A Resource for Ongoing Practice

The first five chapters of this guide have introduced the foundations of Sanskrit chanting: the alphabet, vowel length, consonant articulation, syllable breaks, guru and laghu rhythm, accent marks and listening. This final chapter brings those skills together in practice through a selection of traditional chants, from short invocations and peace mantras to longer devotional and Vedic passages.

These chants are not intended for one-time study. They are a resource you can return to over the years. With each return, the same verses can reveal more: clearer pronunciation, steadier rhythm, deeper listening and a more natural feel for the movement of Sanskrit sound.

How the Chant Pages Work

Each chant is presented in several complementary layers—Devanāgarī, transliteration, syllable breakdown, tonal notation, English translation and audio—so you can see how written form, spoken sound and rhythmic structure work together.

The Devanāgarī and Roman transliteration lines preserve the chant text as written in this guide, including anusvāra and visarga. The syllable-break and tonal lines show the sounded form instead, so you can see how those signs are actually realized in recitation.

Where these lines show a letter in brackets—as in ti̱[ś] or da̱[m]—the bracket marks the actual sound produced by sandhi, in place of the anusvāra or visarga written in the line above.

In the syllable lines, bold syllables are guru, sounded for two mātrās. When a consonant cluster follows a vowel, its first consonant closes the preceding syllable, including before the semivowels y, r, l and v. Complete and briefly hold that closing consonant, then release directly into the next syllable without pausing or adding a vowel. As you become more comfortable with the notation, you can gradually rely less on analysis and more on fluent recitation, using the markings as quiet guides.

The Meaning of the Words

As you learn each chant, give steady attention not only to its sound, rhythm and notation, but also to its meaning. It is easy to be carried by the beauty of the sound, the feeling of recitation or the technical details of pronunciation, while giving too little attention to what the words are actually saying. The translation and word-by-word notes are included so the vocabulary, devotional feeling and beauty of the message can gradually become familiar. In time, this kind of study opens a doorway into the wider world of Sanskrit literature, where sound and meaning deepen each other.

Learning to Hear

These pages are designed not only to help you recite correctly, but to develop a more attentive ear. As the eye learns to recognize letters, syllables, weights and pitch marks, the ear gradually learns to hear articulation, duration, accent and rhythm in skilled chanting. Over time, this deeper listening becomes one of the lasting rewards of the course.

Tonal Notation

Shows or hides pitch marks. Button at lower right.

Devanāgarī

Shows or hides the Sanskrit script. Button at lower right.

T

Translation

Shows or hides English meaning and vocabulary. Button at lower right.

The Art of Recitation

Traditional Sanskrit recitation is grounded in the discipline of śikṣā, classically described through six elements: varṇa (sound or letter), svara (accent or pitch), mātrā (duration), balam (articulatory effort), sāma (modulation or evenness) and santāna (continuity or joining of sounds). Source: Taittirīya Upaniṣad, Śikṣāvallī 1.2.

These pages include tonal notation to guide recitation. In Vedic chants, the marks correspond to the traditional pitch accents introduced in Chapter 5, Lesson 6. In later devotional chants, they show the chant’s traditional tonal pattern as taught in this course. Equally important is proper vowel duration: short vowels (hrasva) occupy one mātrā, long vowels (dīrgha) occupy two mātrās and prolonged vowels (pluta) occupy three mātrās.

Tip: The Value of Accurate Repetition

The value of repetition depends on accuracy. With each correct repetition, pronunciation becomes more natural, rhythm becomes steadier and attention is gradually freed from the mechanics of reading. Over time, familiar chants reveal details that may have been overlooked at first—in sound, in rhythm, in meaning.

Lesson 1—Three Gaṇeśa Mantras

ॐ श्री गणेशाय॒ नमः॑
ॐ गं गणपतये॒ नमः॑
ॐ विघ्ननाशनाय॒ नमः॑
oṁ śrī gaṇeśāya̱ nama̍ḥ
oṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye̱ nama̍ḥ
oṁ vighnanāśanāya̱ nama̍ḥ
oṁ śrī ga–ṇeśā–ya̱ na–ma̍ḥ
oṁ gaṁ ga–ṇa–pa–ta–ye̱ na–ma̍ḥ
oṁ vigh–na––śa––ya̱ na–ma̍ḥ
oṁśrīgaṇeśāya̱nama̍ḥ
oṁgaṁgaṇapataye̱nama̍ḥ
oṁvighnaśaya̱nama̍ḥ
Translation

These three mantras express
adoration to Lord Gaṇeśa.

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.1, with audio

About This Chant

These three short Gaṇeśa mantras open study, worship, travel and other undertakings. They establish an auspicious beginning, invoke Gaṇeśa’s guidance and ask that obstacles be removed before the work proceeds. They are traditional invocation mantras widely used in Hindu worship and instruction, not tied to one named scripture, and are not classical metrical verses—their rhythm comes from clear pronunciation and the short pattern of sacred syllable, divine name, and salutation.

Lesson 2—Śāntiḥ Mantra (Pūrṇamadaḥ)

ॐ पू॑र्ण॒मदः॒ पू॑र्ण॒मिदं॒ पू॑र्णा॒त्पू॑र्ण॒मुद॒च्यते ।
पू॑र्ण॒स्य पू॑र्ण॒मादा॒य पू॑र्ण॒मेवा॑वशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑॥
oṁ pū̍rṇa̱mada̱ḥ pū̍rṇa̱mida̱ṁ pū̍rṇā̱tpū̍rṇa̱muda̱cyate |
pū̍rṇa̱sya pū̍rṇa̱mādā̱ya pū̍rṇa̱mevā̍vaśiṣyate ||
oṁ śānti̱ḥ śānti̱ḥ śānti̍ḥ ||
oṁ pūr–ṇa̱–ma–da̱ḥ pūr–ṇa̱–mi–da̱[m] pūr–ṇā̱t–pūr–ṇa̱–mu–da̱c–ya–te |
pūr–ṇa̱s–ya pūr–ṇa̱–mā–dā̱–ya pūr–ṇa̱–me–va–śiṣ–ya–te ||
oṁ śān–ti̱[ś] śān–ti̱[ś] śān–ti̍ḥ ||
oṁpūrṇa̱mada̱ḥpūrṇa̱mida̱[m]pūrṇā̱tpūrṇa̱muda̱cyate|
pūrṇa̱syapūrṇa̱dā̱yapūrṇa̱mevaśiṣyate||
oṁśānti̱[ś]śānti̱[ś]śānti̍ḥ||
Translation

That is fullness. This is fullness. From that fullness, this fullness arises. When this fullness issues from that fullness, that fullness remains unchanged.

(This mantra is also recited after the Annapūrṇā invocation in the Bhojana Mantra sequence.)

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · pūrṇam (fullness) · adaḥ (that, yonder) · pūrṇam (fullness) · idam (this) · pūrṇāt (from fullness) · pūrṇam (fullness) · udacyate (arises, issues forth) · pūrṇasya (of fullness) · pūrṇam (fullness) · ādāya (having taken) · pūrṇam (fullness) · eva (only, indeed) · avaśiṣyate (remains) · oṁ (sacred syllable) · śāntiḥ (peace) · śāntiḥ (peace) · śāntiḥ (peace)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.2, with audio

About This Chant

This śāntiḥ mantra is a contemplation on pūrṇam, fullness or completeness: it teaches that the Divine fullness remains whole even as the world appears from it, and its repeated use of pūrṇam gives the chant a quiet meditative force. It is the opening śāntiḥ mantra of the Īśā and Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣads in the Śukla Yajurveda tradition, built on the contrast between adaḥ, “that,” and idam, “this,” and closing with a threefold śāntiḥ.

Lesson 3—Two Gāyatrī Mantras

Gāyatrī Mantra

ॐ भूर्भुवः॒ सुवः॑ ।
तत्स॑वि॒तुर्वरे॑ण्यम्॒ ।
भर्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ धीमहि ।
धियो॒ यो नः॑ प्रचो॒दयात् ॥
oṁ bhūrbhuva̱ḥ suva̍ḥ |
tatsa̍vitu̱rvare̍ṇya̱m |
bhargo̍ de̱vasya̍ dhīmahi |
dhiyo̱ yo na̍ḥ praco̱dayā̎t ||
oṁ bhūr–bhu–va̱[s] su–va̍ḥ|
tat–sa̍–vi̱–tur–va–re̍ya̱m |
bhargo̍ de̱vas–ya̍ dhī–ma–hi |
dhi–yo̱ yo na̍ḥ pra–co̱–da–yā̎t ||
oṁbhūrbhuva̱[s]suva̍ḥ|
tatsa̍vi̱turvare̍ṇya̱m|
bhargo̍de̱vasya̍dhīmahi|
dhiyo̱yona̍ḥpraco̱dayā̎t||
Translation

We meditate upon the divine radiance of Savitṛ. May He guide our minds.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · bhūḥ (earth, physical plane) · bhuvaḥ (atmosphere, vital plane) · suvaḥ (heaven, causal plane) · tatsavitur (of that Savitṛ; tat, that; savitṛ, the divine impeller, the sun) · vareṇyam (worthy of worship) · bhargaḥ (divine radiance) · devasya (of the Deva) · dhīmahi (we meditate upon) · dhiyaḥ (intellects) · yaḥ (who) · naḥ (our) · pracodayāt (may he inspire and guide)

Haṁsa Gāyatrī Mantra

ॐ हं॒स॒ हं॒साय॑ वि॒द्महे॑ परमहं॒साय॑ धीमहि ।
तन्नो॑ हंसः प्रचो॒दयात् ॥
oṁ ha̱ṁsa̱ ha̱ṁsāya̍ vi̱dmahe̍
paramaha̱ṁsāya̍ dhīmahi |
tanno̍ haṁsaḥ praco̱dayā̎t ||
oṁ ha̱ṁ-sa̱ ha̱ṁ--ya̍ vi̱d-ma-he̍ pa-ra-ma-ha̱ṁ--ya̍ dhī-ma-hi |
tan-no̍ haṁ-saḥ pra-co̱-da-yā̎t ||
oṁha̱ṁsa̱ha̱ṁya̍vi̱dmahe̍paramaha̱ṁya̍dhīmahi
tanno̍haṁsaḥpraco̱dayā̎t||
Translation

We devote our thoughts to the Divine Swan.
We meditate upon the Supreme Divine Swan.
May the Divine Swan guide us on the right path.

(Some translations indicate the Divine Swan refers to the guru.)

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · haṁsa (the divine swan; the Self) · haṁsāya (to the divine swan) · vidmahe (we devote our thoughts to) · paramahaṁsāya (to the Supreme Swan; parama, supreme; haṁsa, swan) · dhīmahi (we meditate upon) · tannaḥ haṁsaḥ pracodayāt (may that Divine Swan inspire and guide us)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.3, with audio

About This Chant

The Gāyatrī Mantra, more precisely the Sāvitrī Mantra—Ṛgveda 3.62.10—invokes Savitṛ, the divine source of illumination, asking that our intellect be guided toward truth; it is in gāyatrī meter, three lines of eight syllables (the opening oṁ and mahāvyāhṛtis are recited before it but aren’t counted in the meter). This guide uses suvaḥ, in keeping with the Taittirīya/Yajurveda recitation tradition; svaḥ is also common in modern printed versions of the Gāyatrī Mantra. The Haṁsa Gāyatrī follows the later devotional gāyatrī pattern, using the haṁsa (swan) as a symbol of purity and the liberated soul, and follows the familiar vidmahe/dhīmahi/pracodayāt formula; its exact textual source isn’t specified.

Lesson 4—Three Gaṇeśa Gāyatrī Mantras

Ekadantāya Gāyatrī

ॐ एक॑द॒न्ताय वि॒द्महे॑ वक्र॑तु॒ण्डाय॑ धीमहि ।
तन्नो॑ दन्तिः प्रचो॒दयात् ॥
oṁ eka̍da̱ntāya vi̱dmahe̍ vakra̍tu̱ṇḍāya̍ dhīmahi |
tanno̍ dantiḥ praco̱dayā̎t ||
oṁ e–ka̍–da̱n–ya vi̱d–ma–he̍
vak–ra̍–tu̱ṇḍā–ya̍ dhī–ma–hi |
tan–no̍ dantiḥ pra–co̱–da–yā̎t ||
oṁeka̍da̱nyavi̱dmahe̍
vakra̍tu̱ṇḍāya̍dhīmahi|
tanno̍dantiḥpraco̱dayā̎t||
Translation

We devote our thoughts to the one-tusked Lord.
We meditate upon Him who has a curved trunk.
May the tusked One guide us on the right path.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · ekadantāya (to the one-tusked One; eka, one; danta, tusk) · vidmahe (we devote our thoughts to) · vakratuṇḍāya (to Him of the curved trunk; vakra, curved; tuṇḍa, trunk) · dhīmahi (we meditate upon) · tannaḥ dantiḥ pracodayāt (may that Tusked One inspire and guide us)

Tatpuruṣāya Gāyatrī

ॐ तत्पुरु॒षाय वि॒द्महे॑ वक्रतु॒ण्डाय॑ धीमहि ।
तन्नो॑ दन्तिः प्रचो॒दयात् ॥
oṁ tatpuru̱ṣāya vi̱dmahe̍ vakratu̱ṇḍāya̍ dhīmahi |
tanno̍ dantiḥ praco̱dayā̎t ||
oṁ tat–pu̍–ru̱–ṣā–ya vi̱d–ma–he̍
vak–ra–tu̱ṇḍā–ya̍ dhī–ma–hi |
tan–no̍ dantiḥ pra–co̱–da–yā̎t ||
oṁtatpu̍ru̱ṣāyavi̱dmahe̍
vakratu̱ṇḍāya̍dhīmahi|
tanno̍dantiḥpraco̱dayā̎t||
Translation

We devote our thoughts to that Supreme Person.
We meditate upon Him who has a curved trunk.
May the tusked One guide us on the right path.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · tatpuruṣāya (to that Supreme Person; tat, that; puruṣa, person, spirit) · vidmahe (we devote our thoughts to) · vakratuṇḍāya (to Him of the curved trunk; vakra, curved; tuṇḍa, trunk) · dhīmahi (we meditate upon) · tannaḥ dantiḥ pracodayāt (may that Tusked One inspire and guide us)

Tatkaraṭāya Gāyatrī

ॐ तत्कर॒टाय वि॒द्महे॑ हस्तिमु॒खाय॑ धीमहि ।
तन्नो॑ दन्तिः प्रचो॒दयात् ॥
oṁ tatkaraṭā̱ya vi̱dmahe̍ hastimu̱khāya̍ dhīmahi |
tanno̍ dantiḥ praco̱dayā̎t ||
oṁ tat-ka-ra-ṭā̱-ya vi̱d-ma-he̍ has-ti-mu̱-khā-ya̍ dhī-ma-hi |
tan-no̍ dan-tiḥ pra-co̱-da-yā̎t ||
oṁtatkaraṭā̱yavi̱dmahe̍hastimu̱khāya̍dhīmahi|
tanno̍dantiḥpraco̱dayā̎t||
Translation

We devote our thoughts to Him of the elephant’s noble brow. We meditate on the elephant-faced One. May the tusked One inspire us.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · tatkaraṭāya (to that noble-browed One; tat, that; karaṭa, the prominent frontal lobe of an elephant) · vidmahe (we devote our thoughts to) · hastimukhāya (to the elephant-faced One; hasti, elephant; mukha, face) · dhīmahi (we meditate upon) · tannaḥ dantiḥ pracodayāt (may that Tusked One inspire and guide us)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.4, with audio

About This Chant

These Gaṇeśa Gāyatrī mantras invoke Gaṇeśa through several sacred names, each following the same threefold pattern: knowing the deity, meditating upon the deity, and asking the deity to guide the mind forward. The Ekadantāya version occurs in the Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa (verse 8); the Tatpuruṣāya and Tatkaraṭāya versions presented here circulate in traditional worship. Like the Haṁsa Gāyatrī, these are later devotional gāyatrī-style mantras rather than the Vedic Sāvitrī itself.

Lesson 5—Pavamāna Mantra

Pavamāna Mantra

ॐ अ॒सतो मा स॒द्गमय ।
त॒मसो मा ज्यो॒तिर्गमय ।
मृत्यो॒र्माऽमृ॒तं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑ ॥
oṁ a̱sato mā sa̱dgamaya |
ta̱maso mā jyo̱tir gamaya |
mṛtyo̱rmā'mṛ̱taṁ gamaya |
oṁ śānti̱ḥ śānti̱ḥ śānti̍ḥ ||
oṁ a̱–sa–to mā sa̱d–ga–ma–ya |
ta̱–ma–so mā jyo̱tir ga–ma–ya |
mṛtyo̱rmā'–mṛ̱–ta[ṅ] ga–ma–ya |
oṁ śānti̱[ś] śānti̱[ś] śānti̍ḥ ||
oṁsatosa̱dgamaya|
ta̱masojyo̱tirgamaya|
mṛtyo̱rmā'mṛ̱ta[ṅ]gamaya|
oṁśānti̱[ś]śānti̱[ś]śānti̍ḥ||
Translation

Lead me from the unreal to the real.
Lead me from darkness to the light.
Lead me from death to immortality.
Oṁ, peace, peace, peace.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · asataḥ (from the unreal; a-sat, not-being) · (me) · sadgamaya (lead to the real; sat, the real, truth; gamaya, lead, cause to go) · tamasaḥ (from darkness) · (me) · jyotiḥ (light) · gamaya (lead) · mṛtyoḥ (from death) · (me) · amṛtam (to immortality; a-mṛta, the deathless) · gamaya (lead) · oṁ (sacred syllable) · śāntiḥ (peace) · śāntiḥ (peace) · śāntiḥ (peace)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.5, with audio

About This Chant

The Pavamāna Mantra is a brief prayer of spiritual movement: from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. Its simple, threefold structure—each line beginning “from” and ending with the imperative gamaya, “lead me”—makes it well suited to memorization. Source: Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28; the closing oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ is the customary peace formula used in many recitation traditions.

Lesson 6—Śāntiḥ Mantra (Saha Nāvavatu)

ॐ स॒ह ना॑ववतु ।
स॒ह नौ॑ भुनक्तु ।
स॒ह वी॒र्यं॑ करवावहै ।
ते॒ज॒स्वि ना॒वधी॑तमस्तु॒ ।
मा वि॑द्विषा॒वहै
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑ ॥
oṁ sa̱ha nā̍vavatu |
sa̱ha nau̍ bhunaktu |
sa̱ha vī̱rya̍ṁ karavāvahai |
te̱ja̱svi nā̱vadhī̍tamastu̱ |
mā vi̍dviṣā̱vahai̎ |
oṁ śānti̱ḥ śānti̱ḥ śānti̍ḥ ||
oṁ sa̱–ha nā̍–va–va–tu |
sa̱–ha nau̍ bhu–naktu |
sa̱–ha vī̱rya̍[ṅ] ka–ra––va–hai |
te̱ja̱s–vi–nā̱–va–dhī̍–ta–mastu̱ |
vi̍d–vi–ṣā̱–va–hai̎ |
oṁ śānti̱[ś] śānti̱[ś] śānti̍ḥ ||
oṁsa̱hanā̍vavatu|
sa̱hanau̍bhunaktu|
sa̱havī̱rya̍[ṅ]karavahai|
te̱ja̱svinā̱vadhī̍tamastu̱|
vi̍dviṣā̱vahai̎|
oṁśānti̱[ś]śānti̱[ś]śānti̍ḥ||
Translation

Oṁ, may we both be protected.
May we be nourished.
May we work together with vigor.
May our study be illumined.
May we not be hostile toward one another.
Oṁ, peace, peace, peace.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · saha (together) · nau (us two) · avatu (may he protect) · saha (together) · nau (us two) · bhunaktu (may he nourish) · saha (together) · vīryam (vigor, strength) · karavāvahai (may we both accomplish) · tejasvi (full of brilliance; tejas, radiance) · nāvadhītam (our study; nau, our) · astu (may it be) · (not) · vidviṣāvahai (may we not be hostile toward each other) · oṁ (sacred syllable) · śāntiḥ (peace) · śāntiḥ (peace) · śāntiḥ (peace)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.6, with audio

About This Chant

This peace invocation frames learning as a partnership between teacher and student, asking for protection, nourishment, shared strength, clarity in study, and freedom from hostility—a series of paired blessings (“may we both be protected,” “may we both be nourished,” and so on). Source: A common śāntiḥ mantra transmitted with several Upaniṣads, including the Taittirīya, Kaṭha, and Śvetāśvatara traditions.

Lesson 7—Jana-Kalyāṇa Mantra

ॐ स॒र्वे॒षां स्व॑स्तिर्भ॒व॑तु ।
स॒र्वे॒षां शा॑न्तिर्भ॒व॑तु ॥
स॒र्वे॒षां पू॑र्णं भ॒व॑तु ।
स॒र्वे॒षां म॑ङ्गलं॑ भ॒व॑तु ॥
स॒र्वे भव॒न्तु सु॒खि॑नः।
स॒र्वे स॒न्तु नि॒राम॑याः ॥
स॒र्वे भ॒द्राणि॑ प॒श्यन्तु॑ ।
मा॒ कश्चिद् दुःख॒भाग्भ॑वेत् ॥
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑ ॥
oṁ sa̱rve̱ṣāṁ sva̍stirbha̱va̍tu |
sa̱rve̱ṣāṁ śā̍ntirbha̱va̍tu ||
sa̱rve̱ṣāṁ pū̍rṇaṁ bha̱va̍tu |
sa̱rve̱ṣāṁ ma̍ṅgala̍ṁ bha̱va̍tu ||
sa̱rve bhava̱ntu su̱khi̍naḥ |
sa̱rve sa̱ntu ni̱rāma̍yāḥ ||
sa̱rve bha̱drāṇi̍ pa̱śyantu̍ |
mā̱ kaścid duḥkha̱bhāgbha̍vet ||
oṁ śānti̱ḥ śānti̱ḥ śānti̍ḥ ||
oṁ sa̱rve̱ṣāṁ sva̍stir–bha̱–va̍–tu |
sa̱rve̱ṣāṁ śā̍ntir–bha̱–va̍–tu ||
sa̱rve̱ṣā[m] pū̍rṇa[m] bha̱–va̍–tu |
sa̱rve̱ṣā[m] ma̍ṅ–ga–la̍[m] bha̱–va̍–tu ||
sa̱rve bha–va̱n–tu su̱–khi̍–naḥ |
sa̱rve sa̱n–tu ni̱––ma̍–yāḥ ||
sa̱r–ve bha̱d–ṇi̍ pa̱śyantu̍ |
mā̱ kaścid duḥ–kha̱–bhāg–bha̍–vet ||
oṁ śānti̱[ś] śānti̱[ś] śānti̍ḥ ||
oṁsa̱rve̱ṣāṁsva̍stirbha̱va̍tu|
sa̱rve̱ṣāṁśā̍ntirbha̱va̍tu||
sa̱rve̱ṣā[m]pū̍rṇa[m]bha̱va̍tu|
sa̱rve̱ṣā[m]ma̍ṅgala̍[m]bha̱va̍tu||
sa̱rvebhava̱ntusu̱khi̍naḥ|
sa̱rvesa̱ntuni̱ma̍yāḥ||
sa̱rvebha̱dṇi̍pa̱śyantu̍|
mā̱kaścidduḥkha̱bhāgbha̍vet||
oṁśānti̱[ś]śānti̱[ś]śānti̍ḥ||
Translation

May auspiciousness be unto all;

May peace be unto all;

May fullness be unto all;

May auspiciousness be unto all.

May all be happy!

May all be free from illness!

May everyone see what is auspicious.

May none suffer from sorrow!

Oṁ, peace, peace, peace.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · sarveṣām (unto all) · svastiḥ (auspiciousness, well-being; su, good; asti, being) · bhavatu (may it be) · sarveṣām (unto all) · śāntiḥ (peace) · bhavatu (may it be) · sarveṣām (unto all) · pūrṇam (fullness) · bhavatu (may it be) · sarveṣām (unto all) · maṅgalam (auspiciousness) · bhavatu (may it be) · sarve (all) · bhavantu (may they be) · sukhinaḥ (happy; sukha, happiness) · sarve (all) · santu (may they be) · nirāmayāḥ (free from illness; nir-, without; āmaya, disease) · sarve (all) · bhadrāṇi (auspicious things, blessings) · paśyantu (may they behold) · (not) · kaścit (anyone) · duḥkhabhāk (afflicted by sorrow; duḥkha, sorrow; bhāj, sharing in) · bhavet (may he be) · oṁ (sacred syllable) · śāntiḥ (peace) · śāntiḥ (peace) · śāntiḥ (peace)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.7, with audio

About This Chant

This universal welfare prayer extends blessing beyond the individual, asking that all beings have well-being, peace, fullness, auspiciousness, happiness, health, and freedom from sorrow. It combines short repeated blessing forms—bhavatu, bhavantu, santu, paśyantu, bhavet—with a closing four-line prayer in the familiar eight-syllable śloka/anuṣṭubh pattern. Source: Traditional universal-welfare verses used widely in Hindu prayer collections, not tied to one scripture.

Lesson 8—Bhojana Mantra

ॐ अ॒न्न॑पूर्णे सदा॒पूर्णे श॒ङ्करप्राण॑वल्लभे ।
ज्ञानवै॒राग्यसि॒द्ध्यर्थं॑ भि॒क्षां दे॒हि च पा॑र्वति ॥
माता॑ च पा॑र्वती॒ देवी॑ पि॒ता दे॒वो महे॑श्वरः ।
बान्धवाः शि॑वभ॒क्ताः च स्व॒देशो॒ भुवन॑त्रयम् ॥
ॐ पूर्ण॒मदः॒ पूर्ण॒मिदं॒ पूर्णा॒त्पूर्ण॒मुद॒च्यते ।
पूर्ण॒स्य पूर्ण॒मादा॒य पूर्ण॒मेवावशि॒ष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑॥
ॐ शि॒वार्प॑णम॒स्तु ॥
oṁ a̱nna̍pūrṇe sadāpūrṇe śa̱ṅkaraprāṇa̍vallabhe |
jñānavai̱rāgya̍ si̱ddhyarthaṁ̍ bhi̱kṣāṁ de̱hi ca pā̍rvati ||
mātā̍ ca pā̍rvatī̱ devī̍ pi̱tā de̱vo mahe̍śvaraḥ |
bāndha̍vāḥ śi̍vabha̱ktāḥ ca sva̱deśo̱ bhuvana̍trayam ||
oṁ pūrṇa̱mada̱ḥ pūrṇa̱mida̱ṁ pūrṇā̱tpūrṇa̱muda̱cyate |
pūrṇa̱sya pūrṇa̱mādā̱ya pūrṇa̱mevāvaśiṣyate ||
oṁ śānti̱ḥ śānti̱ḥ śānti̍ḥ ||
oṁ śi̱vārpa̍ṇama̱stu ||
oṁ a̱n–na̍–pūrṇe sa̱–pūrṇe
śa̱ṅ–ka–rap–ṇa̍–val–la–bhe |
jñā–na–vai̱rāg–ya si̱ddhyartha̍[m]
bhi̱kṣā[n] de̱–hi ca pā̍r–va–ti ||
tā̍ ca pā̍r–va–tī̱ devī̍ pi̱– de̱vo ma–he̍ś–va–raḥ |
bān–dha̍–vā[ś] śi̍–va–bha̱ktā[ś]–ca
sva̱–deśo̱ bhu–va–na̍t–ra–yam ||
oṁ pūr–ṇa̱–ma–da̱ḥ pūr–ṇa̱–mi–da̱[m] pūrṇā̱tpūr–ṇa̱–mu–da̱c–ya–te |
pūrṇa̱s–ya pūr–ṇa̱–mā–dā̱–ya pūr–ṇa̱–me–va–śi̱ṣ–ya–te ||
oṁ śānti̱[ś] śānti̱[ś] śānti̍ḥ ||
oṁ śi̱–vār–pa̍–ṇa–ma̱stu ||
oṁa̱nna̍pūrṇesa̱pūrṇe
śa̱ṅkarapṇa̍vallabhe|
jñānavai̱rāgyasi̱ddhyartha̍[m]
bhi̱kṣā[n]de̱hicapā̍rvati||
tā̍capā̍rvatī̱devī̍pi̱de̱vomahe̍śvaraḥ|
bāndha̍vā[ś]śi̍vabha̱ktā[ś]ca
sva̱deśo̱bhuvana̍trayam||
oṁpūrṇa̱mada̱ḥpūrṇa̱mida̱[m]pūrṇā̱tpūrṇa̱muda̱cyate|
pūrṇa̱syapūrṇa̱dā̱yapūrṇa̱mevaśi̱ṣyate||
oṁśānti̱[ś]śānti̱[ś]śānti̍ḥ||
oṁśi̱vārpa̍ṇama̱stu||
Translation

Oṁ, Mother who is fullness of food and plenty, fullness everlasting and beloved Śakti of Śiva;

O, Mother of the universe, nourish us with this gift of food so that we may attain knowledge and dispassion.

Goddess Pārvatī is my mother. God Maheśvara is my father.

All devotees of Śiva are my family; all three worlds are my home.

Oṁ, that is fullness. This is fullness. From that fullness, this fullness arises.

When this fullness issues from that fullness, that fullness remains unchanged.

Oṁ, peace, peace, peace. Oṁ, this I offer unto Śiva.

Word by wordVerse 1

oṁ (sacred syllable) · annapūrṇe (O fullness of food; anna, food; pūrṇa, full) · sadāpūrṇe (O ever full; sadā, always; pūrṇa, full) · śaṅkaraprāṇavallabhe (O beloved of Śaṅkara’s very life; śaṅkara, Śiva; prāṇa, life breath; vallabha, beloved) · jñānavairāgya (knowledge and dispassion; jñāna, knowledge; vairāgya, dispassion) · siddhyartham (for the attainment of; siddhi, attainment; artha, purpose) · bhikṣām (alms, gift of food) · dehi (give) · ca (and) · pārvati (O Pārvatī)

Verse 2

mātā (mother) · ca (and) · pārvatī (Pārvatī) · devī (goddess) · pitā (father) · devaḥ (the Lord) · maheśvaraḥ (the great Lord; mahā, great; īśvara, lord) · bāndhavāḥ (family, kinsmen) · śivabhaktāḥ (devotees of Śiva; bhakta, devotee) · ca (and) · svadeśaḥ (my home; sva, own; deśa, land) · bhuvanatrayam (the three worlds; bhuvana, world; traya, triple)

Verses 3–4 (same as Lesson 2) · Closing

oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ (Oṁ, peace, peace, peace) · oṁ (sacred syllable) · śivārpaṇam (offering to Śiva; arpaṇa, offering) · astu (may it be)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.8, with audio

About This Chant

This food prayer invokes Annapūrṇā, the giver of nourishment, asking that food support knowledge and dispassion, and it widens the sense of family—Pārvatī as mother, Maheśvara as father, Śiva’s devotees as kin, the three worlds as home. Source: Traditional bhojana recitation drawing on Annapūrṇā devotional material and food-offering verses used in lineage practice; it combines more than one prayer unit rather than following a single meter.

Lesson 9—Śiva Prārthanā Mantra

नम॑स्ते अस्तु भगवन्विश्वेश्व॒राय॑ महादे॒वाय॑ त्र्यम्ब॒काय॑ त्रिपुरान्त॒काय॑ त्रिकाग्निका॒लाय॑ कालाग्निरु॒द्राय॑ नीलक॒ण्ठाय॑ मृत्युञ्ज॒याय॑ सर्वेश्व॒राय॑ सदाशि॒वाय॑ श्रीमन् महादे॒वाय॒ नमः॑ ।
oṁ nama̍ste astu bhagavanviśveśva̱rāya̍ mahāde̱vāya̍ tryamba̱kāya̍ tripurānta̱kāya̍ trikāgnikā̱lāya̍ kālāgniru̱drāya̍ nīlaka̱ṇṭhāya̍ mṛtyuñja̱yāya̍ sarveśva̱rāya̍ sadāśi̱vāya̍ śrīman mahāde̱vāya̱ nama̍ḥ ||
oṁ na–ma̍ste as–tu bha–ga–vanviśveś–va̱––ya̍ ma–de̱–ya̍t–ryam–ba̱––ya̍t–ri–pu–rān–ta̱––ya̍t–ri–kāg–ni–kā̱–ya̍ lāg–ni–ru̱d–ya̍ –la–ka̱ṇṭhā–ya̍ mṛtyuñ–ja̱––ya̍ sarveś–va̱––ya̍ sa––śi̱––ya̍ś–man ma–de̱–ya̱ na–ma̍ḥ ||
oṁnama̍steastubhagavanviśveśva̱ya̍made̱
ya̍tryamba̱ya̍tripurānta̱ya̍trikāgnikā̱ya̍
lāgniru̱dya̍laka̱ṇṭhāya̍mṛtyuñja̱ya̍sarveśva̱
ya̍saśi̱ya̍śmanmade̱ya̱nama̍ḥ||
Translation

Oṁ, salutations to You, O Bhagavān. Salutations to You, Lord of the universe, great Deva, three-eyed One, destroyer of Tripura, Lord of the three sacred fires, Rudra who is the fire of time, blue-throated One, conqueror of death. Salutations to You, Lord of all, ever-auspicious Sadāśiva, glorious great Deva.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · namaḥ (salutation) · te (to You) · astu (may there be) · bhagavan (O Blessed Lord; bhaga, divine grace; van, possessing) · viśveśvarāya (to the Lord of the universe; viśva, universe; īśvara, lord) · mahādevāya (to the great Deva; mahā, great; deva, god) · tryambakāya (to the three-eyed One; tri, three; ambaka, eye) · tripurāntakāya (to the destroyer of Tripura; tri, three; pura, city; antaka, destroyer) · trikāgnikālāya (to the Lord of the three sacred fires and of time; tri, three; agni, fire; kāla, time) · kālāgnirudrāya (to Rudra who is the fire of time; kāla, time; agni, fire) · nīlakaṇṭhāya (to the blue-throated One; nīla, blue; kaṇṭha, throat) · mṛtyuñjayāya (to the conqueror of death; mṛtyu, death; jaya, conquest) · sarveśvarāya (to the Lord of all; sarva, all; īśvara, lord) · sadāśivāya (to ever-auspicious Sadāśiva; sadā, always; śiva, auspicious) · śrīman (glorious, blessed) · mahādevāya (to the great Deva) · namaḥ (salutation)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.9, with audio

About This Chant

This Śiva prayer is a litany of sacred epithets, each offered in the dative case—“to the Lord of the universe,” “to the great God,” “to the three-eyed one”—building toward a single act of salutation. Source: Śrī Rudram, Namakam, Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda, Taittirīya Saṁhitā 4.5; this line is printed after the first anuvāka in common recitation texts.

Lesson 10—Pañcabrahma Mantra

स॒द्योजा॒तं प्र॑पद्या॒मि॒ स॒द्योजा॒ताय॒ वै नमो॒ नमः॑।
भ॒वेभ॑वे॒ नाति॑भवे भवस्व॒ मां भ॒वोद्भ॑वाय॒ नमः॑ ।।1।।
वा॒म॒दे॒वाय॒ नमो ज्ये॒ष्ठाय॒ नम॑श्श्रे॒ष्ठाय॒ नमो॑ रु॒द्राय॒ नमः॒ काला॑य॒ नमः॒ कल॑विकरणाय॒ नमो॒ बल॑विकरणाय॒ नमो॒ बला॑य॒ नमो॒ बल॑प्रमथनाय॒ नम॒स्सर्व॑भूतदमनाय॒ नमो॑ म॒नोन्म॑नाय॒ नमः॑ ।।2।।
अ॒घोरेभ्योऽथ॒ घोरेभ्यो॒ घोर॒घोर॑तरेभ्यः ।
सर्वेभ्यस्सर्व॒ शर्वेभ्यो॒ नम॑स्ते अस्तु रु॒द्ररू॑पेभ्यः ।।3।।
तत्पुरु॑षाय वि॒द्महे॑ महादे॒वाय॑ धीमहि ।
तन्नो॑ रुद्रः प्रचो॒दयात् ।।4।।
ईशानस्सर्व॑विद्या॒नां॒ ईश्वरस्सर्व॑भूता॒नां॒ ब्रह्माधि॑पति॒र्ब्रह्म॒णोऽधि॑पति॒र्ब्रह्मा॑ शि॒वो मे॑ अस्तु सदाशि॒वोम् ।।5।।
sa̱dyojā̱taṁ pra̍padyā̱mi̱ sa̱dyojā̱tāya̱ vai namo̱ namaḥ̍ |
bha̱vebha̍ve̱ nāti̍bhave bhavasva̱ māṁ bha̱vodbha̍vāya̱ namaḥ̍ ||1||
vā̱ma̱de̱vāya̱ namo̎ jye̱ṣṭhāya̱ nama̍śśre̱ṣṭhāya̱ namo̍ ru̱drāya̱ namaḥ̱ kālā̍ya̱ namaḥ̱ kala̍vikaraṇāya̱ namo̱ bala̍vikaraṇāya̱ namo̱ balā̍ya̱ namo̱ bala̍pramathanāya̱ nama̱ssarva̍bhūtadamanāya̱ namo̍ ma̱nonma̍nāya̱ namaḥ̍ ||2||
a̱ghore̎bhyo'tha̱ ghore̎bhyo̱ ghora̱ghora̍tarebhyaḥ |
sarve̎bhyassarva̱ śarve̎bhyo̱ nama̍ste astu ru̱drarū̍pebhyaḥ ||3||
tatpuru̍ṣāya vi̱dmahe̍ mahāde̱vāya̍ dhīmahi |
tanno̍ rudraḥ praco̱dayā̎t ||4||
īśānas sarva̍vidyā̱nā̱m īśvaras sarva̍bhūtā̱nāṁ̱ brahmādhi̍pati̱r brahma̱ṇo'dhi̍pati̱r brahmā̍ śi̱vo me̍ astu sadāśi̱vom ||5||
sa̱dyojā̱ta[m] pra̍–padyā̱–mi̱ sa̱dyojā̱–ya̱ vai na–mo̱ na–maḥ̍ |
bha̱–ve bha̍–ve̱ –ti̍–bha–ve bha–vas–va̱ mā[m] bha̱–vod–bha̍––ya̱ na–maḥ̍ ||1||
vā̱–ma̱–de̱–ya̱ na–mo̎ jye̱ṣṭhā–ya̱ na–ma̍śśre̱ṣṭhā–ya̱ na–mo̍ ru̱d–ya̱ na–maḥ̱ lā̍–ya̱ na–maḥ̱ ka–la̍–vi–ka–ra–ṇā–ya̱ na–mo̱ ba–la̍–vi–ka–ra–ṇā–ya̱ na–mo̱ ba–lā̍–ya̱ na–mo̱ ba–la̍p–ra–ma–tha––ya̱ na–ma̱ssar–va̍–bhū–ta–da–ma––ya̱ na–mo̍ ma̱–non–ma̍––ya̱ na–maḥ̍ ||2||
a̱–ghore̎bhyo–tha̱ ghore̎bhyo̱ gho–ra̱–gho–ra̍–ta–rebhyaḥ |
sarve̎bhyassar–va̱ śarve̎bhyo̱ na–ma̍ste as–tu ru̱d–ra–rū̍pebhyaḥ ||3||
tat–pu–ru̍–ṣā–ya vi̱d–ma–he̍ ma–de̱–ya̍ dhī–ma–hi |
tanno̍ rudraḥ pra–co̱–da–yā̎t ||4||
īśānassar–va̍–vidyā̱nā̱m īś–va–rassar–va̍–bhūtā̱nā̱[m] brah–dhi̍–pa–ti̱r brah–ma̱–ṇo–dhi̍–pa–ti̱r brahmā̍ śi̱–vo me̍ as–tu sa––śi̱–vom ||5||
sa̱dyojā̱ta[m]pra̍padyā̱mi̱sa̱dyojā̱ya̱vainamo̱namaḥ̍|
bha̱vebha̍ve̱ti̍bhavebhavasva̱mā[m]bha̱vodbha̍ya̱namaḥ̍||1||
vā̱ma̱de̱ya̱namo̎jye̱ṣṭhāya̱nama̍śśre̱ṣṭhāya̱namo̍ru̱dya̱namaḥ̱lā̍ya̱namaḥ̱kala̍vikaraṇāya̱namo̱bala̍vikaraṇāya̱namo̱balā̍ya̱namo̱bala̍pramathaya̱nama̱ssarva̍bhūtadamaya̱namo̍ma̱nonma̍ya̱namaḥ̍||2||
ghore̎bhyotha̱ghore̎bhyo̱ghora̱ghora̍tarebhyaḥ|
sarve̎bhyassarva̱śarve̎bhyo̱nama̍steasturu̱drarū̍pebhyaḥ||3||
tatpuru̍ṣāyavi̱dmahe̍made̱ya̍dhīmahi|
tanno̍rudraḥpraco̱dayā̎t||4||
īśānassarva̍vidyā̱nā̱mīśvarassarva̍bhūtā̱nā̱[m]brahdhi̍pati̱rbrahma̱ṇodhi̍pati̱rbrahmā̍śi̱vome̍astusaśi̱vom||5||
Translation

I take refuge in Sadyojāta, swift creator of the cosmos. Bowing again and again, I beseech You to free me from birth after birth to abide beyond saṁsāra. Obeisance to You, O birth of being! (1)

Obeisance to Vāmadeva, the splendid God, the primordial, the greatest, the remover of suffering, time eternal, the root of weakness, the source of strength, strength itself, vanquisher of the strong, destroyer of all. Prostrations to the mind's creator and confounder. (2)

To Aghora Śiva, whose countless forms are benign, frightful and even terrifying, to all Your forms, O Rudra, in every place, at every time, we offer salutations. (3)

May we know the Primal Soul, Tatpuruṣa, and meditate on that Great Divinity. O Rudra, guide and enlighten us. (4)

May Īśāna, the Master of all wisdom, Lord of all beings, protector of Vedic knowledge, commander of creation, the all-pervading Supreme Being, the eternally auspicious One, Sadāśiva, be benevolent to me. Oṁ! (5)

Word by wordVerse 1

sadyojātam (Sadyojāta, the swiftly-born) · prapadyāmi (I take refuge in) · sadyojātāya vai namo namaḥ (salutations again and again to Sadyojāta) · bhave bhave (in birth after birth) · nātibhave (not in further worldly existence; free from repeated birth) · bhavasva mām (cause me to abide) · bhavodbhavāya namaḥ (salutations to the source of being)

Verse 2

vāmadevāya (to Vāmadeva, the splendid God) · jyeṣṭhāya (the primordial, the eldest) · śreṣṭhāya (the greatest) · rudrāya (the remover of suffering) · kālāya (time eternal) · kalavikaraṇāya (the root of weakness) · balavikaraṇāya (the source of strength) · balāya (strength itself) · balapramathanāya (vanquisher of the strong) · sarvabhūtadamanāya (destroyer of all) · manonmanāya namaḥ (prostrations to the mind's creator and confounder)

Verse 3

aghorebhyaḥ (to the benign forms) · atha (and) · ghorebhyaḥ (to the frightful forms) · ghoraghoratarebhyaḥ (to the even more terrifying forms) · sarvebhyaḥ sarva-śarvebhyaḥ (to all, to all the forms of Śarva) · namaste astu (salutations be to You) · rudrarūpebhyaḥ (to the forms of Rudra)

Verse 4

tatpuruṣāya vidmahe (may we know the Primal Soul, Tatpuruṣa) · mahādevāya dhīmahi (and meditate on that Great Divinity) · tat naḥ rudraḥ pracodayāt (may that Rudra guide and enlighten us)

Verse 5

īśānaḥ sarva-vidyānām (Īśāna, Master of all wisdom) · īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānām (Lord of all beings) · brahmādhipatir (protector of Vedic knowledge) · brahmaṇo'dhipatir (commander of creation, of the Creator Brahmā) · brahmā (Himself the all-pervading Supreme Being) · śivo me astu sadāśivom (be benevolent to me, that Eternally Auspicious One. Oṁ!)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

About This Chant

The Pañcabrahma Mantra honors Śiva through five sacred faces—Sadyojāta, Vāmadeva, Aghora, Tatpuruṣa, and Īśāna—associated with creation, preservation, dissolution, concealment/grace, and revelation. Source: Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda, Taittirīya Āraṇyaka 10.17–21; the source text orders the verses Īśāna through Sadyojāta, though they are often chanted in the reverse order used here.

Lesson 11—Mahā Mṛtyuñjaya Mantra

ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सुग॒न्धिं पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।
उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नात् मृ॒त्योः मु॑क्षीय॒ माऽमृतात् ॥
oṁ trya̍mbakaṁ yajāmahe suga̱ndhiṁ pu̍ṣṭi̱vardha̍nam |
u̱rvā̱ru̱kami̍va̱ bandha̍nāt mṛ̱tyoḥ mu̍kṣīya̱ mā’mṛtā̎t ||
oṁ trya̍m–ba–kaṁ ya––ma–he su–ga̱ndhi[m] pu̍ṣ–ṭi̱–var–dha̍–nam |
u̱rvā̱–ru̱–ka–mi̍–va̱ ban–dha̍–nā[n] mṛ̱tyo[r] mu̍kṣī–ya̱ mā’–mṛ–tā̎t ||
oṁtrya̍mbakaṁyamahesuga̱ndhi[m]pu̍ṣṭi̱vardha̍nam|
u̱rvā̱ru̱kami̍va̱bandha̍nā[n]mṛ̱tyo[r]mu̍kṣīya̱mā’mṛtā̎t||
Translation

We worship the three-eyed Lord, fragrant and increasing nourishment. May He liberate us from death, like a cucumber released from its stem, but not from immortality.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · tryambakam (the three-eyed One; tri, three; ambaka, eye) · yajāmahe (we worship) · sugandhim (the fragrant One; su, good; gandha, fragrance) · puṣṭivardhanam (the increaser of nourishment; puṣṭi, nourishment; vardhana, increasing) · urvārukam (a cucumber) · iva (like) · bandhanāt (from its stem, from bondage) · mṛtyoḥ (from death) · mukṣīya (may he liberate us) · (not) · amṛtāt (from immortality)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.11, with audio

About This Chant

The Mahā Mṛtyuñjaya Mantra is a widely chanted healing and liberation mantra, invoking Tryambaka (the three-eyed form of Śiva) and asking for release from death without separation from immortality—as a ripe cucumber slips free from its stem. Source: Ṛgveda 7.59.12, in anuṣṭubh meter; also transmitted in Yajurvedic liturgy and widely used in Śaiva worship and daily recitation.

Lesson 12—Dīpa Mantra

उद्दीप्यस्व जा॒तवे॑दोऽपघ्नन् निरृ॑तिं॒ मम॑ ।
पशू॑ग्ँश्च॒ मह्य॑ममा॑वह जी॑वनं॒ च॒ दिशो॑ दिश॒ ॥ २०॥
मा॒ नो॑ हिग्ँसीज्जा॒तवेदो॒ गा॒मश्वं॒ पुरुषं॒ जगत् ।
अबिभ्रदग्न॒ आग॑हि श्रिया॒ मा॒ परिपातय॒ ॥ २१॥

Note: The crescent-and-dot mark , called candrabindu, is a Devanāgarī nasalization sign. Here it is used in a Vedic notation, placed over the pure consonant ग्, forming ग्ँ; the virāma under ग् removes the inherent a, so the intended sound is gṁ, not gaṁ.

uddīpyasva jā̱tave̍do ’paghnan nirṛ̍tiṁ̱ mama̍ |
paśū̍gṁśca̱ mahya̱mamā̍vaha jī̍vanaṁ̱ ca̱ diśo̍ diśa̱ || 20 ||
mā̱ no̍ higṁsīj jā̱tavedo̱ gā̱maśvaṁ̱ puruṣaṁ̱ jagat |
abibhradagna̱ āga̍hi śriyā̱ mā̱ paripātaya̱ || 21 ||
ud–p–yas–va jā̱–ta–ve̍do ’pa–ghnan ni–rṛ̍ti̱[m] ma–ma̍ |
pa–śū̍gṁ–śca̱ mah–ya̱–ma–mā̍–va–ha jī̍–va–na̱[ñ] ca̱ di–śo̍ di–śa̱ ||20||
mā̱ no̍ hi–gṁsīj jā̱–ta–ve–do̱ gā̱maśva̱[m] pu–ru–ṣa̱[ñ] ja–gat |
a–bibh–ra–dag–na̱ āga̍–hiś–ri–yā̱ mā̱ pa–ri–pā–ta–ya̱ ||21||
udpyasvajā̱tave̍do’paghnannirṛ̍ti̱[m]mama̍|
paśū̍gṁśca̱mahya̱mamā̍vahajī̍vana̱[ñ]ca̱diśo̍diśa̱||20||
mā̱no̍higṁsījjā̱tavedo̱gā̱maśva̱[m]puruṣa̱[ñ]jagat|
abibhradagna̱āga̍hiśriyā̱mā̱paritaya̱||21||
Translation

Blaze forth, O Jātavedas, driving away my misfortune. Bring to me cattle, long life and blessing in every direction.

Do not harm us, O Jātavedas: neither cow, nor horse, nor person, nor any living being. Come to us, O Agni; with prosperity, protect me on every side.

Word by word

uddīpyasva (blaze forth) · jātavedaḥ (O Jātavedas, Agni) · apaghnan nirṛtim mama (driving away my misfortune) · paśūn ca mahyam amāvaha (bring cattle and sustaining abundance to me) · jīvanam ca (and long life) · diśo diśa (grant blessing in every direction)

mā naḥ hiṁsīḥ (do not harm us) · gām aśvam puruṣam jagat (cow, horse, person or any living being) · jātavedaḥ (O Jātavedas) · abibhrad agne āgahi (come, O Agni, bearing light and blessing) · śriyā mā paripātaya (protect me on every side with prosperity)

About This Chant

This Vedic verse invokes Agni as Jātavedas, the fire who knows all beings; in lamp worship, the flame is honored as Agni and asked to blaze forth, remove misfortune, and bring life, prosperity, and protection. Source: Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad, first anuvāka, verses 20–21 (transmitted as Prapāṭhaka 10 of the Taittirīya Āraṇyaka, Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda).

Lesson 13—Dīpa Darśana

ॐ साज्यं॑ त्रि॑व॑र्तिसं॒युक्तं॑ व॒ह्निना॒ योजितं॑ मया ।
गृहा॑ण मङ्ग॑लं॒ दीपं॑ ई॒शपु॒त्र गणा॑धिपम् ॥
oṁ sājya̍ṁ tri̍va̍rtisa̱ṁyukta̍ṁ va̱hninā̱ yojita̍ṁ mayā |
gṛhā̍ṇa maṅga̍la̱ṁ dīpa̍m ī̱śapu̱tra gaṇā̍dhipam ||
oṁ sāj–ya̍[n] tri̍–va̍r–ti–sa̱ṁ–yuk–t
va̱h–
ni–nā̱ yo–ji–ta̍[m] ma–yā |
gṛ–hā̍–ṇa maṅ–ga̍–la̱[n] dī–pa̍m ī̱–śa–pu̱t–ra ga–ṇā̍–dhi–pam ||
oṁsājya̍[n]tri̍va̍rtisa̱ṁyukta̍ṁ
va̱hninā̱yojita̍[m]ma|
gṛhā̍ṇamaṅga̍la̱[n]pa̍mī̱śapu̱tragaṇā̍dhipam||
Translation

O Son of Śiva, Leader of the Gaṇas, please accept this auspicious lamp, prepared by me with ghee, three wicks and fire.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · sājyam (with ghee; sa-, with; ājya, ghee) · trivartisaṁyuktam (fitted with three wicks; tri, three; varti, wick; saṁyukta, equipped) · vahninā (with fire) · yojitam (prepared) · mayā (by me) · gṛhāṇa (please accept) · maṅgalam (auspicious) · dīpam (lamp) · īśaputra (O Son of Śiva; īśa, Lord Śiva; putra, son) · gaṇādhipam (Leader of the Gaṇas; gaṇa, host; adhipa, lord)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.13, with audio

About This Chant

This dīpa darśana verse accompanies the offering of a lamp: the devotee presents a light prepared with ghee, wick, and fire, and asks the deity to accept it. Source: A traditional ritual verse for offering a lamp to Gaṇeśa.

Lesson 14—Subrahmaṇya Dīpam

ॐ देव॑सेना॑पते॒ दीपं॑ सा॒ज्यव॒र्तिसम॑न्वितम् ।
तार॑कारे॑ कुमा॒र त्वं॑ गृहा॑ण हरन॑न्दन ॥
oṁ deva̍senā̍pate̱ dīpa̍ṁ sā̱jyava̱rtisama̍nvitam |
tāra̍kāre̍ kumā̱ra tva̍ṁ gṛhā̍ṇa harana̍ndana ||
oṁ de–va̍–se–nā̍–pa–te̱ dī–pa̍ṁ sā̱j–ya–va̱r–ti–sa–ma̍n–vi–tam |
tā–
ra̍–kā–re̍ ku–mā̱–rat–va̍[ṅ] gṛ–hā̍–ṇa ha–ra–na̍n–da–na ||
oṁdeva̍senā̍pate̱pa̍ṁsā̱jyava̱rtisama̍nvitam|
ra̍re̍kumā̱ratva̍[ṅ]gṛhā̍ṇaharana̍ndana||
Translation

O son of Hara (Śiva), destroyer of Tārakāsūra, commander of the army of the devas, please accept this lamp prepared with ghee and wicks.

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · devasenāpate (O commander of the divine army; deva, god; senā, army; pati, lord) · dīpam (lamp) · sājyavartisamanvitam (furnished with ghee and wicks; ājya, ghee; varti, wick) · tārakāre (O destroyer of Tāraka; tāraka, the demon; ari, enemy) · kumāra (O Kumāra) · tvam (you) · gṛhāṇa (please accept) · haranandana (O son of Hara; hara, Śiva; nandana, son)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.14, with audio

About This Chant

This lamp-offering verse is addressed to Subrahmaṇya, also known as Murugan or Kumāra, honoring him as commander of the divine hosts, destroyer of Tāraka, and son of Śiva. Source: A traditional ritual dīpa verse for Subrahmaṇya, used in lineage worship.

Lesson 15—Śiva Dīpam

ॐ साज्य॑वर्तित्रयो॒पेतं॑ प्रा॒ज्यम॒ङ्गलदा॑यकम् ।
दीपं॑ पश्य॑ दया॒राशे॑ दी॒नब॒न्धो नमो॑ऽस्तुते ॥
oṁ sājya̍vartitrayo̱peta̍ṁ prā̱jyama̱ṅgaladā̍yakam |
dīpa̍ṁ paśya̍ dayā̱rāśe̍ dī̱naba̱ndho namo̍’stute ||
oṁ sāj–ya̍–var–ti̍t–ra–yo̱peta̍[m] prā̱j–ya–ma̱ṅ–ga–la–dā̍–ya–kam |
pa̍[m] paś–ya̍ da–yā̱ś dī̱–na–ba̱ndho na–mo̍’s–tu–te ||
oṁsājya̍varti̍trayo̱peta̍[m]prā̱jyama̱ṅgaladā̍yakam|
pa̍[m]paśya̍dayā̱śe̍dī̱naba̱ndhonamo̍’stute||
Translation

O Compassionate One, friend of the needy, please behold this auspicious lamp, lit with ghee and three wicks, bestower of abundant blessings. Salutations to You!

Word by word

oṁ (sacred syllable) · sājyavartitrayopetam (furnished with ghee and three wicks; ājya, ghee; varti, wick; traya, three; upeta, endowed with) · prājyamaṅgaladāyakam (bestower of abundant blessings; prājya, abundant; maṅgala, auspiciousness; dāyaka, giver) · dīpam (lamp) · paśya (behold) · dayārāśe (O ocean of compassion; dayā, compassion; rāśi, ocean) · dīnabandho (O friend of the needy; dīna, the needy; bandhu, friend) · namaḥ (salutation) · astu (may there be) · te (to You)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.15, with audio

About This Chant

This Śiva dīpam verse offers an auspicious lamp to Śiva, addressing him with tender devotional titles—ocean of compassion, friend of the humble—and asking him to behold it. Source: A traditional ritual dīpa verse for Śiva, in the style of temple or pūjā worship.

Lesson 16—Gaṇeśa Invocation (Gaṇapati Prārthanā)

ग॒णानां॑ त्वा ग॒णप॑तिग्ँ हवामहे
क॒विं क॑वी॒नामु॑प॒मश्र॑वस्तमम् ।
ज्ये॒ष्ठ॒राजं॒ ब्रह्म॑णां ब्रह्मणस्पत॒
आ न॑ः शृ॒ण्वन्नू॒तिभि॑ः सीद॒ साद॑नम् ॥

Note: The crescent-and-dot mark , called candrabindu, is a Devanāgarī nasalization sign. Here it is used in a Vedic notation, placed over the pure consonant ग्, forming ग्ँ; the virāma under ग् removes the inherent a, so the intended sound is gṁ, not gaṁ. This mantra is often printed as gaṇapatiṁ havāmahe; this guide writes gaṇapatigṁ havāmahe to reflect the chanted pronunciation used here.

ga̱ṇānā̍ṁ tvā ga̱ṇapa̍tigṁ havāmahe
ka̱viṁ ka̍vī̱nāmu̍pa̱maśra̍vastamam |
jye̱ṣṭha̱rāja̱ṁ brahma̍ṇāṁ brahmaṇaspata̱
ā na̍ḥ śṛ̱ṇvannū̱tibhi̍ḥ sīda̱ sāda̍nam ||
ga-ṇā-nā[n]-tvā ga-ṇa-pa-ti gṁ ha--ma-he
ka-vi[ṅ] ka---mu-pa-maś-ra-vas-ta-mam |
jyeṣ-ṭha--ja[m] brah-ma-ṇā[m] brah-ma-ṇas-pa-ta
ā na[ś] śṛṇ-van--ti-bhi[s] -da--da-nam ||
gaṇānā[n]tvāgaṇapatigṁhamahe
kavi[ṅ]kamupamaśravastamam|
jyeṣṭhaja[m]brahmaṇā[m]brahmaṇaspata
āna[ś]śṛṇvantibhi[s]dadanam||
Translation

Oṁ. We invoke You, Gaṇapati, Lord of the Gaṇas, the most renowned Seer among seers, the preeminent Ruler of sacred utterances. O Lord of sacred utterance, hearing us, with Your aid, sit here upon Your seat.

Word by word

gaṇānām (of the Gaṇas, hosts or groups) · tvā (you) · gaṇapatim (Gaṇapati, Lord of the Gaṇas; gaṇa, host; pati, lord) · havāmahe (we invoke, call upon) · kavim (Seer, inspired poet) · kavīnām (among seers, of seers) · upamaśravastamam (most renowned) · jyeṣṭharājam (preeminent ruler or king) · brahmaṇām (of sacred utterances) · brahmaṇaspate (O Lord of sacred utterance) · ā (here, hither) · naḥ (us) · śṛṇvan (hearing) · ūtibhiḥ (with aids or protections; collectively, with Your aid) · sīda (sit, be seated) · sādanam (seat, place of sitting)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.16, with audio

About This Chant

This Vedic invocation is commonly cited by its opening words, gaṇānāṁ tvā gaṇapatiṁ havāmahe, “we invoke you as Gaṇapati.” In the Ṛgveda it praises Brahmaṇaspati or Bṛhaspati, lord of sacred utterance; in later Hindu worship it became a beloved invocation of Gaṇeśa because of the title Gaṇapati. Source: Ṛgveda 2.23.1, in jagatī meter.

Lesson 17—Guru Mantra (Sannyāsa Sūkta)

Maha-Narayana Upanishad, XII. 14-17

ॐ न कर्म॑णा न प्र॒जया॒ धने॑न॒ त्यागे॑नैके अमृत॒त्वमा॑न॒शुः ।
परे॑ण॒ नाकं॒ निहि॑तं॒ गुहा॑यां विभ्राज॑ते॒ तद्यत॑यो वि॒शन्ति॑ ।१।
वे॒दा॒न्त॒वि॒ज्ञान॒सुनि॑श्चिता॒र्थाः सन्न्यास यो॒गाद्यत॑यः शुद्धसत्त्वाः।
ते ब्र॑ह्मलो॒के तु॒ परा॑न्तकाले॒ परा॑मृता॒त्परि॑मुच्यन्ति॒ सर्वे ।२।
द॒ह्रं॒ वि॒पा॒पं प॒रमेश्मभूतं॒ यत्पु॑ण्डरी॒कं पु॒रम॑ध्यस॒ग्गस्थम् ।
त॒त्रा॒पि॒ द॒ह्रं ग॒गनं॑ विशोक॒स्तस्मि॑न् यद॒न्तस्तदुपा॑सित॒व्यम् ।३।
यो वेदादौ स्व॑रः प्रो॒क्तो॒ वे॒दान्ते॑ च प्र॒तिष्ठि॑तः ।
तस्य॑ प्र॒कृति॑लीन॒स्य॒ यः॒ परः॑ स म॒हेश्व॑रः ।४।
oṁ na karma̍ṇā na pra̱jayā̱
dhane̍na̱ tyāge̍naike amṛta̱tvamā̍na̱śuḥ |
pare̍ṇa̱ nākaṁ̱ nihi̍taṁ̱ guhā̍yāṁ̱
vibhrāja̍te̱ tadyata̍yo vi̱śanti̍ |1|
ve̱dā̱nta̱vi̱jñāna̱ suni̍ścitā̱rthāḥ
sannyāsa yo̱gādyata̍yaḥ śuddhasattvāḥ|
te bra̍hmalo̱ke tu̱ parā̍ntakāle̱
parā̍mṛtā̱tpari̍mucyanti̱sarve̎ |2|
da̱hraṁ̱ vi̱pā̱paṁ pa̱rame̎śmabhūtaṁ̱
yatpu̍ṇḍarī̱kaṁ pu̱rama̍dhyasa̱ggastham |
ta̱trā̱pi̱da̱hraṁ̱ ga̱ganaṁ̍ viśoka̱stasmi̍n yada̱ntastadupā̍sita̱vyam |3|
yo vedādau sva̍raḥ pro̱kto̱ve̱dānte̍ ca pra̱tiṣṭhi̍taḥ |
tasya̍ pra̱kṛti̍līna̱sya̱ yaḥ̱ paraḥ̍ sa ma̱heśva̍raḥ |4|
oṁ na kar-ma̍-ṇā nap-ra̱-ja-yā̱
dha-ne̍-na̱ tyā-ge̍-nai-ke a-mṛ-ta̱t-va-mā̍-na̱-śuḥ |
pa-re̍-ṇa̱ -ka̱[n] ni-hi̍-ta̱[ṅ] gu-hā̍-yāṁ̱
vibh-rā-ja̍-te̱ tad-ya-ta̍-yo vi̱-śan-ti̍ |1|
ve̱-dā̱n-ta̱-vi̱j-ñā-na̱ su-ni̍ś-ci-tā̱r-thā[s]
san-nyā-sa yo̱-gād-ya-ta̍-ya[ś] śud-dha-sat-tvāḥ|
teb-ra̍h-ma-lo̱-ke tu̱ pa-rā̍n-ta--le̱
pa-rā̍-mṛ-tā̱t-pa-ri̍-muc-yan-ti̱ sar-ve̎ |2|
da̱h-raṁ̱ vi̱-pā̱-pa[m] pa̱-ra-me̎ś-ma-bhū-taṁ̱
yat-pu̍ṇ-ḍa-rī̱-ka[m] pu̱-ra-ma̍dh-ya-sa̱g-gas-tham |
ta̱t-rā̱-pi̱ da̱h-ra̱[ṅ] ga̱-ga-naṁ̍ vi-śo-ka̱s-tas-mi̍n ya-da̱n-tas-ta-du-pā̍-si-ta̱v-yam |3|
yo ve--dau sva̍-raḥ pro̱k-to̱ ve̱-dān-te̍ cap-ra̱-tiṣ-ṭhi̍-taḥ |
tas-ya̍p-ra̱-kṛ-ti̍-lī-na̱s-ya̱ yaḥ̱ pa-ra̍[s] sa ma̱-heś-va̍-raḥ |4|
oṁnakarma̍ṇānapra̱jayā̱
dhane̍na̱tyāge̍naikeamṛta̱tvamā̍na̱śuḥ|
pare̍ṇa̱ka̱[n]nihi̍ta̱[ṅ]guhā̍yāṁ̱
vibhja̍te̱tadyata̍yovi̱śanti̍|1|
ve̱dā̱nta̱vi̱jñāna̱suni̍ścitā̱rthā[s]
sannyāsayo̱gādyata̍ya[ś]śuddhasattvāḥ|
tebra̍hmalo̱ketu̱parā̍ntale̱
parā̍mṛtā̱tpari̍mucyanti̱sarve̎|2|
da̱hraṁ̱vi̱pā̱pa[m]pa̱rame̎śmabhūtaṁ̱
yatpu̍ṇḍarī̱ka[m]pu̱rama̍dhyasa̱ggastham|
ta̱trā̱pi̱da̱hra̱[ṅ]ga̱ganaṁ̍viśoka̱stasmi̍nyada̱ntastadu
pā̍sita̱vyam|3|
yovedausva̍raḥpro̱kto̱ve̱dānte̍capra̱tiṣṭhi̍taḥ|
tasya̍pra̱kṛti̍na̱sya̱yaḥ̱para̍[s]sama̱heśva̍raḥ|4|
Translation

Based on the translation by Swami Vimalananda of the Sri Ramakrishna Math; the final verse uses the approved Himalayan Academy house rendering

Immortality is attained not by work, not by progeny, not by wealth, but only by renunciation. That which recluses attain is laid beyond the heaven, yet it shines brilliantly in the heart.

Having attained the immortality consisting of identity with the Supreme, aspirants who strive for self-control, who have realized the conclusions of the Vedas and have attained purity of mind through yoga, and steadfastness in the knowledge of Brahman, preceded by renunciation, are released into the region of Brahman at the dissolution of their final body.

In the citadel of the body there is the small, sinless and pure lotus of the heart which is the residence of the Supreme. Further in the interior of this small area there is the sorrowless Ether. That is to be meditated upon continually. The sacred syllable Oṁ, uttered at the beginning of the Vedas and established at their end—He who is beyond it as it dissolves into its primal source is the Great Lord.

Word by wordVerse 1

oṁ (sacred syllable) · na (not) · karmaṇā (by work) · na (not) · prajayā (by progeny) · dhanena (by wealth) · tyāgena (by renunciation) · eke (alone, only) · amṛtatvam (immortality; a-mṛta, deathless; -tva, the state of) · ānaśuḥ (attained) · pareṇa nākam (beyond heaven) · nihitam (placed, laid) · guhāyām (in the cave of the heart) · vibhrājate (shines brilliantly) · tad (that) · yatayaḥ (ascetics, renunciants; yati, renunciant) · viśanti (enter, attain)

Verse 2

vedāntavijñāna (the knowledge of Vedānta; vedānta, the Upaniṣads; vijñāna, discernment) · suniścitārthāḥ (those who have firmly grasped the truth; su-, well; niścita, certain; artha, truth) · sannyāsayogād (through the yoga of renunciation; sannyāsa, renunciation; yoga, discipline) · yatayaḥ (strivers, ascetics) · śuddhasattvāḥ (those of purified mind; śuddha, pure; sattva, mind, being) · te (they) · brahmaloke (in the world of Brahman) · tu (indeed) · parāntakāle (at the final dissolution; para, final; anta, end; kāla, time) · parāmṛtāt (from supreme immortality) · parimucyanti (are completely liberated) · sarve (all)

Verse 3

dahram (small, tiny) · vipāpam (sinless; vi-, free from; pāpa, sin) · parameśmabhūtam (which has become the residence of the Supreme) · yatpuṇḍarīkam (that lotus; puṇḍarīka, lotus) · puramadhyasaṁstham (situated in the center of the citadel; pura, citadel; madhya, center; saṁstha, situated) · tatrāpi (there also) · dahram (small) · gaganam (ether, sky) · viśokaḥ (sorrowless; vi-, free from; śoka, grief) · tasmin (in that) · yadantaḥ (what is within) · tadupāsitavyam (that is to be meditated upon)

Verse 4

yaḥ (which) · vedādau (at the opening of the Vedas; ādi, beginning) · svaraḥ (the sacred syllable) · proktaḥ (declared, uttered) · vedānte (at the end of the Vedas; traditionally, in the Upaniṣads) · ca (and) · pratiṣṭhitaḥ (firmly established) · tasya (of that) · prakṛtilīnasya (dissolved into its primal source; prakṛti, primordial nature; līna, dissolved) · yaḥ (who) · paraḥ (beyond, transcendent) · saḥ (he) · maheśvaraḥ (the Great Lord; mahā, great; īśvara, lord)

About This Chant

The Sannyāsa Sūkta teaches that immortality is attained not by ritual action, progeny or wealth, but through tyāga, renunciation; the verses then turn inward to the lotus of the heart, meditated upon as the seat of the Supreme. Source: Mahā-Nārāyaṇa Upaniṣad XII.14–17; translation based on Swami Vimalananda’s rendering for the Sri Ramakrishna Math, with the final verse revised to the approved Himalayan Academy house rendering.

Translation Used in This Lesson

Immortality is attained not by work, not by progeny, not by wealth, but only by renunciation. That which recluses attain is laid beyond the heaven, yet it shines brilliantly in the heart.

Having attained the immortality consisting of identity with the Supreme, aspirants who strive for self-control, who have realized the conclusions of the Vedas and have attained purity of mind through yoga and steadfastness in the knowledge of Brahman, preceded by renunciation, are released into the region of Brahman at the dissolution of their final body.

In the citadel of the body there is the small, sinless and pure lotus of the heart which is the residence of the Supreme. Further in the interior of this small area there is the sorrowless Ether. That is to be meditated upon continually.

The sacred syllable Oṁ, uttered at the beginning of the Vedas and established at their end—He who is beyond it as it dissolves into its primal source is the Great Lord.

Lesson 18—Guruparamparā Vandanā (Kailasa Paramparā)

गुरुपरम्परावन्दना – Guruparamparā-Vandanā
Sanskrit Text: (Anuṣṭup chandaḥ - eight-syllable form)
सदा॒शिवसमा॒रम्भां॑ न॒न्दिनाथसु॒नन्दि॑ताम्।
ति॒रुमूलारसि॒द्धान्त॑ ते॒जोरश्मिप्र॒काशि॑ताम् ।।1।।
ऋ॒षिपुनीतमौ॒नाप्त॑-प्र॒सन्नस्यन्द॒नोज्ज्व॑लाम्।
क॒डैत्स्वाम्यद्भुता॒श्च॑र्य-सि॒द्धिसामर्थ्य॒ भूषि॑ताम् ।।2।।
चे॒ल्लप्पास्वामिस॒मृद्धां॑ यो॒गस्वामिसु॒भाषि॑ताम्।
दुः॒खविनाशिनीं॒ सद्यः॑ प॒रमानन्दप्र॒दायि॑नीम् ।।3।।
व॒र्धितां गुरुभि॒र्लोके॑ शु॒चिस्नेहस॒मन्वि॑तैः।
सा॒धनैर्गुरुदे॒वस्य॑ शि॒वसन्मार्ग॒गामि॑नः ।।4।।
सा॒म्प्रतं बोधिना॒थेन॑ सो॒त्साहमभि॒रक्षि॑ताम्।
दि॒व्येन भावतो॒ नित्यं॑ व॒न्दे गुरुप॒रम्प॑राम् ।।5।।
sadā̱śivasamā̱rambhā̍ṁ na̱ndināthasu̱nandi̍tām|
ti̱rumūlārasi̱ddhānta̍ te̱joraśmipra̱kāśi̍tām ||1||
ṛ̱ṣipunītamau̱nāpta̍-pra̱sannasyanda̱nojjva̍lām|
ka̱ḍaitsvāmyadbhutā̱śca̍rya si̱ddhisāmarthya̱ bhūṣi̍tām ||2||
ce̱llappāsvāmisa̱mṛddhā̍ṁ yo̱gasvāmisu̱bhāṣi̍tām|
du̱ḥkhavināśinī̱ṁ sadya̍ḥ pa̱ramānandapra̱dāyi̍nīm ||3||
va̱rdhitāṁ gurubhi̱rloke̍ śu̱cisnehasa̱manvi̍taiḥ|
sā̱dhanairgurude̱vasya̍ śi̱vasanmārga̱gāmi̍naḥ ||4||
sā̱mprataṁ bodhinā̱thena̍ so̱tsāhamabhi̱rakṣi̍tām|
di̱vyena bhāvato̱ nitya̍ṁ va̱nde gurupa̱rampa̍rām ||5||
sa-dā̱-śi-va-sa-mā̱-ram-bhā̍[n]-na̱n-di--tha-su̱-nan-di̍-tām |
ti̱-ru---ra-si̱d-dhān-ta̍-te̱-jo-raś-mip-ra̱--śi̍-tām ||1||
ṛ̱-ṣi-pu--ta-mau̱-nāp-ta̍p-ra̱-san-nas-yan-da̱-noj-jva̍-lām |
ka̱-ḍait-svām-yad-bhu-tā̱ś-ca̍r-ya-si̱d-dhi--mar-thya̱-bhū-ṣi̍-tām ||2||
ce̱l-lap-pās--mi-sa̱-mṛd-dhā̍ṁ-yo̱-gas--mi-su̱-bhā-ṣi̍-tām |
du̱ḥ-kha-vi--śi-nī̱ṁ-sad-ya̍ḥ-pa̱-ra--nan-dap-ra̱--yi̍-nīm ||3||
va̱r-dhi-tā[ṅ]-gu-ru-bhi̱r-lo-ke̍-śu̱-cis-ne-ha-sa̱-man-vi̍-taiḥ |
sā̱-dha-nair-gu-ru-de̱-vas-ya̍-śi̱-va-san-mār-ga̱--mi̍-naḥ ||4||
sā̱m-pra-ta[m]-bo-dhi-nā̱-the-na̍-so̱t--ha-ma-bhi̱-rak-ṣi̍-tām |
di̱-vye-na-bhā-va-to̱-nit-ya̍ṁ-va̱n-de-gu-ru-pa̱-ram-pa̍-rām ||5||
sadā̱śivasamā̱rambhā̍[n]na̱ndithasu̱nandi̍tām|
ti̱rurasi̱ddhānta̍te̱joraśmipra̱śi̍tām||1||
ṛ̱ṣiputamau̱nāpta̍pra̱sannasyanda̱nojjva̍lām|
ka̱ḍaitsvāmyadbhutā̱śca̍ryasi̱ddhimarthya̱bhūṣi̍tām||2||
ce̱llappāsmisa̱mṛddhā̍ṁyo̱gasmisu̱bhāṣi̍tām|
du̱ḥkhaviśinī̱ṁsadya̍ḥpa̱ranandapra̱yi̍nīm||3||
va̱rdhitā[ṅ]gurubhi̱rloke̍śu̱cisnehasa̱manvi̍taiḥ|
sā̱dhanairgurude̱vasya̍śi̱vasanmārga̱mi̍naḥ||4||
sā̱mprata[m]bodhinā̱thena̍so̱thamabhi̱rakṣi̍tām|
di̱vyenabhāvato̱nitya̍ṁva̱ndegurupa̱rampa̍rām||5||
Translation

I bow with heartfelt devotion to the guru paramparā that began with Sadāśiva, was joyfully blessed by Nandinātha and is illumined by the Siddhāntic light of Tirumūlār. (1)

It shines with the gracious flow received in the holy silence of Ṛishi and is adorned with the wondrous siddhis and spiritual power of Kadaitswami. (2)

It was enriched by Chellappaswami and beautifully expressed by Yogaswami, instantly dispelling sorrow and bestowing supreme bliss. (3)

It has been nurtured in the world through Gurudeva’s pure and loving sādhanas along Śiva’s liberating San Mārga. (4)

Now protected with divine enthusiasm by Bodhinathaswami, to that guru paramparā I offer my heartfelt obeisance. (5)

Word by wordVerse 1

sadāśivasamārambhām (begun with Sadāśiva; sadāśiva, ever-auspicious Śiva; samārambha, beginning) · nandināthasunanditām (joyfully blessed by Nandinātha; sunanditā, well-rejoiced) · tirumūlārasiddhānta (the Siddhāntic light of Tirumūlār; siddhānta, established truth) · tejoraśmiprakāśitām (illumined by rays of radiance; tejas, radiance; raśmi, ray; prakāśita, illumined)

Verse 2

ṛṣipunītamaunāpta (received in the holy silence of the Ṛishi; ṛṣi, seer; punīta, holy, purified; mauna, silence; āpta, received) · prasannasyandanojjvalām (shining with gracious flow; prasanna, gracious; syandana, flowing; ujjvala, shining) · kaḍaitsvāmyadbhutāścarya (the wondrous marvel of Kadaitswami; adbhuta, wondrous; āścarya, marvel) · siddhisāmarthyabhūṣitām (adorned with siddhis and spiritual power; siddhi, attainment; sāmarthya, power; bhūṣita, adorned)

Verse 3

cellappāsvāmisamṛddhām (enriched by Chellappaswami; samṛddha, enriched) · yogasvāmisubhāṣitām (beautifully expressed by Yogaswami; subhāṣita, beautifully spoken) · duḥkhavināśinīm (destroyer of sorrow; duḥkha, sorrow; vināśinī, destroyer) · sadyaḥ (instantly) · paramānandapradāyinīm (bestower of supreme bliss; parama, supreme; ānanda, bliss; pradāyinī, bestower)

Verse 4

vardhitām (nurtured) · gurubhiḥ (by the gurus) · loke (in the world) · śucisnehasamanvitaiḥ (by those endowed with pure love; śuci, pure; sneha, love; samanvita, endowed with) · sādhanaiḥ (through spiritual practices; sādhana, practice) · gurudevasya (of Gurudeva) · śivasanmārgagāminaḥ (walking Śiva’s liberating path; sanmārga, true path or right path; gāmin, walking)

Verse 5

sāmpratam (now) · bodhināthena (by Bodhinatha) · sotsāham (with enthusiasm; utsāha, enthusiasm) · abhirakṣitām (protected) · divyena (divine) · bhāvataḥ (with heartfelt devotion; bhāva, feeling) · nityam (always) · vande (I bow, I offer obeisance) · guruparamparām (the guru lineage; paramparā, succession, lineage)

Practice and learn this chant by listening and chanting along with the instructor.

Exercise 6.18, with audio

About This Chant

This Kailasa Paramparā vandanā honors the guru lineage from Sadāśiva through the named preceptors to the present Satguru—both a salutation and a map of how the teaching has been transmitted. Source: Himalayan Academy / Kailasa Paramparā lineage composition, in anuṣṭubh (eight-syllable) lines.