Gayatri Mantra
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
We meditate on the most excellent radiance of the divine Savitṛ, the sun as the giver of light. May that light inspire and guide…
Sanskrit mantras and shlokas from the Vedic and devotional traditions. Each page gives the text, a transliteration, a plain-English meaning, where the text comes from, and how it is traditionally recited. Where the origin of a well-known shloka is uncertain, we say so rather than guess.
By deity: Devi Shiva Surya Universal Vishnu
By theme: Courage & Righteousness Devotion & Surrender Peace & Harmony Study & Learning Wisdom & Light
By type: Devotional Verse Divine Name Mantra Peace Invocation Upanishadic Verse Vedic Mantra
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
We worship the three-eyed one (Tryambaka, a name of Rudra and Shiva), who is fragrant and who nourishes. Like a ripe cucumber…
Asato Ma Sadgamaya
असतो मा सद्गमय ।
Guide me from the unreal to the real. Guide me from darkness to light. Guide me from death to the deathless.
Purnamadah Purnamidam
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
That is full; this is full. Fullness comes forth from fullness. Take fullness from fullness, and fullness alone is left.
Sahana Vavatu
ॐ सह नाववतु ।
May he protect us both. May he nourish us both. May we work together with strength. May our study be bright with understanding…
Om Namah Shivaya
ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥
Salutations to Shiva. “Namaḥ” is a bow or salutation, and “śivāya” means “to Shiva”, literally “to the auspicious one”.
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Om. Salutations to the Lord Vasudeva.
Sarva Mangala Mangalye
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
Salutations to you, Narayani: the most auspicious of all that is auspicious, Śivā (the gentle one), accomplisher of all purposes…
Looking for the traditions around them? See our festival guides and the Jyotish & Panchang knowledge pages.