Page of 1 11 Shlokas Gurukul 2014-2015Salt Lake City Gurkul is a forum for children to discover, learn and appreciate their cultural roots, Indian and Hindu values. This is done through didactic teaching of Hindi language, games, yoga, stories especially those from Ramayan and Mahabharat, shlokas, bahajans, atrs and crafts. There is no fee associated with Gurkul attendance.
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Salt Lake City Gurkul is a forum for children to discover, learn and appreciate theircultural roots, Indian and Hindu values. This is done through didactic teaching of Hindilanguage, games, yoga, stories especially those from Ramayan and Mahabharat, shlokas,
bahajans, atrs and crafts. There is no fee associated with Gurkul attendance.
Sanskrit to English Word MeaningKaragre - on the tip of your fingersVasate - dwellsLakshmi - the Goddess of Prosperity;Karamadhye - palm;Saraswati - the Goddess of Knowledge SaraswatiKaramule - in the wristTu - whereasGovindah - the Lord GovindahPrabhate - in the morning
Karadarshanam - look at your palm
TranslationOn the tip of your fingers is Goddess Lakshmi; on the palm is Goddess Saraswati; in the wrist is LordGovinda. In this manner, look at your palm. Some times the words “karamule sthite Gowri” are seeninstead of „kara mule tu Govinda!. With this substitution, we are praying Laxmi, Saraswati andDurga for giving us wealth, the appropriate knowledge to use that wealth, and the strength to sustainus.
Brief Explanation
This is a morning prayer called “karadarshana”. One begins the day with this prayer. “Kara” means
the palm of the hand and it stands for the five karmendriyas, or the organs of action. While looking atthe palm, one invokes the Lord in the form of various deities, thus sanctifying all the actions that will be done during the day. By acknowledging the Lord as the giver of the capacity to perform actionsand as the giver of the fruits of those actions, one sanctifies the actions. Thus, one prays in themorning to reinforce the attitude that all actions are performed as a service to the Lord.
Chant this when you first stepout of bed in the morning
Sanskrit to English Word MeaningSamudra-vasane devi! - O ocean-robed goddess!Parvatha-sthana-mandale! – The mountain ranges are your bosoms (adorned prettily by themountains). mandithe is also correctVishnu-patni namastubhyam - Salutations, O wife of ViShnu, PaadasparshamKshamasva me - Forgive my treading (upon) you
Translation
(Oh Mother Earth) The Devi Who is having Ocean as Her Garments and Mountains as Her Bosom,
Who is the Consort of Sri Vishnu, I Bow to You; Please Forgive Us for Touching You with Our Feet.
Sanskrit to English Word Meaning Ganga, Yamana, Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri - names of holy
Indian riversCa - ofJalesmin- In this waterSannidhim - presenceKuru - Invoke
Translation
In this water, I invoke the presence of holy waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamana, Godavari,Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu (Indus) and Kaveri.
Brief Explanation
An important part of ritual purification in Hinduism is the bathing of the entire body. It is consideredauspicious to perform this form of purification before any festival, before visiting a temple or performing a pooja. One not only purifies one’s body but also the mind during taking a bath. Such a purificatory bath is ultimate if it is done in the sacred waters of some great rivers of India like theriver Ganga. Hence one chants this shloka invoking the presence of holy waters while taking a bath.
Chant this when lighting thelamp to the deity of your choice
Sanskrit to English Word Meaning
Subham - auspiciousnesskaroti - which bringskalyaanam - prosperityarogyam - good healthdhanasampadah - abundance of wealthshatrubuddhih - of the intellect’s enemy (ignorance)vinashaaya - for the destructiondipajyotir - that lamplight
namosthuthe - I salute thee
TranslationI salute the One who is the lamplight that brings auspiciousness, prosperity, good health, abundanceof wealth, and the destruction of the intellect’s enemy (ignorance).
Sanskrit to English Word Meaningyani kani cha - whateverpaapaani - sins janmantara - all my liveskrtani cha - committedtani tani- thosevinashyanti- destroypradakshina- circumambulationpade pade- with every step
Translation
O Bhagawan! Whatever sins I have committed all my lives (including previous lives), please destroythem at every step I take around you.
Brief Explanation
Pradakshina, meaning circumambulation, consists of walking around in a clockwise circle around thedeity, as a form of worship in Hindu ceremonies. We see people doing this at our temples where theygo around in circles either chanting some shlokas or just walking with pure devotion. In that context,this shloka can be sung where in, one asks the lord for forgiveness from the sins that he/she hascommitted with every step taken during the Pradakshina.
Brahma - The Supreme LordArpanam - offeringBrahma - The Supreme LordHavih - clarified butter (offered in in the fire)Agni - fireBrahmanahutam - by Brahman in to the fireBrahmaiva - Brahman will only beTena - by the oneGantavyam - realized/attainedBrahma karma samadhina - considering everything as an act (karma) of Brahman
Translation
Brahman is the oblation (fire sacrifice). Brahman is the ghee (clarified butter, used in a fire sacrifice)The oblation is poured by Brahman into the fire of Brahman. Brahman shall be realized by the onewho considers everything as (a manifestation or) an act of Brahman.
Brief Explanation
It is customary to offer food before eating to God and chant this shloka. The shloka draws a parallel between the sacrificial fire (yagna) and the fire of hunger. In essence, the meaning conveyed by theact of chanting the shloka and by partaking food is as follows: “Dear Lord You provide this food, you
are the taster of this food and you!re food. I take this food as a gift from you and I offer this food atyour divine lotus feet.”
Vakratunda - currved trunkMahaakaaya - huge formkoti soorya - a billion sunssamaprabha - equivalent illuminationnirvighnam - no obstaclesKurume - give me
Deva - Godsarva kaaryeshu - all endeavorssrvadaa - always
Translation
O lord with the curved trunk, with large body, with the effulgence of a billion suns, always removethe obstacles in all my undertakings.
Brief ExplanationLord Ganesha is considered the deity for removal of all obstacles in our life. Hence it is customary to pray to Him first before starting any new activity whether it be pooja, new business or a new journey.
Thinking about the Lord who has a pleasant face (prasanna vadanam) will help us overcome all theobstacles that might arise in our task. Some times, shubha kaaaryeshu is substituted for sarvakaaryeshu.
Saraswati - o saraswatiNamastubhyam - bow(namah) to you (tubhyam); varadegiver of boons (vara)
kaamaroopini - giver of form/shape to desire (kama)Vidhyaarambham - start of (Aarambham) studies (vidyaa)Karishyaami - I will doSiddhirbhavatu - accomplishments (siddhih) may happen (bhavatu)me sadaa - always (sadaa) mine (me)
TranslationMy salutations to Goddess Saraswathi, the bestower of boons and the fulfiller of my wishes. I beginmy studies seeking your blessings so that I shall always be successful.
Brief Explanation
Goddess Saraswati is considered as the supreme goddess for learning & knowledge. Hence it’scustomary to start one’s studies by chanting this shloka.
Karacharanam - hands and legsKritham - doVaa - orKaayajam - bodyKarmajam - actionsShravana - through the earsNayanajam - through the eyesVaa - orMaanasam - mindAparaadhaam - faultsVihitham - sanctioned by the scripturesAvihihtam - prohibited by the scripturessarvam etat - this allKshmasva - forgive jaya jaya - hail hailkarunaanidhe - abode of compassionMahadeva
Translation
O Lord, kindly forgive my wrong actions done knowingly or unknowingly, either through my organsof action (hand, feet and speech) or through my organs of perception (eyes, ears) or by my mind.Glory to you, Mahadeva, who is the ocean of kindness and compassion, and the cause of happiness.
Brief explanationBefore going to sleep, one ends the day with this prayer. One asks the Lord for forgiveness for wrongacts that one may have knowingly or knowingly committed during the day. We commit so manyimproprieties in our thinking, speech, and bodily actions that we ask your forgiveness O Shambho,the abode of compassion. While we should take care not to do prohibited actions (such as lying,hurting, acting out of jealousy, etc), we do some times commit errors even while carrying on the prescribed actions. In all of these cases, we should seek forgiveness from the Lord and hopefullylearn to be careful in what we think, say, and do.
Sarve - allBhavantu - may beSukhinah - happyNiramayah - free from diseaseBadrani - prosperityPashyantu - may enjoyMa - notKaschit - anybodyDuhkhabhag - one who suffersBhavet - may be
Translation
May all be happy. May all enjoy health and freedom from disease. May all enjoy prosperity. Maynone suffer.
Brief explanation
This prayer is for the prosperity and welfare of humanity. To achieve anything in life, one has tomake an effort and await the results. In addition, many unknown factors and laws influence theoutcome of that effort. By praying to the Lord, one acknowledges these laws as the natural orderinseparable from the Lord, and one acknowledges the Lord as the giver of all results of action.