Mantras

ॐ अन्नपूर्णायै नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Annapurna — the goddess who ensures no one goes without food.

चाम्पेयगौरार्धशरीरकायै कर्पूरगौरार्धशरीरकाय । धम्मिल्लकायै च जटाधराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ॥

To the one whose one half gleams golden like the champa flower and whose other half is fair as camphor, whose one half wears braided hair and whose other half matted locks — salutations to Shiva as goddess, and salutations to Shiva.

असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ॥

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

ॐ नमो नारायणाय ॥

Om, salutations to Narayana — the one in whom all beings find their resting place.

ॐ बलरामाय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Balarama — Krishna's elder brother, associated with strength and steadfastness.

ॐ ह्रीं भुवनेश्वर्यै नमः ॥

Om, Hrim — salutations to Bhuvaneshwari, the goddess who rules over all the worlds.

त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रयायुधम् । त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥

Three leaves, embodying the three qualities of nature, offered to the three-eyed one bearing three weapons — this single bilva leaf destroys sins across three lifetimes; I offer it to Shiva.

ॐ बुधाय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Budha, Mercury — governing intellect, communication, and learning.

ॐ चन्द्राय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Chandra, the moon — governing the mind's calm and its changing tides.

विश्वं दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यं निजान्तर्गतं पश्यन्नात्मनि मायया बहिरिवोद्भूतं यथा निद्रया ॥

The one who sees the universe as a city reflected in a mirror — arising within the self, yet appearing outward through illusion, as in a dream.

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

O auspicious one, source of all auspiciousness, who accomplishes every purpose, refuge of all, three-eyed Gauri — salutations to you, Narayani.

अहं रुद्रेभिर्वसुभिश्चराम्यहमादित्यैरुत विश्वदेवैः । अहं मित्रावरुणोभा बिभर्म्यहमिन्द्राग्नी अहमश्विनोभा ॥

I move among the Rudras and the Vasus, among the Adityas and all the gods. I sustain both Mitra and Varuna, both Indra and Agni, and both the Ashvins.

ॐ गिरिजायै विद्महे शिवप्रियायै धीमहि । तन्नो दुर्गा प्रचोदयात् ॥

We seek to know the daughter of the mountains; we meditate on the beloved of Shiva. May Durga illuminate our minds.

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Om, salutations to the divine Vasudeva — the twelve-syllable mantra of devotion to Krishna as the supreme being.

एकं सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति ॥

Truth is one; the wise call it by many names.

ॐ नमस्ते गणपतये । त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि । त्वमेव केवलं कर्तासि । त्वमेव केवलं धर्तासि । त्वमेव केवलं हर्तासि ॥

Salutations to you, Ganapati. You alone are the visible truth. You alone are the doer, the sustainer, and the one who brings all things to their end.

जय गणेश जय गणेश जय गणेश देवा । माता जाकी पार्वती पिता महादेवा ॥

Victory to Ganesha, victory to Ganesha, victory to the god Ganesha, whose mother is Parvati and whose father is Mahadeva.

ॐ ग्लौं गणपतये नमः ॥

Om, Glaum — salutations to Ganapati, invoked through this seed sound for wisdom and the removal of obstacles.

ॐ एकदन्ताय विद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि । तन्नो दन्तिः प्रचोदयात् ॥

We seek to know the single-tusked one; we meditate on the curved-trunked one. May the tusked lord illuminate our minds.

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥

Om, Gam — salutations to Ganapati, remover of obstacles, invoked at the start of any undertaking.

मुदाकरात्तमोदकं सदा विमुक्तिसाधकं कलाधरावतंसकं विलासिलोकरक्षकम् । अनायकैकनायकं विनाशितेभदैत्यकं नताशुभाशुनाशकं नमामि तं विनायकम् ॥

Holding a sweet in his hand with joy, ever granting liberation, adorned with the crescent moon, protector of a playful world, the one leader of the leaderless, destroyer of the elephant demon, quick remover of misfortune for those who bow — I salute Vinayaka.

ॐ गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरी सरस्वति । नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु ॥

O Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri — may your presence be felt in these waters.

ॐ गरुडध्वजाय विद्महे सुधाहराय धीमहि । तन्नो गरुडः प्रचोदयात् ॥

We seek to know the one whose emblem is Garuda; we meditate on the bringer of nectar. May Garuda illuminate our minds.

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

We meditate on the radiant glory of that being who has produced this universe; may that being illuminate our minds.

गोविन्दं परमानन्दं सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहम् । द्वि-भुजं मौनमुद्राढ्यं वंशीविष्टकराम्बुजम् ॥

Govinda, supreme bliss itself, embodying being, consciousness, and joy — two-armed, holding a flute in his lotus-like hands.

ॐ बृहस्पतये नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Brihaspati, Jupiter — governing wisdom, teaching, and good counsel.

अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम् । तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

By whom the entire moving and unmoving universe is pervaded, in an unbroken, whole form — to the teacher who reveals that state, salutations.

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात्परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

The teacher is Brahma, the teacher is Vishnu, the teacher is the great god Shiva. The teacher is truly the ultimate reality itself — salutations to that revered teacher.

मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम् । वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥

Swift as thought, as fast as the wind, master of the senses, foremost among the wise — I take refuge in the son of the wind, chief among the monkey warriors, the messenger of Rama.

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि । बरनउं रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि ॥

Cleansing the mirror of my mind with the dust of my guru's lotus feet, I describe the pure glory of Rama, giver of the four fruits of life.

ॐ हं हनुमते नमः ॥

Om, Ham — salutations to Hanuman, invoked through this seed sound for strength and devoted service.

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे । हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ॥

A sixteen-word chant calling on Krishna and Rama through their names, said in the Upanishad to be the way through the confusion of this age.

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् । नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥

Whose sacred lotus feet are served by the king of the gods, wearing a serpent as a sacred thread, crowned by the crescent moon, an ocean of compassion, worshipped by Narada and other sages, clothed in space — I worship Kala Bhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.

ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः ॥

Om, Krim — salutations to Kali, invoked through this seed sound associated with transformative, protective power.

ॐ कामाक्ष्यै नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Kamakshi — the goddess of Kanchipuram, embodiment of grace and fulfillment.

अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम् । अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला माङ्गल्यदास्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः ॥

Resting on the radiant form of Hari as a female bee rests on a blossoming tamala tree, her playful glance embodying all abundance — may the goddess of auspiciousness grant me good fortune.

ॐ केतवे नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Ketu — governing detachment, intuition, and spiritual insight.

ॐ देवकीनन्दनाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि । तन्नो कृष्णः प्रचोदयात् ॥

We seek to know the son of Devaki; we meditate on Vasudeva. May Krishna illuminate our minds.

ॐ क्लीं कृष्णाय नमः ॥

Om, Klim — salutations to Krishna, invoked through this seed sound associated with attraction and devotion.

ॐ कूर्माय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Kurma — Vishnu's tortoise form, which steadied the churning of the cosmic ocean.

ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः ॥

Om, Shrim — salutations to the great Lakshmi, invoked through the seed sound of abundance and grace.

ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि । तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात् ॥

We seek to know the great Lakshmi; we meditate on the consort of Vishnu. May Lakshmi illuminate our minds.

सिन्दूरारुणविग्रहां त्रिनयनां माणिक्यमौलिस्फुरत् तारानायकशेखरां स्मितमुखीमापीनवक्षोरुहाम् । पाणिभ्यामलिपूर्णरत्नचषकं रक्तोत्पलं बिभ्रतीं सौम्यां रत्नघटस्थरक्तचरणां ध्यायेत्परामम्बिकाम् ॥

One should meditate on the supreme mother — vermilion-hued, three-eyed, her crown set with a crescent moon amid jewels, gently smiling, holding a jeweled cup and a red lotus in her hands, her feet resting in a vessel of gems.

ब्रह्ममुरारिसुरार्चितलिङ्गं निर्मलभासितशोभितलिङ्गम् । जन्मजदुःखविनाशकलिङ्गं तत्प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥

The form worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and the celestials, radiant and pure, dispelling the suffering that comes with birth — I bow before this eternal form of Shiva.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

We worship the three-eyed one, fragrant and nourishing all life. As a cucumber is freed from its vine, may we be freed from death, not from immortality.

अहं ब्रह्मास्मि ॥

I am the ultimate reality — one of the four great sayings, pointing to the identity of the individual self with the infinite.

अयमात्मा ब्रह्म ॥

This self is the ultimate reality — one of the four great sayings, identifying the innermost self with the infinite.

प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म ॥

Consciousness is the ultimate reality — one of the four great sayings of the Upanishads.

तत्त्वमसि ॥

That thou art — one of the four great sayings, spoken by the sage Uddalaka to his son Shvetaketu about the unity of self and ultimate reality.

ॐ अंगारकाय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Mangala, Mars — governing courage, energy, and decisive action.

ॐ मत्स्याय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Matsya — Vishnu's fish form, who guided the world safely through the great flood.

ॐ मेधादेवी जुषमाणा न आगाद्विश्वाची भद्रा सुमनस्यमाना ॥

May the goddess of intellect, gracious and auspicious, come to us gladly, present in every direction.

ॐ मीनाक्ष्यै नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Meenakshi — the fish-eyed goddess of Madurai, a form of Parvati.

हर हर महादेव ॥

A traditional cry of devotion to Shiva, invoked for courage and to mark the crossing of any difficulty.

ॐ उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम् । नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहम् ॥

I bow to the fierce, heroic, blazing form of the great Vishnu who faces every direction — Narasimha, terrifying yet auspicious, death to death itself.

नासदासीन्नो सदासीत्तदानीं नासीद्रजो नो व्योमा परो यत् । किमावरीवः कुह कस्य शर्मन्नम्भः किमासीद्गहनं गभीरम् ॥

There was neither non-being nor being then; there was no realm of air, nor sky beyond it. What covered it, and where? What sheltered it? Was there water, deep and unfathomable?

ॐ भास्कराय विद्महे महाद्युतिकराय धीमहि । तन्नो आदित्यः प्रचोदयात् ॥

We seek to know Bhaskara, giver of light; we meditate on the source of great radiance. May the sun illuminate our minds.

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॥

Om, invoking the seed sounds of wisdom, illusion-dispelling power, and bliss, offered to Chamunda — the fierce protective form of the goddess.

मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कारचित्तानि नाहं न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे । न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥

I am not the mind, intellect, ego, or memory; not the ears, tongue, nose, or eyes. I am not even sky, earth, fire, or air — I am consciousness and bliss, I am Shiva.

ॐ ॥

The primal sound said to underlie and pervade all of existence — the first and simplest of all mantras.

शिवाय नमः ॥ शिवाय गौरीपतये नमो नमः ॥

Salutations to Shiva. Salutations again and again to Shiva, the beloved of Gauri.

ॐ तत्सत् ॥

Om, that is truth — a threefold designation of the ultimate reality, traditionally uttered before any act of sacrifice, gift, or discipline.

ॐ विष्णवे नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Vishnu — the all-pervading sustainer of the universe.

ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥

Om, salutations to Shiva — the auspicious one, the ground of consciousness beneath all change.

ॐ परशुरामाय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Parashurama — Vishnu's warrior-sage form, upholder of dharma.

ॐ पार्वत्यै नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Parvati — the daughter of the mountains, consort of Shiva.

माता भूमिः पुत्रोऽहं पृथिव्याः ॥

The Earth is my mother, and I am her son.

ईशा वास्यमिदं सर्वम् ॥

All this is enveloped by the divine.

सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात् । स भूमिं विश्वतो वृत्वात्यतिष्ठद्दशाङ्गुलम् ॥

The cosmic being has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet. Pervading the earth on every side, it extends ten fingers beyond it.

ॐ श्रीराधाकृष्णाभ्यां नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Radha and Krishna together — devotion expressed as the union of love and the divine.

ॐ राहवे नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Rahu — governing ambition, illusion, and the unexpected turns of life.

श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम ॥

Glory to Rama, victory to Rama, victory, victory to Rama — a repeated chant of praise associated with the sage Valmiki.

अस्य श्रीरामरक्षास्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य बुधकौशिक ऋषिः । श्रीसीतारामचंद्रो देवता ।

This protective hymn to Rama is attributed to the sage Budha Kaushika, with Sita and Rama as its presiding deities.

नमस्ते रुद्र मन्यव उतो त इषवे नमः । बाहुभ्यामुत ते नमः ॥

Salutations to your fierce form, Rudra, and salutations to your arrow; salutations also to your two arms.

नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म वेदस्वरूपम् । निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥

I bow to the lord, whose form is liberation itself — all-pervading, the eternal reality embodied in the Vedas, formless, changeless, and free of desire; I worship the space of consciousness, clothed in space.

प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं गौरीपुत्रं विनायकम् । भक्तावासं स्मरेन्नित्यमायुष्कामार्थसिद्धये ॥

Bowing my head to the god Vinayaka, son of Gauri, I remember the one who dwells in the hearts of devotees, for long life and the fulfillment of my aims.

ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः ॥

Om, Aim — salutations to Sarasvati, invoked through the seed sound of learning and speech.

ॐ सरस्वत्यै विद्महे ब्रह्मपुत्र्यै च धीमहि । तन्नो देवी प्रचोदयात् ॥

We seek to know Sarasvati; we meditate on the daughter of Brahma. May the goddess illuminate our minds.

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

May all beings be happy, may all be free from illness. May all see what is good, and may none suffer.

ॐ शनैश्चराय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Shani, Saturn — governing discipline, patience, and the just consequences of one's actions.

ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः । भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ॥

May we hear what is auspicious with our ears. May we see what is auspicious with our eyes.

ॐ द्यौः शान्तिरन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः पृथिवी शान्तिरापः शान्तिः ओषधयः शान्तिः ॥

May there be peace in the sky, peace in the space between, peace on the earth, peace in the waters, peace in the plants.

ॐ सं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः । सं नो भवत्वर्यमा । सं न इन्द्रो बृहस्पतिः । सं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः ॥

May Mitra bring us wellbeing, may Varuna bring us wellbeing. May Aryaman be well with us. May Indra and Brihaspati be well with us. May Vishnu, of the wide strides, be well with us.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते । पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

That is whole, this is whole; wholeness comes from wholeness. Take wholeness from wholeness, and what remains is still whole. Om, peace, peace, peace.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते । पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥

That is whole, this is whole; wholeness comes from wholeness. Take wholeness from wholeness, and what remains is still whole.

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

May we be protected together, nourished together. May we work together with vigor. May our study be illuminating, and may we never hate one another.

ॐ सह नाववतु सह नौ भुनक्तु सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

May we be protected and nourished together, and work with vigor together. May our learning be radiant, and may we never turn against each other. Om, peace, peace, peace.

ॐ ह्रौं नमः शिवाय ॥

Om, Hraum — salutations to Shiva, invoked through this seed sound of the auspicious one.

ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि । तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात् ॥

We seek to know that supreme being; we meditate on the great god. May Rudra illuminate our minds.

ॐ अस्य श्रीशिवकवचस्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य ऋषभयोगीश्वर ऋषिः ॥

This protective armor hymn to Shiva is attributed to the sage Rishabha Yogishvara.

ॐ ईशान सर्वविद्यानाम् ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्माधिपतिर्ब्रह्मणोऽधिपतिर्ब्रह्मा शिवो मे अस्तु सदाशिवोम् ॥

Om, the ruling lord of all knowledge, lord of all beings, master over Brahma himself — may that ever-auspicious Shiva be with me.

नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय । नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥

To the one garlanded with serpents, three-eyed, smeared with sacred ash, the great lord — eternal, pure, clothed in space itself — salutations, to the syllable Na, salutations to Shiva.

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥

With the flowing waters of the Ganga purifying the ground beneath his matted locks, a garland of tall serpents hanging from his neck, and his damaru drum sounding "dam dam dam" — may Shiva, performing his fierce cosmic dance, grant us wellbeing.

शिवोऽहम् ॥

I am Shiva — I am the auspicious, ever-still consciousness beneath every passing state of mind.

ॐ शुक्राय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Shukra, Venus — governing beauty, relationships, and creative harmony.

सोऽहम् ॥

I am That — a mantra naturally echoed by the rhythm of the breath, affirming the identity of the individual self with the infinite.

हिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम् । चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह ॥

O Agni, bring to me that Lakshmi who shines like gold, who is radiant, garlanded with gold and silver, luminous as the moon.

सुमुखश्चैकदन्तश्च कपिलो गजकर्णकः । लम्बोदरश्च विकटो विघ्ननाशो विनायकः ॥

Of pleasant face, single-tusked, tawny-hued, elephant-eared, large-bellied, mighty, remover of obstacles, the foremost leader —

ॐ सूर्याय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Surya, the sun — source of light, warmth, and daily renewal.

अहमेव स्वयमिदं वदामि जुष्टं देवेभिरुत मानुषेभिः ॥

I myself proclaim this word, welcomed by gods and by human beings alike.

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ । निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

O curved-trunked, mighty-bodied one, radiant as a million suns — make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.

ॐ वामनाय नमः ॥

Om, salutations to Vamana — Vishnu's dwarf form, who measured the three worlds in three humble steps.

ॐ भूः ॐ भुवः ॐ स्वः ॐ महः ॐ जनः ॐ तपः ॐ सत्यम् ॥

Om, the earth. Om, the atmosphere. Om, the heavens. Om, the realm of greatness. Om, the realm of birth. Om, the realm of austerity. Om, the realm of truth.

ॐ नारायणाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि । तन्नो विष्णुः प्रचोदयात् ॥

We seek to know Narayana; we meditate on Vasudeva. May Vishnu illuminate our minds.

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम् । लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यं वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥

Of peaceful form, resting on a serpent bed, lotus-naveled, lord of the celestials, sky-like in vastness, cloud-hued, of auspicious limbs, beloved of Lakshmi, lotus-eyed, known to yogis through meditation — I bow to Vishnu, remover of worldly fear, the one lord of all worlds.