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Vedic and devotional mantras with their textual source, meaning, pronunciation and context of use — clearly labelled where traditions require qualified instruction.
ब्रह्मार्पणम्
The pre-meal grace, recited before eating to offer the food as an oblation into the digestive fire of the divine within, so that the act of eating becomes a yajna. It joins two verses of the Bhagavad Geeta (4.24 and 15.14).
दशमहाविद्यास्तुतिः
The traditional verse naming the ten Mahāvidyās, from Kālī and Tārā to Mātaṅgī and Kamalā.
धन्वन्तरिमन्त्रः
The mantra to Dhanvantari, physician of the gods, recited for health and on Dhanvantari Jayantī (Dhanteras).
दुर्गासूक्तम्
The principal Vedic hymn to Durga, invoking Agni (Jatavedas) as the goddess Durga who carries the devotee across every difficulty (durga) and evil, like a boat across the sea. Recited for protection, removal of obstacles, and at Devi worship and Navratri, it closes with the Durga (Katyayani) Gayatri.
गणपत्यथर्वशीर्षम्
The Gaṇapati Upaniṣad, praising Gaṇeśa as Brahman itself and setting out his mantra "oṃ gaṃ gaṇapataye namaḥ". Shown here without the closing phalaśruti.
गायत्री मन्त्रः
The foremost Vedic mantra, addressed to Savita, the divine light within the sun. Prefaced by Om and the three vyahritis naming earth, atmosphere and heaven, its three eight-syllable lines meditate upon his supreme radiance and ask that he illumine and impel the intellect.
हरे कृष्ण महामन्त्रः
The great mantra of the divine names: sixteen words in two lines that call on Hari, Krishna and Rama. Repeated on beads as japa and sung aloud in kirtan, it asks for no rite, no fixed hour and no preparation, and devotional tradition holds it to be the simplest and most complete practice for the present age.
करचरणकृतं
The kshama-prarthana, a plea for forgiveness recited at the close of worship or at bedtime, asking pardon for the day's faults of body, speech, and mind. Addressed to Shiva as Mahadeva, the ocean of compassion.
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः
The kara-darshana, the first prayer of the day, recited on waking while gazing at one's open palms before the feet touch the ground, dedicating the day's work to the divine present in one's own hands.
कार्यसिद्धिहनुमन्मन्त्रः
Sītā's words to Hanumān in the Sundara Kāṇḍa, recited for the success of an undertaking.
कुबेरमन्त्रः
The mantra to Kubera, lord of wealth, recited for prosperity, especially on Dhanteras and Dīpāvalī.
महामृत्युञ्जय मन्त्रः
A single Vedic verse addressed to Tryambaka, the three-eyed Shiva, praying that he loosen the bonds of death as a ripe cucumber is freed from its stem, yet leave immortality untouched. Among the most revered of all healing mantras, it is repeated in japa, often in rounds of one hundred and eight, for recovery from illness, long life, and protection from untimely death.
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगम्
A refuge verse to Hanumān, swift as the mind and messenger of Rāma.
मन्त्रपुष्पम्
A celebrated Taittiriya Aranyaka passage recited at the conclusion of almost every puja as the "flower of mantras". Through a chain of ayatana (abode) statements it teaches that the waters and the cosmic powers, fire, wind, sun, moon, the stars, the rain-cloud, the year, mutually rest in one another, and that one who knows this interdependence becomes firmly established.
नृसिंह महामन्त्रः
A single potent verse invoking Narasimha, the man-lion form of Vishnu, saluted as fierce and valiant, blazing and many-faced, terrifying yet auspicious, the very death of death. Short enough to be held in memory, it is repeated as japa or recited daily, above all for protection, to steady the mind in fear, and to guard against illness, danger and harm.
नारायणसूक्तम्
A great Vedic hymn from the Mahanarayana Upanishad declaring Narayana as the supreme Brahman who pervades all within and without, light, Self, reality, meditator and meditation alike. Its latter half is a celebrated meditation on the heart-lotus (dahara-vidya): the subtle flame within, in whose midst the Supreme Self abides as Brahma, Shiva, Hari and Indra.
नवग्रहमन्त्रः
The single verse saluting all nine grahas, recited at the start of the day and before Navagraha worship.
ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः
The single-line bija mantra of Saraswati, joining the seed syllable aim to a salutation to the goddess of learning and speech. Repeated in japa by students, scholars and musicians before study or performance, and offered in her worship to invoke clarity of mind and eloquence.
ॐ ब्रह्मणे नमः
A single-line salutation to Brahma, the creator, in the simplest namah form: the sacred syllable Om joined to a bow of reverence. Mantras of this kind are repeated in japa on a mala and offered in daily worship, the name alone carrying the whole of the invocation.
ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः
A single-line seed mantra addressed to Durga, joining her bija 'dum' to a plain salutation. Brief enough to be repeated in japa on a mala, it is taken up during Navaratri and other observances of the Devi, and turned to by those seeking her protection, courage and freedom from fear.
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
A short seed mantra addressed to Ganesha, built on the syllable gam and closing with the salutation namah. It is chanted before study, worship or any new undertaking to clear obstacles from the path, and is repeated in japa, commonly on a mala of one hundred and eight beads.
ॐ हं हनुमते नमः
A short seed mantra addressing Hanuman, joining his bija syllable ham to the simple salutation namah. Brief enough for repeated japa on a mala, it is taken up for courage, strength and protection, and is recited especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the days traditionally sacred to Hanuman.
ॐ जानक्यै नमः
A single-line namah mantra honouring Sita as Janaki, the daughter of King Janaka. Brief enough to be repeated on a mala or offered during daily worship, it is uttered by devotees seeking her grace; she is the gentle and steadfast presence venerated alongside Rama in household puja.
ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः
The single-line seed mantra of Kali, joining her bija 'krim' to a salutation offered to Kalika. Short enough to be repeated on a mala, it is chanted in daily japa and in her worship, invoking her fierce protective grace and freedom from fear.
ॐ नमः शिवाय
The Panchakshara, the five-syllable salutation to Shiva, preceded by the pranava Om, and among the most widely recited of all Shaiva mantras. Its single line is repeated on a mala, murmured during abhisheka and puja, or held silently in the mind; it is chanted daily and with particular devotion on Mondays and at Mahashivaratri.
ॐ नमो नारायणाय
The eight-syllable mantra of Narayana, the supreme form of Vishnu, and among the best known of all Vaishnava invocations. It is a bare salutation rather than a narrative hymn, repeated in japa on a mala, offered in daily worship, and called upon in moments of fear or need; tradition holds that it grants refuge, inner purity and steadiness of mind.
ॐ पार्वत्यै नमः
A single-line salutation mantra offering obeisance to Parvati, consort of Shiva and daughter of the mountain. Its brevity suits repetition on a mala and the flower-by-flower archana of daily puja, and it is commonly taken up on Mondays and through Navratri by those seeking the Devi's grace.
ॐ साईं राम
A short name-mantra setting the syllable Om before the names of Sai Baba of Shirdi and Rama. Devotees repeat it as japa counted on a mala, sing it in kirtan and offer it as a greeting to one another; it is taken up at any hour, and especially on Thursdays, the day traditionally kept for Sai Baba.
ॐ सन्तोषी मातायै नमः
A single-line mantra of salutation to Santoshi Mata, the goddess of contentment. Brief enough to repeat on a mala or under the breath, it accompanies her Friday worship and the sixteen-Friday vow, and is chanted whenever a devotee seeks patience, satisfaction and freedom from restless craving.
ॐ श्री खाटू श्यामाय नमः
A single-line salutation mantra in the familiar 'Om ... namah' form, addressed to Khatu Shyam, the form of Barbarika worshipped at Khatu and revered as an avatar for the Kali Yuga.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
A single-line bija mantra addressing Mahalakshmi, goddess of fortune and abundance, built upon her seed syllable shrim. Short enough to be repeated in japa on a rosary, it is recited in daily worship, on Fridays and through Diwali, by those seeking prosperity and her steady grace.
ॐ वैष्णो देव्यै नमः
A brief salutation mantra to Vaishno Devi, worshipped at Trikuta as the united form of Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali. Repeated softly or counted on a mala, it serves as a daily remembrance of the Devi, and is taken up especially during Navratri and by those journeying to her shrine.
पुरुषसूक्तम्
The supreme Vedic hymn to the Cosmic Being (Purusha), Rigveda 10.90, describing the whole universe as the body of the thousand-headed Purusha and the cosmic sacrifice from which creation, the Vedas, the social order and the worlds arose. In the recited Taittiriya form (identified with Narayana/Vishnu) it is followed by the uttara-narayana mantras and is central to abhisheka and every major puja.
श्रीराघवेन्द्रस्तोत्रम्
The best-known prayer to Śrī Rāghavendra Tīrtha of Mantrālayam, "pūjyāya rāghavendrāya".
सह नाववतु
The peace invocation of teacher and student from the Taittirīya Upaniṣad (Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda), recited before study.
समुद्रवसने देवि
The bhumi-vandana, recited on rising and first setting foot on the earth (and before a ritual bath), asking the Earth goddess's pardon for treading upon her.
सरस्वती नमस्तुभ्यम्
The prayer to Sarasvatī said before study, "sarasvati namastubhyam varade kāmarūpiṇi".
शनिमन्त्रः
The verse "nīlāñjanasamābhāsam" and the seed mantra of Śani, recited on Saturdays.
शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनम्
The best-known dhyāna (meditation) verse on Viṣṇu, recited before the Viṣṇu Sahasranāma and in daily worship.
श्रीराम तारक मन्त्रः
A thirteen-syllable invocation of Rama, called Taraka, the one that ferries across, because tradition holds that its repetition carries the reciter over the ocean of worldly existence. Its short, even cadence suits unbroken japa on beads and congregational kirtan alike, and it is honoured as a complete practice needing no elaborate ritual.
शुभं करोति कल्याणम्
The evening deepa-darshana, recited at dusk when the lamp is lit before the household shrine, greeting the lamp-flame as a form of the divine.
श्यामलाध्यानम्
The two meditation verses that open Kālidāsa's Śyāmalā Daṇḍakam, picturing Mātaṅgī with her ruby vīṇā.
श्रीरुद्रम्
The Shri Rudram (Rudraprashna / Shatarudriya) is the central Vedic litany to Rudra-Shiva, from the Krishna Yajurveda's Taittiriya Samhita. It has two parts.
श्रीसूक्तम्
One of the most widely recited Vedic hymns to Lakshmi (Shri), invoking the goddess of prosperity, beauty and abundance through Agni (Jatavedas), and praying for the removal of Alakshmi (misfortune). It is the core of every Lakshmi puja and is chanted especially on Fridays and at Diwali.
सूर्य गायत्री मन्त्रः
A Gayatri-form invocation of Surya, following the classic "vidmahe ... dhimahi ...
सूर्यनमस्कारमन्त्राः
The twelve names of the Sun recited one by one with the twelve rounds of Sūrya Namaskāra.
त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव
The samarpana, a verse of complete surrender recited at the end of worship, also widely used as a closing prayer in schools and gatherings. It appears in the Pandava Gita and several stotra collections.
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय
The universal invocation of Ganesha, recited at the start of any undertaking, study, or worship to remove obstacles before beginning.
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