Mantra
Sacred Sanskrit sound formulas, with meaning, correct pronunciation and guidance on when to chant them.
Karacharana Kritam Va (Shiva Kshama Mantra)
The prayer for Shiva's forgiveness said at the end of puja: "whatever wrong I have done with hands or feet, speech or body, through action, ears, eyes or mind, whether prescribed or not, forgive it all, ocean of compassion, Mahadeva Shambho."
Read more →MantraShubham Karoti Kalyanam (Deep Jyoti Mantra)
The two verses recited when the evening lamp is lit: "the lamp's light brings auspiciousness, wellbeing, health and wealth, and destroys hostile thinking", and "the lamp's light is the supreme Brahman, the lamp is Janardana". Taught to children in homes across India.
Read more →MantraUgram Viram Mahavishnum (Narasimha Mantra)
The best-known mantra of Lord Narasimha, the man-lion avatar of Vishnu: "I bow to the fierce, heroic Mahavishnu, blazing, facing every direction, terrible yet auspicious, the death of death itself." Chanted for protection and courage.
Read more →MantraOm Namo Narayanaya – Vishnu Ashtakshara Mantra
The eight-syllable mantra of Narayana — what "Narayana" means, how it differs from Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Narada's "Narayan Narayan", and how to chant it on Ekadashi and Thursdays, with the Mangalam Bhagwan Vishnu shloka.
Read more →MantraOm Dum Durgayai Namah – Durga Beej Mantra
The seed mantra of Maa Durga — what the bija "Dum" means, the eight-syllable form with "Hreem", how to chant it through Navratri, and how it differs from the Navarna mantra.
Read more →MantraOm Namo Hanumate Rudravataraya – Hanuman Mantra
The Hanuman mantra that salutes him as Rudra's avatar and Rama's messenger, asking for victory over enemies and freedom from illness. Its meaning word by word, why Hanuman is called Rudravatar, and how to chant it on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Read more →MantraPitru Mantra – Om Devatabhyah Pitribhyashcha
The ancestor-prayer "Devatabhyah pitribhyashcha mahayogibhya eva cha", often called the Pitru Gayatri, with the short "Om Pitribhyo Namah" — what it means, how it is used in tarpan and shraddha, and when to recite it in Pitru Paksha.
Read more →MantraSapta Chiranjeevi Mantra – Ashwatthama Balir Vyaso
The two-line shloka naming the seven immortals — Ashwatthama, Bali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripa and Parashurama — with Markandeya as the eighth. Who each one is, why they are "chiranjeevi", and how the shloka is recited for long life.
Read more →MantraKartikeya Gayatri Mantra – Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe Mahasenaya
The Gayatri mantra of Kartikeya (Skanda, Murugan), the commander of the gods' army — what each word means, who Skanda is, and how to chant it on Tuesdays and Skanda Shashthi.
Read more →MantraOm Sram Sreem Sraum Sah Ketave Namah – Ketu Mantra
The naam, beej and Gayatri mantras of Ketu, the headless shadow graha, with his Navagraha Stotra verse — what Ketu governs, how to chant on Tuesdays or Saturdays, the traditional 17,000 count, and why Ganesh worship is paired with it.
Read more →MantraOm Bhram Bhreem Bhraum Sah Rahave Namah – Rahu Mantra
The naam and beej mantras of Rahu, the shadow graha, with his Navagraha Stotra verse — the story of Svarbhanu and the amrit, how to chant on Saturday evenings, the traditional 18,000 count, and what jyotish says Rahu governs.
Read more →MantraOm Bram Breem Braum Sah Budhaya Namah – Budh Mantra
The naam, beej and Gayatri mantras of Budh (Mercury), with his Navagraha Stotra verse — what they mean, how to chant on Wednesdays, the traditional 9,000 count, and why Budh is linked with speech, intellect and business.
Read more →MantraOm Gram Greem Graum Sah Gurave Namah – Brihaspati (Guru) Mantra
The naam and beej mantras of Brihaspati (Guru, Jupiter), with his Navagraha Stotra verse — what the syllables mean, how to chant on Thursdays, the traditional 19,000 count, and the benefits jyotish associates with Guru.
Read more →MantraShanti Path: Om Dyauh Shantir Antariksham Shantih
The Yajurveda peace mantra recited at the end of havan, puja and Vedic ceremonies, asking for peace in the sky, the earth, the waters, the plants and in oneself. Its source, meaning line by line, and why "shanti" is said three times.
Read more →MantraBrahmarpanam: Bhojan Mantra Before Meals (Gita 4.24)
The Bhagavad Gita verse recited before meals in homes, schools and ashrams, usually followed by Gita 15.14. What both verses say, why they are said before eating, and how to use them as a family grace.
Read more →MantraNavagraha Mantra: Brahma Murari Tripurantakari
A one-verse morning prayer that names the Trimurti and all nine grahas and asks them to make your morning good. Who each name refers to, how it differs from the Navagraha Stotra, and how to fit it into a daily routine.
Read more →MantraMangal Beej Mantra: Om Kram Kreem Kraum Sah Bhaumaya Namah
The seed mantra of Mangal (Mars), chanted on Tuesdays and as a traditional remedy for Mangal dosha, together with Mangal's verse from the Navagraha Stotra. Meaning, method, and what to keep in mind before treating it as a dosha cure.
Read more →MantraOm Ghrini Suryaya Namah (Surya Mantra)
The short Surya mantra chanted while offering water to the rising sun. What "ghrini" means, the other Surya mantras it is often paired with, and how to combine it with Sunday arghya.
Read more →MantraOm Aim Saraswatyai Namah (Saraswati Beej Mantra)
Saraswati's seed mantra, built on the bija "Aim", chanted by students before study and exams and on Vasant Panchami. The meaning of Aim, the related forms you will see, and a simple daily japa routine for students.
Read more →MantraOm Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah (Lakshmi Beej Mantra)
Lakshmi's seed-syllable mantra, built on "Shreem". What the bija means, how it differs from the longer Lakshmi mantras, and how to do its japa on Fridays and Diwali without turning it into a money charm.
Read more →MantraSarva Mangala Mangalye (Durga Mantra)
Perhaps the most recited verse of the Durga Saptashati (11.10), sung at the close of countless pujas: the Devi as the auspiciousness in everything auspicious. Meaning, source, the reading Gita Press gives, and how to use it in Navratri and daily worship.
Read more →MantraGajananam Bhutaganadi Sevitam (Ganesh Mantra)
A four-line Ganesh shloka that pictures him eating wood-apple and jamun, served by his ganas, and bows at his lotus feet. Its meaning, the fruits it names, the two readings of the second line, and when to recite it.
Read more →MantraVasudeva Sutam Devam (Krishna Mantra)
The two-line Krishna shloka that opens the Krishnashtakam and stands on its own as a daily prayer: Krishna as Vasudeva's son, Kamsa's vanquisher, Devaki's joy and the teacher of the world. Meaning, use on Janmashtami, and the full ashtakam it begins.
Read more →MantraShantakaram Bhujagashayanam (Vishnu Dhyana Mantra)
The best-known dhyana shloka of Vishnu: a single verse that paints him resting on the serpent Shesha, calm, cloud-dark and lotus-eyed. Its meaning, its place before the Vishnu Sahasranama, and how to use it in daily puja.
Read more →What makes a mantra a mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word or short verse — most often in Sanskrit — repeated with focused intention, either aloud or silently. Unlike an ordinary prayer composed freely in the moment, a mantra is fixed: the same exact words, in the same order, said to work through the vibration and rhythm of the sound itself as much as through its literal meaning.
How mantras on this site are organised
Each mantra page gives you the original Sanskrit, an English transliteration so you can pronounce it correctly even without reading Devanagari script, its meaning, and practical guidance — how many times it's traditionally chanted, on which day, and for what purpose. Some, like the Gayatri Mantra, are meant for universal daily use; others, like a specific deity's Beej (seed) mantra, are more targeted.
Getting started with japa
If you're new to mantra chanting, our guide on japa, the practice of mantra repetition, explains how a 108-bead mala is used and the traditional forms of chanting — spoken, whispered and silent.