Spiritual Khazana

Morning Mantras:

Begin each day with clarity and grace. These mantras are chosen to align your energy with purpose, gratitude, and protection.

Starting your day with a positive and mindful practice is a tradition found in many cultures. In Hinduism, chanting mantras in the morning is a powerful way to set a positive tone for the day, purify the mind, and connect with a higher purpose. These mantras often express gratitude, seek blessings, and remind the chanter of their connection to the universe.

Here are some popular morning mantras, with their Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning:

1.Karagre Vasate Lakshmi

This is one of the first mantras a person is encouraged to chant upon waking, while still in bed. You cup your palms together and look at them as you chant.

Sanskrit:

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

Transliteration:

Karagre vasate Lakshmi, karamadhye Saraswati. Karamūle tu Govinda, prabhāte karadarshanam.

Meaning:

“On the tip of my hands resides Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth and prosperity), in the middle is Goddess Saraswati (goddess of knowledge), and at the base is Lord Govinda (Lord Vishnu, the sustainer). Thus, I look at my palms this morning to seek their blessings.”

This mantra reminds us that our hands are a source of all our actions, and by dedicating them to the divine, we can ensure our work is blessed with prosperity, wisdom, and righteousness.

2. Bhumi Pranam (Prayer to Mother Earth)

Before you place your feet on the ground, this mantra is a beautiful way to express gratitude and ask for forgiveness from Mother Earth for the act of stepping on her.

Sanskrit:

समुद्र-वसने देवि पर्वत-स्तन-मंडिते ।विष्णु-पत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पाद-स्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे ॥

Transliteration:

Samudra-vasane Devi, parvata-stana-mandite. Vishnu-patni namastubhyam, pāda-sparsham kshamasva me.

Meaning:

“O Mother Earth, whose garments are the oceans and whose breasts are the mountains, the consort of Lord Vishnu, I bow to you. Please forgive me for stepping on you with my feet.”

This prayer instills a sense of respect and humility towards nature and serves as a reminder of our interconnectedness with the environment.

3. Surya Mantra (Prayer to the Sun)

The sun is the source of all life and energy. Chanting to the sun in the morning is a way to express gratitude for light and vitality, and to seek mental and physical strength for the day ahead.

Sanskrit:

ॐ आदित्याय नमः

Transliteration:

Om Ādityāya Namaḥ

Meaning:

“Salutations to the Sun, the son of Aditi.”

This is a simple yet powerful mantra. You can also use the more elaborate Gayatri Mantra, which is also a prayer to the sun god, Savitr.

How to Chant Morning Mantras:

1. Wake up and sit on your bed: The ideal time is during the Brahma Muhurta, approximately 90 minutes before sunrise, but any time in the morning works.
2. Chant the Karagre mantra: Join your palms and look at them with devotion as you recite the mantra.
3. Stand on the floor and chant the Bhumi Pranam mantra: Before stepping out of bed, gently place your feet on the floor while mentally or verbally reciting the prayer to Mother Earth.
4. Practice facing the sun: If possible, face the east as you chant the Surya or Gayatri mantras. You can also practice them while doing sun salutations (Surya Namaskar) during your yoga practice.
5. Be mindful: The key to mantra chanting is not just the words, but the feeling and intention behind them. Recite with a calm mind, focusing on the meaning and vibrations of the sounds.

4.Gayatri Mantra: Illuminates the intellect and awakens inner wisdom.

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वःतत्सवितुर्वरेण्यंभर्गो देवस्य धीमहिधियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्

Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

The following is a common English translation of the Gayatri Mantra:

“We meditate on the transcendental glory of the divine and effulgent Savitri, the sacred Sun God. May he stimulate our intellect and inspire us with true wisdom.”

5.Shiva Dhyan Mantra: Invokes stillness and strength before the day unfolds.

A Dhyana Mantra is a verse or chant used for meditation, designed to help the practitioner visualize the deity and connect with their divine qualities. While there are many mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva, a well-known one for this purpose is the “Shiva Dhyana Mantra” or “Karacharana Kritam.” It is a powerful prayer for seeking forgiveness and meditating on the compassionate nature of Shiva.

Here is the mantra with its Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning:

Sanskrit

करचरण कृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वाश्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम्विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्वजय जय करुणाब्धे श्रीमहादेव शम्भो

Transliteration

Karacharana kritam vaakkayajam karmajam vaa Shravana nayanajam vaa maanasam vaa aparadham Vihitam avihitam vaa sarvametat kshamasva Jaya jaya karunaabdhe Shri Mahadeva Shambho

Meaning

This mantra is a profound prayer of repentance and surrender to Lord Shiva. It is a plea for forgiveness for all wrongdoings, whether conscious or unconscious.

Healing Chants

Mantras and chants for healing are deeply rooted in ancient traditions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Ayurveda. The belief is that the vibrations created by these sacred sounds can have a profound effect on the mind, body, and spirit, helping to restore balance, remove negative energy, and promote a state of well-being.

Here are some of the most prominent healing chants and their significance:

1. Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (The Great Death-Conquering Mantra)

This is perhaps the most famous and powerful healing mantra in Hinduism. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is chanted for protection, longevity, and recovery from illness.

Sanskrit:

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

Transliteration:

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti-Vardhanam Urvarukam-Iva Bandhanan Mrityor-Mukshiya Maamritat

Meaning:

“We worship the three-eyed one (Lord Shiva), who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings. May he liberate us from the bondage of death, just as a cucumber is liberated from its stalk, and grant us immortality.”

Purpose: This mantra is a plea to Lord Shiva for good health, protection from untimely death, and spiritual liberation. It is believed to have a powerful revitalizing and healing effect, both physically and mentally.

2. Dhanvantari Mantra

Dhanvantari is considered the divine physician and the god of Ayurveda. Chanting his mantra is a way to invoke his healing energy for physical ailments.

Sanskrit:

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय धन्वन्तरये अमृतकलशहस्तायसर्वामयविनाशनाय त्रैलोक्यनाथाय श्रीमहाविष्णवे नमः

Transliteration:

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Dhanvantaraye Amrita Kalasha Hastaya Sarvaamaya Vinashanaya Trailokya Nathaya Shri Mahavishnave Namaha

Meaning:

“I bow down to Lord Dhanvantari, an incarnation of Lord Vasudeva. He holds a pot of nectar in his hand, and he is the remover of all diseases. He is the lord of the three worlds, and I bow to that great Lord Vishnu.”

Purpose: This mantra is a direct invocation of the divine healer. It is often used to seek a cure for physical diseases, to bless medicines, or to promote overall health and vitality.