There are many forms of worship in Hinduism: darshan (viewing and praying to a deity at a temple), yajna (offerings to a sacred fire), puja (worship at home), and jaap (repeating the name of a deity). A common thread through all of them is the chanting of mantras - sacred words, syllables, sounds, or verses spoken, chanted, or meditated upon for a spiritual purpose. Most mantras used today come from ancient texts like the Vedas, Puranas, and epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
It is believed that chanting mantras cleanses bad karma, generates good karma, and brings us closer to God and a higher level of consciousness. Modern medicine has also researched the beneficial effects of chanting on the body and mind. There is no restriction on who can recite a mantra, or when - though chanting in the morning is said to bring alertness and positivity, while chanting at bedtime helps the mind relax. Here are some of the essential mantras every child should know:
Kar Darshanam (Viewing the Hands)
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती। करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम।
Mentioned in the Vishnu Purana, this is recited every morning while looking at one's joined palms. It means Devi Lakshmi resides at the top of the palm, Devi Saraswati at the centre, and Govind at the base - reminding us that our hands give us the power to work, learn, and worship.
Bhoomi Vandanam (Prayer to Mother Earth)
समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डले। विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्वमे।। First mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana, this mantra is recited before placing one's feet on the ground each morning, apologising to Bhoomi Devi (Mother Earth) for touching her with our feet. It means: O Devi, who wears the oceans as your garments and the mountains as your bosom, O Consort of Lord Vishnu, please forgive me for the touch of my feet on your holy body.
Om (ॐ)
Om is considered the most important spiritual sound in Hinduism, often called Onkara or Pranava. In the yoga tradition, Om is said to be the supreme mantra with which creation began. The three sounds 'a', 'u' and 'm' correspond to the three stages of cosmic creation. It is chanted alone as a mantra, meditated upon, and used at the beginning, middle and end of other mantras. In the Ramayana, Brahma tells Rama "You are the mystic syllable OM, higher than the highest." In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna, "I am the sacred syllable Om." Om is also sacred in Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, and is believed to calm the mind and improve breathing when chanted.
Mantra for Bath Time
गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति । नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरी जलेʽस्मिन् संनिधिं कुरु ॥। Mentioned in the Brahmavaivarta Purana, this mantra invites the seven sacred rivers of India - Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri - into one's bathwater, expressing gratitude for the gift of water and making the bath as purifying as bathing in the rivers themselves.
Purification Mantra
ॐ अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोʽपिवा ।। यः स्मरेत्पुण्डरीकाक्षं स बाह्याभ्यन्तरः शुचिः ॥॥ Mentioned in the Vamana Purana, this mantra is recited while sprinkling water over oneself, from head down, to purify body and surroundings - whether pure or impure, whoever remembers Vishnu (Pundarikaksha, "the one with lotus eyes") becomes pure inside and out.
Surya Dev's Arghya Mantra
आदिदेव नमस्तुभ्यं प्रसीद मम भास्कर । दिवाकर नमस्तुभ्यं प्रभाकर नमोʽस्तुते। Surya (the Sun) is one of the Adi Panch Devas in Sanatan Dharma. This mantra offers salutations to the Sun who lights up the world and sustains life on Earth, seeking his divine grace.
Tulsi Mantra
महाप्रसाद जननी, सर्व सौभाग्यवर्धिनी। अधि व्याधि हरा नित्यम, तुल्सी त्वम् नमोस्तुते।। Tulsi is considered a heavenly plant in Hindu mythology, and no worship of Lord Vishnu is complete without her leaves. This mantra, from the Parvati Panjika, salutes Mother Tulsi for bestowing happiness, good fortune and health.
Ganesh Mantras
Ganesh is the first god worshipped before any new venture in Hindu tradition. गजाननं भूतगणादि सेवितं कपित्थजम्बूफलचारु भक्षणम् । उमासुतं शोकविनाशकारकं नमामि विघ्नेश्वर पादपङ्कजम् ॥ This mantra bows to Ganesha, son of Goddess Parvati, who destroys sorrow and removes obstacles. A second mantra, वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ, is recited for wisdom and the removal of obstacles from all endeavours.
Guru Mantra
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुरेव परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ A Guru is far more than a teacher in Hindu philosophy - one's mother is considered the first Guru, since she gives us life and our first knowledge of the world. This mantra honours the Guru as Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer, all in one, and is recited before study to build focus and concentration.
Gayatri Mantra
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् । Composed by Rishi Vishwamitra and drawn from the Rig Veda, the Gayatri Mantra is considered the most important mantra in Sanatan Dharma. Though dedicated to the Vedic sun deity Savitri, it is believed to be directed at the supreme creator of the universe, and is chanted to sharpen the intellect and guide one onto a righteous path.
Vishnu Mantra
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय — mentioned in the Bhagwat Purana, this twelve-syllable mantra (Dvadasakshari) means "I bow to the Ultimate Reality, Lord Vasudeva", offering a simple way to connect with the divine. A second mantra, मङ्गलं भगवान्विष्णुर्मङ्गलं गरुडध्वजः, invokes auspiciousness before any new venture.
Lord Rama Mantra
From the Ramcharitamanas by Goswami Tulsidas: नीलाम्बुज श्यामल कोमलाङ्गम सीतासमारोपित वामभागम्। This verse praises Lord Rama, whose life exemplifies dharma and righteousness. Praying to him is believed to build self-esteem, calm, and mental strength. A simpler chant, श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम, brings positive energy and awakens the soul.
Krishna Mantra
श्री कृष्ण गोविन्द हरे मुरारी हे नाथ नारायण वासुदेव । invoking the many names of Krishna - Govind (divine cowherd), Murari (slayer of the demon Mura), Narayana and Vasudev - this mantra seeks the blessing of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu and god of righteous action and compassion. It is often followed by the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, one of the most widely chanted mantras across the world today.
These mantras are a proud tradition of Hinduism and an important heritage of India. Teaching children even a few of these - to be recited on waking, before meals, during study, or at bedtime - is a simple way to pass on centuries of spiritual wisdom in a form young minds can carry with them for life.