वती मेरी माता हैं और भगवान महेश्वर मेरे पिता; शिव-भक्त मेरे बन्धु हैं, और तीनों लोक मेरा देश हैं।

sanskritdocuments reads माता मे (“my mother”).

Our family’s way

Saved only on this device. Your family book →

Step 5 / 7

At lamp-lighting

At dusk, light the lamp at the puja place and say the lamp prayer together.

Many families follow it with an aarti or a bhajan of their choice.

Lamp prayer (dīpa-jyoti)

शुभं करोति कल्याणमारोग्यं धनसम्पदा।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते॥

śubhaṃ karoti kalyāṇamārogyaṃ dhanasampadā|
śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpajyotirnamo'stu te||

O light of the lamp, you bring auspiciousness, well-being, health and wealth, and you destroy hostile thinking: salutations to you.

हे दीप की ज्योति! तुम शुभ, कल्याण, आरोग्य और धन-सम्पदा देती हो और शत्रुता की बुद्धि का नाश करती हो — तुम्हें नमस्कार।

The project manuscript reads धनसम्पदाम्, and some families say धनसम्पदः; the meaning is the same. Drik Panchang prints a related prayer to the row of lamps that begins शुभं करोतु कल्याणमारोग्यं सुख-सम्पदम्.

Our family’s way

Saved only on this device. Your family book →

Step 6 / 7

For health and courage

Many families say the Mahāmṛtyuñjaya mantra when someone is unwell or anxious, or at any time.

A prayer is a support, not a treatment; keep following the doctor’s advice.

Mahāmṛtyuñjaya mantra

त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥

tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam|
urvārukamiva bandhanānmṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt||

We worship the three-eyed one (Tryambaka), fragrant, who increases nourishment. As a ripe cucumber is freed from its vine, may I be freed from death, and not from immortality.

हम सुगन्धित, पुष्टि बढ़ाने वाले त्रिनेत्र (त्र्यम्बक) की उपासना करते हैं। जैसे पकी ककड़ी अपनी बेल के बन्धन से छूट जाती है, वैसे ही मैं मृत्यु से छूट जाऊँ, अमरता से नहीं।

Some print माऽमृतात् to show that मा (“not”) stands apart: “not from immortality”.

Our family’s way

Saved only on this device. Your family book →

Step 7 / 7

At night

Before sleep, say Asato mā and the prayer for everyone, and end with Tvameva mātā.

A good moment for each person to say one thing they are thankful for today.

Asato mā sad gamaya

असतो मा सद्गमय।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।
मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय॥

asato mā sadgamaya|
tamaso mā jyotirgamaya|
mṛtyormāmṛtaṃ gamaya||

Lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality.

मुझे असत् से सत् की ओर ले चलो। अन्धकार से प्रकाश की ओर ले चलो। मृत्यु से अमरता की ओर ले चलो।

Printed as recited. The Upanishad reads गमयेति at the end; some copies write मृत्योर्माऽमृतं or मृत्योर्मा अमृतं.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ||

Om, peace, peace, peace.

ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।

A prayer for everyone · Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः।
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु।
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत्॥

oṃ sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ|
sarve santu nirāmayāḥ|
sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu|
mā kaścidduḥkhabhāgbhavet||

Om. May all be happy. May all be free from illness. May all see what is good. May no one have any share of sorrow.

ॐ। सभी सुखी हों। सभी रोगरहित हों। सभी शुभ देखें। किसी को भी दुःख का भाग न मिले।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ||

Om, peace, peace, peace.

ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।

Tvameva mātā

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव
त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव।
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव
त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव॥

tvameva mātā ca pitā tvameva
tvameva bandhuśca sakhā tvameva|
tvameva vidyā draviṇaṃ tvameva
tvameva sarvaṃ mama deva deva||

You alone are my mother and my father; you alone are my kin and my friend. You alone are my knowledge and my wealth. You alone are my everything, O God of gods.

तुम ही मेरी माता और पिता हो; तुम ही बन्धु और सखा हो। तुम ही विद्या और धन हो। हे देवों के देव, तुम ही मेरे सब कुछ हो।

Our family’s way

Saved only on this device. Your family book →

Daily prayers for the family

Om shanti. Begin with one prayer, and let it become a habit.

If something here differs from your family's practice, follow your family.