Chant along — stotras, japa and peace mantras, with meaning.
स्वामिये शरणं अयप्पा
svāmiye śaraṇam ayyappā
Meaning: Lord Ayyappa, I take refuge in you — the pilgrim's chant of surrender.
ॐ ग्रां ग्रीं ग्रौं सः गुरवे नमः
oṃ grāṃ grīṃ grauṃ saḥ gurave namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Bṛhaspati (Jupiter), the guru — lord of wisdom, grace and fortune.
ॐ ब्रां ब्रीं ब्रौं सः बुधाय नमः
oṃ brāṃ brīṃ brauṃ saḥ budhāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Budha (Mercury) — lord of intellect, speech and discernment.
ॐ श्रां श्रीं श्रौं सः चन्द्राय नमः
oṃ śrāṃ śrīṃ śrauṃ saḥ candrāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Chandra, the Moon — lord of the mind, calm and nourishment.
ॐ नमो भगवते दक्षिणामूर्तये
oṃ namo bhagavate dakṣiṇāmūrtaye
Meaning: Salutations to Dakṣiṇāmūrti — Śiva as the silent guru, teacher of true knowledge.
ॐ द्रां दत्तात्रेयाय नमः
oṃ drāṃ dattātreyāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Dattātreya — the guru who embodies Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva as one.
ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः
oṃ duṃ durgāyai namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Goddess Durgā, the protector.
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike | śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo'stu te ||
Meaning: O auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, O Śivā, fulfiller of every aim; O refuge, three-eyed Gaurī, Nārāyaṇī — salutations to you.
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
oṃ gaṃ gaṇapataye namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Gaṇeśa, remover of obstacles, invoked before every undertaking.
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ । निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprabha | nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarva-kāryeṣu sarvadā ||
Meaning: O curved-trunked, mighty Lord, brilliant as a million suns — make all my endeavors free of obstacles, always.
शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् । प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥
śuklāmbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam | prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye ||
Meaning: I meditate on the one robed in white, all-pervading, moon-hued, four-armed, serene of face — for the calming of all obstacles.
ॐ गं गङ्गायै नमः
oṃ gaṃ gaṅgāyai namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Gaṅgā — the river of grace whose very remembrance purifies.
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇuḥ gurur devo maheśvaraḥ | guruḥ sākṣāt parabrahma tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ ||
Meaning: The Guru is Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara; the Guru is the very Supreme — to that revered Guru, salutations.
ॐ हं हनुमते नमः
oṃ haṃ hanumate namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Hanumān, embodiment of strength and devotion.
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम् । वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥
manojavaṃ mārutatulyavegaṃ jitendriyaṃ buddhimatāṃ variṣṭham | vātātmajaṃ vānarayūthamukhyaṃ śrīrāmadūtaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye ||
Meaning: Swift as thought, fleet as the wind, master of the senses, foremost of the wise; son of the wind, chief of the vānaras, messenger of Śrī Rāma — I take refuge in him.
ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः
oṃ krīṃ kālikāyai namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Kālī — the fierce Mother who devours time, ego and fear.
ॐ स्रां स्रीं स्रौं सः केतवे नमः
oṃ srāṃ srīṃ srauṃ saḥ ketave namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Ketu — the south lunar node, who loosens, detaches and liberates.
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
Meaning: Salutations to Bhagavān Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) — the dvādaśākṣara (twelve-syllable) mantra.
हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे । हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ॥
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare | hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare ||
Meaning: The great mantra of the Name — calling on the Lord as Kṛṣṇa and Rāma.
वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनम् । देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥
vasudevasutaṃ devaṃ kaṃsacāṇūramardanam | devakīparamānandaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum ||
Meaning: The son of Vasudeva, the divine slayer of Kaṃsa and Cāṇūra, the supreme joy of Devakī — I bow to Kṛṣṇa, teacher of the world.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
oṃ śrīṃ mahālakṣmyai namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Mahālakṣmī, bestower of abundance and well-being.
नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते । शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
namaste'stu mahāmāye śrīpīṭhe surapūjite | śaṅkhacakragadāhaste mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||
Meaning: Salutations to you, great Māyā, enthroned in Śrī, worshipped by the gods; O Mahālakṣmī bearing conch, discus and mace — salutations to you.
ॐ क्रां क्रीं क्रौं सः भौमाय नमः
oṃ krāṃ krīṃ krauṃ saḥ bhaumāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Maṅgala (Mars) — lord of courage, energy and resolve.
ॐ क्ष्रौं नृसिंहाय नमः
oṃ kṣrauṃ nṛsiṃhāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Narasiṃha, the man-lion — the fierce protector who tears away fear.
ॐ भ्रां भ्रीं भ्रौं सः राहवे नमः
oṃ bhrāṃ bhrīṃ bhrauṃ saḥ rāhave namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Rāhu — the north lunar node, who governs the hidden and unseen.
श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम
śrī rāma jaya rāma jaya jaya rāma
Meaning: Victory to Śrī Rāma — the taraka mantra of Rāma-nāma.
ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः
oṃ aiṃ sarasvatyai namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Sarasvatī, goddess of knowledge, speech, and the arts.
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना । या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥
yā kundendutuṣārahāradhavalā yā śubhravastrāvṛtā yā vīṇāvaradaṇḍamaṇḍitakarā yā śvetapadmāsanā | yā brahmācyutaśaṅkaraprabhṛtibhir devaiḥ sadā vanditā sā māṃ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśeṣajāḍyāpahā ||
Meaning: She white as jasmine, the moon and snow, clad in pure white, her hand graced by the vīṇā, seated on a white lotus, ever worshipped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and the gods — may Goddess Sarasvatī, remover of all dullness, protect me.
ॐ प्रां प्रीं प्रौं सः शनैश्चराय नमः
oṃ prāṃ prīṃ prauṃ saḥ śanaiścarāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Śani (Saturn) — lord of discipline, justice and patience.
ॐ नमः शिवाय
oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Meaning: Salutations to Śiva — the auspicious one; the five-syllable (pañcākṣara) mantra.
त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्
tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam | urvārukamiva bandhanānmṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt
Meaning: We worship the three-eyed Lord who nourishes all beings; may he free us from death as a ripe cucumber is freed from its stem — for immortality, not bondage.
कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् । सदा वसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥
karpūragauraṃ karuṇāvatāraṃ saṃsārasāraṃ bhujagendrahāram | sadā vasantaṃ hṛdayāravinde bhavaṃ bhavānīsahitaṃ namāmi ||
Meaning: White as camphor, compassion incarnate, the essence of existence, wreathed in the king of serpents; ever dwelling in the lotus of the heart — I bow to Śiva with Bhavānī.
ॐ द्रां द्रीं द्रौं सः शुक्राय नमः
oṃ drāṃ drīṃ drauṃ saḥ śukrāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Śukra (Venus) — lord of harmony, art, love and devotion.
ॐ शरवणभव
oṃ śaravaṇabhava
Meaning: The six-syllable mantra of Subrahmaṇya (Murugan).
ॐ शरवणभवाय नमः
oṃ śaravaṇabhavāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to him born in the reed-grove (Śaravaṇa) — six-faced Skanda, Murugan.
ॐ सूर्याय नमः
oṃ sūryāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to the Sun — offered at dawn (often with the twelve sun-names).
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ | tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
Meaning: We meditate on the radiant glory of the divine Sun (Savitṛ); may it inspire and illumine our understanding.
ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रौं सः सूर्याय नमः
oṃ hrāṃ hrīṃ hrauṃ saḥ sūryāya namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Sūrya, the Sun — lord of the soul, vitality and light.
ॐ
oṃ
Meaning: The primordial sound — the seed of all mantras and the symbol of Brahman.
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमय ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ asato mā sadgamaya | tamaso mā jyotir gamaya | mṛtyor mā'mṛtaṃ gamaya || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Meaning: Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. (Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28)
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ sarve santu nirāmayāḥ | sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścid duḥkha-bhāg bhavet || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Meaning: May all be happy, may all be free from illness, may all see what is good; may none suffer.
ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ saha nāvavatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai | tejasvi nāvadhītam astu mā vidviṣāvahai || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Meaning: May we be protected together, nourished together; may we work with vigor; may our study be illumining; may we never quarrel.
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते । पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṃ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate | pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Meaning: That is whole, this is whole; from the whole the whole arises; taking the whole from the whole, the whole alone remains. (Īśā Upaniṣad invocation)
त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव । त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव ॥
tvameva mātā ca pitā tvameva tvameva bandhuśca sakhā tvameva | tvameva vidyā draviṇaṃ tvameva tvameva sarvaṃ mama deva deva ||
Meaning: You alone are mother and father, kinsman and friend; you alone are knowledge and wealth; you alone are my all, O God of gods.
ॐ नमो वेङ्कटेशाय
oṃ namo veṅkaṭeśāya
Meaning: Salutations to Lord Veṅkaṭeśa (Bālājī) of the seven hills, refuge of all who seek him.
ॐ नमो नारायणाय
oṃ namo nārāyaṇāya
Meaning: Salutations to Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu), refuge of all.
शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम् । लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यं वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥
śāntākāraṃ bhujagaśayanaṃ padmanābhaṃ sureśaṃ viśvādhāraṃ gaganasadṛśaṃ meghavarṇaṃ śubhāṅgam | lakṣmīkāntaṃ kamalanayanaṃ yogibhir dhyānagamyaṃ vande viṣṇuṃ bhavabhayaharaṃ sarvalokaikanātham ||
Meaning: Of serene form, resting on the serpent, lotus-naveled, Lord of the gods, support of the universe, vast as the sky, cloud-hued, auspicious of limb; beloved of Lakṣmī, lotus-eyed, reached by yogis in meditation — I bow to Viṣṇu, remover of worldly fear, sole Lord of all the worlds.