Teaching Mantras to Your Children

Ganesh Mantra
This mantra is chanted before any activity, ritual or puja is performed.

Vakratund Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha
Nirvhignam Kurumedeya Sarva Karyashu Sarvada

Meaning: O Lord with the large body, curved trunk, and the brilliance of crore (10 million) suns, please free my work from all obstacles, forever.

Gayatri Mantra

Aum Bhur Bhuva Svaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

It should be remembered that this simple mantra has several meanings,two of the meanings are given below.

Meaning 1: O God, you are the giver of life, remover of pain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness, may your light destroy our sins, and may you illumine our intellect to lead us along the righteous path.

Meaning 2: Aum, we meditate on the splendour of the supreme reality, the source of the three worlds: the gross or physical, the subtle or the mental, and the celestial or the spiritual.

Hare Krishna Maha Mantra Chanting this mantra is said to bring one closer to God, and wash away all sins.

Mantra:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Shanti Mantras Each of these mantras is followed by the phrase "Om shanti, shanti, shanti", and hence these mantras are known collectively as the Shanti mantras. The word 'shanti' means peace in Sanskrit.

Mantra 1:

Asatoma sad gamaya
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
Mrityor ma amritam gamaya

Meaning: Lead me from untruth to truth; lead me from darkness to light; lead me from mortality to immortality

Mantra 2:

Om poornamadah poornamidam
Poornaat poornamudachyate
Poornasya poornamaadaya
Poornamevaavashishyate

Meaning: That is Absolute (God). This is Absolute. Absolute arises out of Absolute. The Absolute is taken from the Absolute, yet the Absolute remains.

Mantra 3:

Om sahanaa vavatu sahanau bhunaktu
Saha veeryam karavaavahai
Tejasvi naavadheetamastu maa vidvishaavahai

Meaning: May He protect us. May He nourish us. May we work together. May our study be enlightening! May we never hate each other!


Guru Mantra

Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwara
Gurur Sakshath Parambrahma Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha

Meaning: The guru is the creator, the guru is the preserver, and the guru is the destroyer. The guru is the Absolute. I bow before you

Little Tips:
Make a daily routine for prayers. Chant these prayers with your children after morning bath and before breakfast.
Show your children how to bow before the deity and perform puja.
Teach the correct pronunciation of mantras and prayers.
Prayer time should be a period of joy, devotion, and piety.