Prarthana shlokas

A shloka is a rhythmic verse recited as a prayer or as part of a meditative process.  A mantra is a phrase like a formula that is repeated to invoke spiritual fervour.  A stuti or stotra is a collection of shlokas recited as a eulogy of ishta devta (chosen deity). 

My daughter and I are students of Sanskrit through shlokabhyasa (shloka classes).  With the blessings of our Guruji, we humbly present to you mantras/shlokas/stotras that we have learnt. 

In this video prarthana (prayer) shlokas are presented that are recited at the beginning and end of shlokabhyasa: 

https://youtu.be/DdtYz01xjOc 

The meaning of each of the shloka presented in the video is given below:

Gurure vagatihi Gurume vabhaje

Gurunaiva sahasmi namo Gurave

Na Guror paramam shishurasmi Guroho

Mati rasti Gurau mama pahi Gurau

Guru is my refuge, I pray to Guru

I prostrate in front of my Guru, I chant Guru’s name

I am an immature child without my Guru

I beseech Guru to save me from my ignorance

Agajanana padmarkam

Gajananam aharnisham

Anekadamtam bhatkanam

Ekadantam upasmahe

Just as lotus blooms in sunlight

Goddess Parvathi’s face lit up looking at Ganesha

The giver of boons to devotees

I meditate upon the Lord with single tusk

Vakratunda mahakaya

Kotisurya samaprabha

Avighnam Kurume deva

Sarva karyeshu sarvada

O Lord of the curved trunk and great body

One with the effulgence of a crore suns

Always remove all the obstacles

From all the tasks I undertake

Saraswathi namastubhyam varade kamarupini

Vidyarambham karishyami siddhir bhavatu me sada

Salutations to Goddess Saraswathi, who bestows boons

As I commence my studies, bless me with accomplishments

Namaste sharade devi kashmira puravasini

Tvamaham prarthaye nityam vidyam-buddhimcha dehi me

I bow to you Goddess Sharada (Saraswathi) whose abode is Kashmira

I pray to you ever that you may bestow upon me knowledge and wisdom

Hayagriva Hayagriva hayagriveti yo vadet

Tasya nihsarate vani jahnu kanyapravahavat

Upon repeated chanting of the name of Hayagriva (avatar of Lord Vishnu)

One’s speech flows mellifluously as the sacred Ganga

Asadhya sadhaka swamin asadhyam tava kim vada

Ramadhuta dayasindho matkaryam sadhayaprabho

O accomplisher of impossible tasks, truly what is impossible to you?

O benevolent emissary of Lord Rama, make my task possible to accomplish

Asatoma sadgamaya

Tamasoma jyotirgamaya

Mrityorma amrutangamaya

Om shantih shantih shantihi

O Lord, take me from lies to truth

Take me from darkness to light

Take me from death to immortality

Let there be peace, peace, peace

Kalevarshatu parjanyaha

Prithavi sasyshalinim

Deshoyam kshobharahitam

Sajjana santu nirbhayaha

May there be timely monsoons

May the Earth be green and productive

May the land be free of all problems

May the good citizens and sages be fearless

Sarve janah sukhino bhavantu

Samasta sanmangalani bhavantu

Om shantih shantih shantihi

May all be happy

May everything be auspicious

May there be peace, peace, peace

As can be gleaned from the meaning of shlokas presented, Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) recognizes the importance of satya (truth), dharma (righteousness), personal development, wisdom, oneness of all humanity, and the welfare of all living beings.  

We hope that this presentation will help you in your own learning of mantras, shlokas, stotras and Sanatana Dharma.   

Resources & references:

Background music: The Inner Sound, Jesse Gallagher

Pictures:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Raja_Ravi_Varma_-_Sankaracharya.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Namaste_namaskar.jpg

https://c4.wallpaperflare.com/wallpaper/830/15/623/ganesh-chaturthi-lord-ganesha-vinayaka-ganapati-wallpaper-preview.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHnfMKFN4JPWWRs2D80JHOOZqGZiC2gV402exO95gC-WjyohViWWFO1TdoNEq82zcx74yRSA5QcyUAFz6pOzbDkIUgUB6-XSB3hUZIwA4vpmj6sK8k6PzP_Bu97ftXzAZ1ZhDsrd2xNb7/s1600/104_001.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Hayagreeva.jpg/250px-Hayagreeva.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Hanuman_showing_Rama_in_His_heart.jpg

Meanings: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaiakE3LNso

http://www.dattavani.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ganesh-Sapthaham-Full-com.pdf

https://www.templepurohit.com/mantras-slokas-stotras/ganpati-stotra/agajanana-padmarkam-ganesha-stotram/

https://www.templepurohit.com/mantras-slokas-stotras/powerful-ganesh-mantra/

https://ommrudraksha.com/vakratundamahakaya

https://www.devshoppe.com/blogs/articles/shri-ganesha-mantra-with-meaning-shree-vakratunda-mahakaya

https://www.templepurohit.com/mantras-slokas-stotras/saraswati-mantra-knowledge-wisdom/

http://aumamen.com/prayer/saraswati-namastubhyam-lyrics-in-english-sanskrit-meaning-in-english

https://greenmesg.org/stotras/saraswati/namaste_sharade_devi.php

https://meerasubbarao.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/hayagreeva-sampada-stotra/

https://www.gurushakti.org.in/729/deities/vishnu/hayagriva-sampada-stotram

http://mantrashlokas-madhuri.blogspot.com/2011/07/hanuman-mantra_24.html

https://greenmesg.org/stotras/vedas/om_asato_ma_sadgamaya.php

https://www.amritapuri.org/3731/asatoma.aum

https://tamilandvedas.com/tag/kale-varshatu/