Hinduism Mantra & Prayers

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is a mentioned in the Rigveda (RV 7.59.12).  The verse also recurs in the Yajurveda (TS 1.8.6.i; VS 3.60)

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is said to have been found by Rishi Markandeya. It was a secret mantra, and Rishi Markandeya was the only one in the world who knew this mantra. The Moon was once in trouble, cursed by King Daksha. Rishi Markandeya gave the Mahamritryunjaya Mantra to Sati, Daksha’s daughter, for the Moon.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगंधिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षिय माऽमृतात् ॥

I worship Lord Shiva the three-eyed one, who is full of fragrance and who nourishes all beings; may He liberate me from the death (of ignorance), for the sake of immortality (of knowledge and truth), just as the ripe cucumber is severed from its bondage (the creeper).

Benefits of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra – Reciting or listening this mantra in early morning is extremely beneficial. This mantra protects from accidents and misfortunes of all kinds, has great curative effect even for diseases declared incurable.

Gayatri Mantra

ॐ भुर्भुवः स्वः तत्सोवितुवरेण्यं ।
भर्गोदेवस्य धीमहि धियो योनः प्रचोदयात् ॥

O God, you are the giver of life, the remover of pain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe, may we receive your supreme, sin destroying light; may you guide our intellect in the right direction.

 Note: Gayatri Mantra – Reciting or listening this mantra (3 to 108 times) in early morning is extremely beneficial.

Ganesh Mantra

ॐ वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसम्स्प्रभः ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

O Lord Ganesha, of the large body, the curved trunk, who shines like a million suns, may you always make my work free from obstacles. 

Benefits of Ganesh Mantra – This is recited before starting any good work to avoid obstacles.

Mantra for Teacher ( Guru )

ॐ गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

OM gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH gururdeva maheshvaraH
guru saakshaat parabrahma tasmai shriigurave namaH

My salutation to my teacher, who to me are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, the direct Parabrahma, the supreme reality.

 Note:  This is recited to pay salutation to teacher or गुरु (guru). 

Saraswati Mantra

ॐ सरस्वती नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥

O Goddess Saraswati, I bow down humbly before you, the bestower of all wishes; As I commence my studies, may there be success for ever.

ॐ या कुन्देन्दु तुषारहार धवला या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता ।
या वीणा वर दण्ड मण्डितकरा या श्वेत पद्मासना ॥
या ब्रह्माच्युत सङ्कर प्रभृतिभिः देवैः सदा वन्दिता ।
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेष जाड्यापहा ॥

Oh Goddess Saraswati, pure and radiant as the full moon and frost, wearing a garland of jasmine flowers, in your white robes, seated on lotus throne; with the veena on your lap; O one who is worshiped by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, may you bless and protect me and remove the laziness and sloth in me.

Mantra for General Well Being

ॐ ब्रह्मामुरारित्रिपुरांतकारी भानुः शशी भूमिसुतो बुधश्च ।
गुरुश्च शुक्रः शनिराहुकेतवः कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम् ॥

Let Brahma, Vishnu (Murari) and Shiva (Tripurantakari), the Sun (Bhanu), the Moon (Shashi), Mars (Bhumisuta the son of earth), Buddha, Guru (teacher) Sukra, Shani and Ketu make the morning asupicious for me.

Deep (दीप ) Mantra

ॐ शुभं कुरुत्वं कल्याणं आरोग्यं धनसंपदः । शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिनमोऽस्तु ते ॥
दीपज्योतिः परब्रह्म दीपज्योति जनार्दनः । दीपो हरतु मे पापं संध्यादीप नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
भो दीप ब्रह्मारूपस्त्वं ज्योतिषां प्रभुरव्ययः । आरोग्यं देहि पुत्रांश्च मतिं स्वच्छां हि मे सदा ॥
स्वेरस्तं समारभ्य यावत्सूर्योदयो भवेत् । यस्य तिष्ठेद्गृहे दीपस्तस्य नास्ति दरिद्रता ॥

Note – This is recited while lighting a candle or दीप in evening.

Mantra from Upanishads

ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः श्रुणुयाम देवाः। भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिः। व्यशेम देवहितम् यदायुः।
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः। स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः।
स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः। स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Aum! O gods, may we hear auspicious words with the ears;
While engaged in yagnas,
May we see auspicious things with the eyes;
While praising the gods with steady limbs,
May we enjoy a life that is beneficial to the gods.
May Indra of ancient fame be auspicious to us;
May the supremely rich (or all-knowing) Pusa (god of the earth)
Be propitious to us;
May Garuda, the destroyer of evil,
Be well disposed towards us;
May Brihaspati ensure our welfare.
Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!
 mentioned in Mundaka , Mandukya and Prashna Upanishads

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते |
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ||
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ||

Aum! That is infinite (Brahman), and this (universe) is infinite.
The infinite proceeds from the infinite.
(Then) taking the infinitude of the infinite (universe),
It remains as the infinite (Brahman) alone.
Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!

–  mentioned in  Brihadaranyaka and Ishavasya Upanishad

ॐ शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः।
शं नो भवत्वर्यमा।
शं न इन्द्रो बृहस्पतिः।
शं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः।
नमो ब्रह्मणे। नमस्ते वायो।
त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि।
त्वामेव प्रत्यक्षम् ब्रह्म वदिष्यामि।
ॠतं वदिष्यामि। सत्यं वदिष्यामि।
तन्मामवतु।
तद्वक्तारमवतु।
अवतु माम्।
अवतु वक्तारम्।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Aum May Mitra be blissful to us. May Varuna be blissful to us.
May Aryaman be blissful to us.
May Indra and Brihaspati be blissful to us.
May Vishnu, of long strides, be blissful to us.
Salutation to Brahman.
Salutation to you, O Vayu.
You, indeed, are the immediate Brahman. You alone I shall call the direct Brahman.
I shall call you righteousness. I shall call you truth.
May He protect me.
May He protect the reciter.
May He protect me.
May He protect the reciter.
Aum, peace, peace, peace!

– mentioned in Taittiriya Upanishad

ॐ सह नाववतु | सह नौ भुनक्तु | सह वीर्यं करवावहै | तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Aum! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together;
May we work conjointly with great energy,
May our study be vigorous and effective;
May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).
Aum! Let there be peace in me!
Let there be peace in my environment!
Let there be peace in the forces that act on me!

– mentioned in Taittiriya, Katha,  Mandukya and Shvetashvatara Upanishads