Daily Prayers for a Happy Living

Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Chant this when you wake up in the morning

Karagre vasate lakshmi kara madhye saraswati

kara mule tu govindah prabhaate kara darshanam

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning

Karagre-on the tip of your fingers; vasate- dwells; Lakshmi- the Goddess of
Prosperity; karamadhye-palm; Saraswati- the Goddess of Knowledge Saraswati;
karamule- in the wrist; tu-whereas; Govindah-the Lord Govindah; prabhate-in the
morning; karadarshanam-look at your palm.

Translation

On the tip of your fingers is Goddess Lakshmi; on the palm is Goddess Saraswati; in
the wrist is Lord Govinda. In this manner, look at your palm.

Some times the words „karamule sthite Gowri‟ are seen instead of „kara mule tu
Govinda‟. With this substitution, we are praying Laxmi, Saraswati and Durga for
giving us wealth, the appropriate knowledge to use that wealth, and the strength to
sustain us.

Brief Explanation:
This is a morning prayer called “karadarshana”. One begins the day with this
prayer. “Kara” means the palm of the hand and it stands for the five karmendriyas,
or the organs of action. While looking at the palm, one invokes the Lord in the form
of various deities, thus sanctifying all the actions that will be done during the day.
By acknowledging the Lord as the giver of the capacity to perform actions and as
the giver of the fruits of those actions, one sanctifies the actions. Thus, one prays in
the morning to reinforce the attitude that all actions are performed as a service to
the Lord.

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Chant this when you first step out of bed in the morning

Samudravasane devi parvatsthanmandale

Vishnupatni namastubhyam padsparsham kshamaswa me

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

Samudra-vasane devi! - O ocean-robed goddess! ; Parvatha-sthana-mandale! - The

mountain ranges are your bosoms (adorned prettily by the mountains). mandithe is
also correct
Vishnu-patni namastubhyam - Salutations, O wife of ViShnu, Paadasparsham
Kshamasva mE - Forgive my treading (upon) you

Translation:

(Oh Mother Earth) The Devi Who is having Ocean as Her Garments and Mountains
as Her Bosom, Who is the Consort of Sri Vishnu, I Bow to You; Please Forgive Us
for Touching You with Our Feet.

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Chant this when taking a bath

Gange cha yamune chaiva godavari saraswathi

narmade sindhu kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

Ganga, Yamana, Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri-names of holy

Indian rivers; Ca- of; Jalesmin- In this water; Sannidhim- presence; Kuru- Invoke

Translation:

In this water, I invoke the presence of holy waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamana,
Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu (Indus) and Kaveri.

Brief Explanation:

An important part of ritual purification in Hinduism is the bathing of the entire

body. It is considered auspicious to perform this form of purification before any
festival, before visiting a temple or performing a pooja. One not only purifies one‟s
body but also the mind during taking a bath. Such a purificatory bath is ultimate if
it is done in the sacred waters of some great rivers of India like the river Ganga.
Hence one chants this shloka invoking the presence of holy waters while taking a
bath.

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Chant this when lighting the lamp to the deity of your choice

Shubham karoti kalyaanam aarogyam dhana sampadaa

shatru buddhir vinaashaaya dipa jyotir namostute

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

Subham- auspiciousness; karoti – which brings; kalyaanam- prosperity; arogyam-

good health; dhanasampadah- abundance of wealth; shatrubuddhih- of the
intellect‟s enemy (ignorance); vinashaaya- for the destruction; dipajyotir- that
lamplight; namosthuthe- I salute thee.

Translation:

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
(ignorance).

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Chant this when circumambulating

Yaani kaani cha paapaani janmaantara krtani cha

taani taani vinashyanti pradakshina pade pade

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

yani kani ca- whatever; papani- sins; janmantara- all my lives; krtani ca-
committed; tani tani- those; vinashyanti- destroy; pradakshina- circumambulation;
pade pade- with every step

Translation:

O Bhagawan! Whatever sins I have committed all my lives (including previous

lives), please destroy them at every step I take around you.

Brief Explanation:

Pradakshina, meaning circumambulation, consists of walking around in a clockwise

„circle‟ around the deity, as a form of worship in Hindu ceremonies. We see people
doing this at our temples where they go around in circles either chanting some
shlokas or just walking with pure devotion. In that context, this shloka can be sung
where in, one asks the lord for forgiveness from the sins that he/she has committed
with every step taken during the Pradakshina.

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Chant this when taking food

Brahmaarpanam brahma havih

Brahmaagnau brahmanaahutam
Brahmaiva tena gantavyam
Brahma karma samaadhina

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

Brahma- The Supreme Lord; arpanam- offering; Brahma- The Supreme Lord;
havih- clarified butter (offered in in the fire); agni- fire; brahmanahutam- by
Brahman in to the fire; brahmaiva- Brahman will only be; tena- by the one;
gantavyam- realized/attained; Brahma karma samadhina- considering everything
as an act (karma) of Brahman

Translation:

Brahman is the oblation (fire sacrifice). Brahman is the ghee (clarified butter, used
in a fire sacrifice) The oblation is poured by Brahman into the fire of Brahman.
Brahman shall be realized by the one who considers everything as (a manifestation
or) an act of Brahman.

Brief Explanation:

It is customary to offer food before eating to God and chant this shloka. The shloka
draws a parallel between the sacrificial fire (yagna) and the fire of hunger. In
essence, the meaning conveyed by the act of chanting the shloka and by partaking
food is as follows: „Dear Lord You provide this food, you are the taster of this food
and you‟re food. I take this food as a gift from you and I offer this food at your
divine lotus feet.‟

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Chant these when starting any work

Shuklaambaradharam vishnum shashivarnam chaturbhujam

prasanna vadanam dhyaayet sarva vighnopa shaantaye

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

Shuklambara- white cloth; dharam- worn; vishnum- all pervading ; Shashivarnam-

bright complexion(like a full moon); Chaturbhujam- 4 shoulders; Prasanna
Vadanam- Pleasant face; Dhyayet- I meditate; Sarva- all; Vighna- obstacles;
upashantaye- pacify or remove

Translation:

For the removal of all the obstacles in my effort, I meditate upon Bhagwan Vishnu,
who wears a white garment, who is all pervading, who has a bright complexion (like
a full moon), who has four shoulders, who has an ever-smiling face.

Note that the above chanting is also used sometimes for Ganesha

Vakratunda mahaakaaya koti soorya samaprabha,

nirvighnam kurumedeva sarva kaaryeshu sarvadaa.

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

Vakratunda (currved trunk); mahaakaaya (huge form); koti soorya (a billion suns);
samaprabha (equivalent illumination); nirvighnam (no obstacles); kurume (give
me); deva (God); sarva kaaryeshu (all endeavors); srvadaa (always)

Translation:

O lord with the curved trunk, with large body, with the effulgence of a billion suns,
always remove the obstacles in all my undertakings.

Brief Explanation:
Lord Ganesha is considered the deity for removal of all obstacles in our life. Hence
it is customary to pray to Him first before starting any new activity whether it be
pooja, new business or a new journey. Thinking about the Lord who has a pleasant
face (prasanna vadanam) will help us overcome all the obstacles that might arise in
our task.

Some times, shubha kaaaryeshu is substituted for sarva kaaryeshu.

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Chant this before studying either secular or religious texts

Saraswati namastubhyam varade kaamaroopini

vidyaarambham karishyaami siddhirbhavatu me sadaa

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

saraswati- o saraswatI ; namastubhyam- bow(namah) to you (tubhyam); varade-

giver of boons (vara); kaamaroopiNi = giver of form/shape to desire (kama);
vidhyaarambham = start of (Aarambham) studies (vidyaa); karishyaami = I will do;
siddhirbhavatu = accomplishments (siddhih) may happen (bhavatu); me sadaa =
always (sadaa) mine (me)

Translation:

My salutations to Goddess Saraswathi, the bestower of boons and the fulfiller of my

wishes. I begin my studies seeking your blessings so that I shall always be successful.

Brief Explanation:

Goddess Saraswati is considered as the supreme goddess for learning & knowledge.
Hence it‟s customary to start one‟s studies by chanting this shloka.

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Chant these before going to bed at night

Sarve bhavantu sukhinaha sarve santu niraamayah

sarve bhadrani pashyantu ma kaschit duhkha bhag bhavet

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

sarve- all; bhavantu- may be; sukhinah- happy; niramayah- free from disease;
badrani- prosperity; pashyantu- may enjoy; ma- not; kaschit- anybody;
duhkhabhag- one who suffers; bhavet- may be

Translation:

May all be happy. May all enjoy health and freedom from disease. May all enjoy
prosperity. May none suffer.

Brief explanation:

This prayer is for the prosperity and welfare of humanity. To achieve anything in
life, one has to make an effort and await the results. In addition, many unknown
factors and laws influence the outcome of that effort. By praying to the Lord, one
acknowledges these laws as the natural order inseparable from the Lord, and one
acknowledges the Lord as the giver of all results of action.

Karacharana kritham vaa kaayajam karmajam vaa

Sravana nayanajam vaa maanasam vaa aparaadham
Vihitham avihitham vaa sarvam etat kshamasva
Jaya jaya karunaabbdhe Sri Maha Deva Shambho

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

Karacharanam (hands and legs) kritham (do) vaa (or) kaayajam (body) karmajam
(actions) shravana (through the ears) nayanajam (through the eyes) vaa (or)
maanasam (mind) aparaadhaam (faults) vihitham (sanctioned by the scriptures)
avihihtam (prohibited by the scriptures) (or) sarvam etat (this all) kshmasva
(forgive) jaya jaya (hail hail) karunaanidhe (abode of compassion) Mahadeva

O Lord, kindly forgive my wrong actions done knowingly or unknowingly, either

through my organs of action (hand, feet and speech) or through my organs of
perception (eyes, ears) or by my mind. Glory to you, Mahadeva, who is the ocean of
kindness and compassion, and the cause of happiness.

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Brief explanation:

Before going to sleep, one ends the day with this prayer. One asks the Lord for
forgiveness for wrong acts that one may have knowingly or knowingly committed
during the day.

We commit so many improprieties in our thinking, speech, and bodily actions that
we ask your forgiveness O Shambho, the abode of compassion. While we should
take care not to do prohibited actions (such as lying, hurting, acting out of jealousy,
etc), we do some times commit errors even while carrying on the prescribed actions.
In all of these cases, we should seek forgiveness from the Lord and hopefully learn
to be careful in what we think, say, and do.

Raamaskandham hanumantam vainateyam vrkodaram

shayane yah smarennityam duh swapnam tasya nashyati

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:

raamaskandham- Rama‟s loyal follower; hanumantam- Hanuman; vainateya-

Garuda; vrkodaram- Bhima; shayana- sleep time; yah- this; smaren- chant; nityam-
always; duh- bad; swapnam- dream; tasya- then; nashyati- destroyed

Translation:

Meditating upon Hanuman, Garuda and Bhima before going to bed ensures a sleep
without disturbing dreams.

Brief Explanation:

It is always good to have positive thoughts in one‟s head before going to sleep. Lord
Hanuman, Garuda and Bhima are symbolic of great courage, valor and strength;
hence it is advised to visualize and meditate upon them so that this drives away bad
dreams.

Note: Ramaskandam is ramasya skandam. Skanda means (Monier Williams

dictionary) "one who jumps." So Ramaskanda means "Rama's one who jumps" an
epithet for Hanuman. Ramaskandam, in other words, qualifies or describes
Hanuman. (From Ananth Rambachan (1/4/2012)

Anaayaasena maranam vinaa dainyena jeevanam

Dehi me kripayaa Krishna tvayi bhaktim achanchalam.
“A death without suffering or pain and a life without misery. This is all I ask of you,
Krishna, and unswerving devotion for you."

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311
 Daily Prayers for a Happy Living
Compiled by Prof. Prasanna Kumar

Note: Some attribute this prayer to Drona after he laid down his arms. I have not
been able to verify this in the Mahabharata.
Aayaasa – trouble, stress, fatigue, suffering, pain
Anaayaasa – without trouble, suffering, or pain
Maranam – death
Dainya - poverty, affliction, depression, misery
Vinaadainyena – without poverty, misery
Jeevanam – life
Dehi me – grant me
Kripayaa – out of compassion
Krishna – O Lord Krishna or your ishta devata
Tvayi – in you
Bhaktim – devotion
Achanchalam – unswerving or unwavering

For many, modern medical advances have made death seem more like an option
rather than a natural phenomenon. We want our loved ones to live as long as
possible, but modern culture has come to view death as a medical failure rather
than life‟s natural conclusion.

Hindu Society of Minnesota

10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311