5 Slokas to Know (& to Impress)

The festival season just got over, and I noticed a lot of detailing this year. Apart from the decoration, food, even the pooja this year was quite elaborate - with a pandit presiding the prayer service almost everywhere. With today's fast paced life, it's not expected to know ancient chants - to see me reciting them along with the priest - a lot of friends and family were impressed. And there were quite a few that I didn't know, and they sounded so good to my ears that I wanted to learn them.

Hence, comes this post - few mantras and slokas that are quite common and heard frequently - with their complete meaning.

What are Mantras?

Mantras are vedic hymns that are repeated to aid concentration in meditation. The word has two parts "Mann" that is the mind, and "tra" that means instrument. Hence, the instrument of mind - the sounds that help one in reaching and aiding meditation. Chanting the mantras induce vibrations - no wonder - they sound so soothing to one's ears.

What are Slokas?

Sloka means a song. These are songs that are usually dedicated in praise of God. During our prayers, most of the couplets recited are slokas. Slokas make for a powerful prayer, help in concentration and peaceful mind. They have meter, structure and melody. Slokas are mostly couplets, these couplets when put together form a chapter called "Adhyaya". A collection of "Adhyayas" then become a holy book - such as Ramayana or Mahabharata which are exclusively written in verse / slokas.


Difference between Mantra & Sloka     

Both are soothing and help in concentration, meditation.
While there are Slokas for almost every deity in Hindu religion, here I elaborate on the ones mostly recited by my mother and few which I found very soothing.

 Top 5 Slokas to Know & Impress

1.  Vishnu Stuti - Shanta Karam

My personal favorite as it sounds so majestic! At home, my mother usually recites this at the end of the prayers.

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं
विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्ण शुभाङ्गम् ।
लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम्
वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥

Shanta Karam, Bhujag Shayanam, Padma Naabham, Suresham
Vishwa aaddharam, Gagan Sadrasham, Megh-varnam, Subha-gyaam
Lakshmi Kantam, Kamal Nainam, Yogi Bhir Dhyan Gamyam
Vande Vishnu Bhava bhaya Harnam, Sarvo Lokay Naathnam

This is in praise of Lord Vishnu who:
- Has a serene peaceful appearance, rests on a serpent, has a lotus coming out if his navel, is the lord of the lords.
- Is the keeper of the universe, is infinite like the sky,  has the blue colour of the clouds and is most attractive.
- Is the husband of Goddess Lakshmi, has eyes like lotus, can only be realised by Yogis through meditation.
- Obeisance to Vishnu who dispels the fear of worldly existence / rebirths, is the supreme Lord of all realms.

2. Tvameva Mata - Also called the song of surrender, it is dedicated to God, Guru or anyone to whom one expresses complete surrender. Many believe that this was recited by Queen Gandhari, mother of Kauravas, to Lord Krishna. 

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणम् त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव सर्वम् मम देव देव ॥

Tva-meva, Maataa, cha, Pitaa, Tva-meva
Tva-meva Bandhush Sakhaa Tva-meva
Tva-meva Vidya Dravinnam Tva-meva
Tva-meva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva

- You are my, mother, and, you are my, father .
- You are my, relative, you are my, friend.
- You are my, knowledge,  you are my, wealth.
- You are my, all-everything, my, God, of Gods.

3. Shiva Stuti - Karpuragauram Karunavtaaram

कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं
संसारसारम् भुजगेन्द्रहारम् ।
सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे
भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥

Karpura-Gauram, Karuna-Avataaram
Sansaara-Saaram, Bhuja ganedra Haaram
Sadaa-Vasantam, Hridaya Aravinde
Bhavam, Bhavani Sahitam, Namaami


This is in praise of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva who
- is pure like camphor, is a personification of compassion.
- is the whole world, has king of serpent as his garland. 

- always resides, in hearts like lotus. (Lotus is untouched by the muddy waters it is born in, similarly, Lord Shiva resides in the hearts that are as pure as Lotus, untouched by the world around them)
- To the Lord (Shiva), accompanied by the Goddess, I bow to them.

4. Ganesh Stuti - Vakratunda Mahakaya 

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय
 सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ॥
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव
सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

Vakra Tunda, Maha Kaaya,
Surya Koti, Samaprabha
Nirvi-ghnam, Kuru, Me, Deva
Sarva-karya-eshu, Sarvadaa

This is praise of and prayer to - Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha who:
- has curved trunk, massive body
- has brilliance of millions of sun. (Surya - Sun, Koti - Millions, Sama - equal, Prabha - splendor)
- Please make all my work obstacle free. (Nirvi - None, Ghnam - obstacle, Kuru - Give, Me - me, Deva - Lord, Sarva karya eshu - all endeveaors, Sarvada - Always)

5. Parvati Stuti - Sarva-Mangala-Mangalye 

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये
शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि
नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Sarva-Mangala-Mangalye
Shive, Sarvartha-Sadhike
Sharanaye, Treh-ambike, Gauri
Narayani, Namoh-stutey

Goddess Parvati is worshipped as Shakti, meaning power. She is source of power for everything, and has many forms - Lakshmi, Durga, Chandi, Kali.
For the last line, there are two schools of thought - that is over the name "Narayani". As per one, Narayani is another name for consort of Vishnu - hence, they use this mantra to show that Lakshmi and Parvati is one, thereby confirming Shakti - Power as one supreme deity which is manifested in many forms.While the other, takes Narayani as sister of Narayan, which is usually taken as Durga, which in turn is a part of Parvati, thereby saying that Narayani is another name for Goddess Parvati - to whom this whole mantra is dedicated.

This in in praise of Goddess Parvati, who
- is the auspiciousness (positiveness) of all auspiciousness
- Consort of Shiva, who fulfills all desires
- gives refuge, is three eyed, has a shinning face
- Consort of Vishnu /  Parvati as Narayani, I bow before you.