The
following are mantras and accompanying meditations for various Hindu
gods and the gifts you can receive from them. While any number of times
you repeat them works, the traditional number of times you say a mantra
is 108 (the number on eastern prayer beads).
Agni
God of Fire
Mantra:
agne naya supatha raye'saman
visvani deva vayunadi vidvan
yuyodhyamaj juhur anameno
bhuyistham te nama uktim vidhema
Meditation:
O fire! O self-effulgent, omniscient lord, cast out from us all
debasing and sinful desires and habits, and lead us by the path of
righteousness to the attainment of all true knowledge and worldly
riches. For this we offer unto you profound obeisance and praise.
Blessings:
Improved digestion
True knowledge and worldly riches
Acquisition of inner powers through yoga
Freedom from debasing desires and habits
Ardhanarishwar
The Divine Androgyne
Mantra:
prapanca-srty-unmukha-lasyakayai
samasta-samharaka-tandavaya
namah sivayai ca namah sivaya
Meditation:
She dances to create the world, while he dances to wind it all up. She
is the mother of the universe, he is its only father. I bow down to
Shiva and Shivani.
Blessings:
Felicity in married life
Raising the kundalini energy
Transcendental knowledge of universal oneness
Ability to harmonize opposing viewpoints or forces
Balaram
Wielder of the Plow
Mantra:
namas te halika rama namas te musalayudha namas te revatinatha namas te bhakta-vatsala namas te balinam srestha namas te dharani-dhara pralambare namas te'stu trahi mam krsna-purvaja
Meditation:
Salutations to you, bearer of the plow and club. Salutations to you, O
husband of Revati, who is so affectionate to his devotees. Salutations
to you, the best of the powerful, the lifter of the earth, the enemy of
Pralamba and the older brother of Sri Krishna. Please protect me!
Blessings:
Protection and loyalty
Brotherly love and service
Spiritual and moral strength
Freedom from the evils of intoxication
Bhadrakali
Goddess of Darkness
Mantra:
jayanti mangale kali
bhadrakali kapalini
durge ksame sive dhatri
svadhe svahe namo'stu te
Meditation:
Victorious one, auspicious one, Kali! Bhadrakali! Wearer of the skull
garland! O mother! All-forgiving protector and nurse! Sacred syllable
of the sacrifice, I bow down to you.
Blessings:
Worldly power
Earthly enjoyment
Fearlessness in battle
Access to feminine powers and virtues
Bhumi
Mother EarthMantra:
samudra-mekhale devi
parvata-stana-mandale
visnu-patni namas tubhyam
pada-sparsam ksamasva me
Meditation:
O Bhumi! You are girdled by the oceans and the mountains are your breasts. O wife of Vishnu, I offer you my salutations. Forgive me for treading on you.
Blessings:
Fertility of the land
Expansion and growth
Profusion of natural resources
Protection of the natural environment
Brahman
God of CreationMantra:
om na tvad etany anyo
vista jatani parita babhuva
yat-kamas te juhumas tan no astu
vayam syama patayo rayinam
Meditation:
O lord of all creatures! None other than you excels all these and other created things. You are above all. You are supreme. May you fulfill our cherished desires and may we possess bounteous wealth and other things of the world.
Blessings:
Instills creativity
Overcoming infertility
Happiness in this world
Aids in the learning process
Brihaspati
Preceptor of the GodsMantra:
devanam ca rsinam ca
gurun kancana-samnibham
buddhi-bhutam trilokesam
tam namami brihaspatim
Meditation:
I bow down to Brihaspati, god of the planet Jupiter. He is the spiritual master of all the demigods and sages. His complexion is golden, and he is full of intelligence. He is the controlling lord of all three worlds.
Blessings:
Power and prestige in society
Worldly knowledge, especially of law
Capacity to act as teacher and spiritual master
Ability to carry out advisory and ministerial duties
The Buddha
Lord of CompassionMantra:
yasya sabhru-bhramakampa
mara-ramah sa-sainakah
cakur na ragam na dvesam
sa santyai sugato'stu vah
Meditation:
May the one who achieved enlightenment, who felt neither attraction nor hate for the countless armies of courtesans sent to tempt him by the lord of this world, bring you peace.
Blessings:
Nonviolence
Attainment of nirvana
Detachment from worldly temptations
Readiness and ability to pass knowledge on to others
Chaitanga Mahaprabhu
The Golden AvatarMantra:
namo maha-vadanyaya
krsna-prema-pradaya te
krsnaya krsna-caitanya-
namne gaura-tvise namah
Meditation:
O incarnation of great munificence, O Krishna Chaitanya, you have come to give love of God to all the world. You are Krishna himself, but your color is golden. I pay homage to you.
Blessings:
A compassionate nature
Love of God and humanity
Munificence, charity and service
Perfection in the chanting of God's name
Chandra
The Moon GodMantra:
dadhi-sanki-tusarabham
ksitrodarnava-sambhavam
namami sasinam somam
sambhor mukta-bhusanam
Meditation:
Salutations to the Moon God, who adorns Lord Shiva's crown. His complexion is the color of curd, conch shells and snow. Born of the ocean of milk, he is the bestower of the nectar of immortality.
Blessings:
Purification of the blood
Nourishment of the crops
Subduing mental ills and anxieties
Overcoming pessimism and madness
Dhanvantari
God of MedicineMantra:
vande dhanvantarim visum
dyur-veda-pravartakam
piyusa-purna-kalasam
smrta-matrarti-nasanam
Meditation:
I offer homage to Dhanvantari, the portion of Vishnu who initiated the practice of medicine. He holds a container full of ambrosia, and simply remembering him removes all physical suffering.
Blessings:
Freedom from disease
Greater health and well-being
Mastery of the medical sciences
Spiritual knowledge and liberation
Durga Devi
Goddess of Material EnergyMantra:
yu devi sarva-bhutesu
saki-rupena samsthita
namas tasyai namas tasyai
namas tasyai namo namah
Meditation:
I bow down again and again to the goddess who is manifest in all creatures as strength and power.
Blessings:
Personal empowerment
Destruction of ignorance
Development of spiritual forces
Suppression of negative psychic influences
Ganesh
Remover of ObstaclesMantra:
gajananam bhuta-ganadi-sevitam
kapittha-jambu-phala-sara-bhaksitam
uma-sutam soka-visana-karanam
namami vighnesvara-pada-pankajam
Meditation:
I pray to the lotus feet of Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, the elephant-headed lord of all creatures, who drinks the juice of the kapittha and jambu fruits, the son of Uma who destroys all sorrows.
Blessings:
Removing obstacles
Peace and prosperity
Physical and mental powers
Success in initiating new ventures
Ganga
Goddess of Heavenly AmbrosiaMantra:
baddhanjalir naumi kuru prasadam
apurva-mata bhava devi gange
ante vayasy anka-gataya mahyam
adeha-bandhaya payah prayaccha
Meditation:
With folded hands, I offer you my salutations, O Ganga Devi! Please be compassionate and treat me like your own child. I pray that on my last day on earth you will take me into your watery lap and grant me liberation from this body.
Blessings:
Purification from sin
Pacification of worldly desires
Liberation at the time of death
Remedy for physical disease
Garuda
Carrier of VishnuMantra:
garuda vinata-suno
tarasvin visnu-vahana
vihagendra namas tubhyam
namo-bhujanga-bhaksine
Meditation:
O Garuda, sone of Vinata, you fly through the skies carrying Sri Vishnu on your back. O king of the birds, I offer salutations to you, the eater of snakes.
Blessings:
Devotion to God
Protection from snakes
Security while traveling
Improved ability to serve God
Gayatri Devi
Mother of DevotionMantra:
brahma-rupini gayatri
divye sandhye sarasvati
ajare amare caiva
brahma-yone namostu te
Meditation:
O Gayatri! You are the personification of Brahman. You are the goddess of knowledge, the divine twilight. You are ageless and immortal. You are the mother of the Vedic knowledge. I bow down to you.
Blessings:
Peace of mind
Spiritual knowledge
Greater concentration
Ability to please all of the gods
Gopal
Lord of the CowsMantra:
alokya matur mukham adarena
stanyam pibantam sarasiruhaksam
sac-cin-mayam devam ananta-rupam
balam mukundam manasa smarami
Meditation:
I meditate on the child Mukunda, the eternal god of unlimited spiritual forms, who looks affectionately at his mother's face as he suckles her breast.
Blessings:
Perfection of parental love
Protection of one's children
Fertility and the well-being of newborns
Devotion to Krishna and those closest to him
Hanuman
The Monkey GodMantra:
manojavam maruta-tulya-vegam
jitendriyam buddhimatam varistham
vatamajam vanara-yutha-mukhyam
sri-rama-dutam sirasa namami
Meditation:
I bow down in homage to Hanuman, the general of the army of apes and Sri Rama's messenger, who travels with the speed of the mind and with the force of the wind, for he is the son of the wind god. He has conquered his senses and is the wisest of the wise.
Blessings:
Capacity to persevere
Physical strength, fighting ability
Superhuman power to accomplish acts of service
Ability to increase one's attitude of love in performing selfless service
Indra
King of the GodsMantra:
yasman na rte vijayante janaso
yam ydhyamana avase havante
yo visvasya pratimanam babhuva
yo acyuta-cyut sa janasa indrah
Meditation:
Without his help, no one is ever victorious. When in the midst of battle, it is to him that one should appeal for help. He is a match for all in this universe, for he moves the immovable - that is Indra.
Blessings:
Physical virility
Wealth and success
Heroism and leadership
Security in times of aggression and war
Jagannath
Lord of the UniverseMantra:
deva-deva jagannatha
prapannarti-vinasana
trahi mam pundarikaksa
patitam bhava-sagare
Meditation:
O god of gods! O lord of the universe! Destroyer of the ills of those who have taken refuge in you! O lotus-eyed one! Please save me from the ocean of material existence into which I have fallen.
Blessings:
Worldly power
Devotion to Krishna
Freedom from the cycle of birth and death
Perfection of the arts in the service of God
Kali Ma
Goddess of DestructionMantra:
pracanada-canda-mundayor maha-balaika-khandini
hy aneka-runda-munda-yug-rane balaika-dayini
kvacit tv asakti-karini rama-valasa-dayini
mude'stu kalika sada samasta-papa-harini
Meditation:
May Kali, who takes away all sins, bring you joy. She was the only one able to destroy the terrible demons, Chanda and Munda. Kali gives courage and strength to a warrior on a battlefield littered with headless corpses. She robs the strength of those wno devoted to her, though she gives good fortune to those who are.
Blessings:
Purification of the subtle force centers
Ascension of the divine kundalini energy
Happiness and fulfillment in this world
Divine ecstasy of the transcendent reality
Kalki
Destroyer of the Iron AgeMantra:
kalkih kaleh kala-malat prapatu
dharmavanaya krtavatarah
Meditation:
O Vishnu in the form of Kalki! Please rise up like the morning sun and pierce the darkness that has been brought on the world by the faithless and impure in this age of Kali.
Blessings:
Strength in adversity
Overcoming arguments
Determination in combating evil
Escaping the negative influence of the age of Kali
Kama Deva
God of LoveMantra:
namas te hema-garbhaya
namas te makara-dhvaja
ratikanta namas tubhyam
trahi mam sambarantaka
Meditation:
Salutations to the golden one, whose banner is the dolphin. O destroyer of Shambara, husband of the goddess of sexual pleasure, be kind to me.
Blessings:
Freedom from desire
Success in love or romance
Enhanced sexual performance
Ability to amuse and make people laugh
Lord Kapila
Knower of Matter and SpiritMantra:
param pradhanam purusam mahantam
kalam kavim tri-vrtam loka-palam atmanubhutyanugata-prapancam
svacchanda-saktim kapilam prapadye
Meditation:
I take refuge in Lord Kapila, the fully independent, powerful and transcendental lord. He is the master of the sum total of matter and the element of time. He is identical to the universe both because he is all-pervading and because he is its cause.
Blessings:
Scientific knowledge
Power of discrimination
Divine understanding and liberation
Knowledge and mastery of the material elements
Sri Krishna
Lord of LoveMantra:
he krsna karuna-sindho
dina-bandho jagat-pate
gopesa popika-kanta
radha-kanta namo'stu te
Meditation:
O Krishna! Ocean of compassion! O friend of the most fallen! Lord of the universe! Lover of the gopis, O lover of Radha! I pay my obeisances to you.
Blessings:
Sense of humor
Universal love and charity
Success in loving relationships
Carefree attitude toward life
Kurma
The Tortoise AvatarMantra:
ksitir ativipulatare tava tisthati prsthe
dharani-dharana-kina-cakra-garisthe
kesava dhrta-kaccapa-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
Meditation:
O Keshava! You became incarnate in the form of a tortoise! The world rested on the ample expanse of your shell, creating circular marks on it. Hail to you, Hari, lord of the universe!
Blessings:
Diplomacy
Ability to provide support
Steadiness and dependability
Skills to manage contradictory forces
Lakshmi
Goddess of FortuneMantra:
siddhi-buddhi-prade devi
Bhukti-mukti-pradayini
mantra-murte sada devi
maha-laksmi namo'stu te
Meditation:
O Maha Lakshmi! Bestower of success and intelligence, worldly ejoyment and liberation, I bow down to you, O goddess, whose form is the mystic syllable.
Blessings:
Improved social status
Increased wealth and luxuries
Career promotion or acknowledgement
Good and faithful marriage partner, especially a wife
Mahadev Shiva
God of DestructionMantra:
om try-ambakam yajamahe
sugandhim pusti-vardhanam
urvarukam iva bandhanan
mrty moksiya mamrtat
Meditation:
I worship the fragrant three-eyed god, Lord Shiva, who nourishes all beings. May he liberate us from death for the sake of immortality, as easily as one separates a cucumber from its stalk.
Blessings:
Sexual prowess
Union with a good marriage partner
Detachment from life's unexpected changes
Numerous benefits, from worldly enjoyment to liberation
Hohini Murti
Divine EnchantressMantra:
asad-avisayam anghrim bhava-gamyam prapannan
amrtam amara-varyan asayat sindhu-marthaym hapata-yuvati-veso mohayan yah surarims
tam aham upasrtanam kama-puram nato'smi
Meditation:
Assuming the form of a young woman and thus bewildering the demons, the lord distributed the nectar produced from the churning of the ocean of milk to his devotees, the gods. Unto that lord, who always fulfills the desires of his devotees, I offer my respects.
Blessings:
Taste the nectar of immortalilty
Ability to not be overcome by sexual guile
Perception to see through tricksters and cheats
Knowledge of when it is appropriate to give preferential treatment
Nandi
Carrier of ShivaMantra:
ghantalankrta-kanthaya
nilakanthasya vahine
namas te dharma-rupaya
kutasthaya kakudmine
Meditation:
I offer salutations to the humped white bull, Nandi, whose neck is decorated with bells. He is the carrier of the blue-throated Shiva, the embodiment of dharma, as unshakable as the Himalayas.
Blessings:
Grace of Shiva and Arvati
Ability to car out one's duty
Ability for ever-increasing service
Knowledge and understanding of one's duty
Narasingha Deva
Half Man, Half Lion AvatarMantra:
ito nrsimhah parato nrsimho
yato yato yami tato nrsimhah
bahir nrsimho hrdaye nrsimho
nrsimham adim saranam prapadye
Meditation:
The man-lion is here, the man-lion is there. Wherever I go, there is the man-lion. He is outside of me, yet he dwells in my heart. I take refuge in Narasingha, the man-lion, for he is the ultimate shelter
Blessings:
Protection from evil forces
Ability to see God everywhere and in all things
Skillful sublimation of one's anger when it is not needed
Strength and courage to defy conventional authority for truth and justice
Narada Muni
Sage of the GodeMantra:
namo virinci-putraya
devarsi-naradaya te
bhagavam-nama-saktaya
vina-vada-vinodine
Meditation:
I ovver salutations to Narada, the sage of the gods, the son of Brahma. He rejoices in playing the vina, which accompanies his constant singing of God's names.
Blessings:
Musical ability
Knowledge of Vedic literature
Mastery of Bhakti yoga
Attachment to the singing of God's names
Nataraj
Lord of the DanceMantra:
sivaya natarajaya
namas te visva-murtaya
nupura-jhana-jhankaraih
pada-khandita-mrtyave
Meditation:
I salute Shiva, the form of the universe and lord of the cosmic dance. With his ankle bells tinkling, he crushes death under his feet.
Blessings:
Fearlessness
Joy of creativity
Perfection in the arts of music and dance
Finding pleasure in all circumstances of life
Nityananda Prabhu
Deliverer of the Most FallenMantra:
nityanandam aham vande
karunamaya-vigraham
harinama-pradam devam
avadhuta-sirosanim
Meditation:
I offer salutations to Nityananda Prabhu, the embodiment of compassion, who appeared as the topmost renunciate in order to distribute the holy names of God to all.
Blessings:
Love of God
Empathy and love for humankind
Munificence, compassion and charity
Perfection in the chanting of God's name
Parashuram
Slayer of DemonsMantra:
abhagnam jamadagnyo vah
prayacchatu jayodayam
yat kuthara-kathoragnau
bhupalaih salabhayitam
Meditation:
May the son of Jamadagni, Parashuram, whose sharp ax was doom to the wicked kings, just as fire to the moth, bring you endless victory.
Blessings:
Teaching ability
Ultimate justice for all
Skill in the martial arts
Converting warrior spirit and qualities into peaceful ones
Parvati
Queen of AsceticsMantra:
sarva-mangala-mangalye
sive sarvartha-sadhike
saranye try-ambike gauri
narayani namo'stu te
Meditation:
O auspicious one, O partner of Lord Shiva! O golden one! You make all things possible. You are the refuge of all. You have the third eye of knowledge. I bow down to you.
Blessings:
Defeat of enemies
Victory over obstacles
Strength in asceticism
Union with a spiritually powerful life partner
Sri Radha
Supreme GoddessMantra:
tapta-kancana-gaurangi
radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi
pranamami hari-priye
Meditation:
O golden-skinned Radha, queen of Vrindavan, daughter of Vrishabhanu and beloved of Krishna, I offer salutations to you.
Blessings:
Faith in the power of love
Ability to win the heart of one's beloved
Increased devotion and attainment of divine love
Liberation from the pains of thwarted love
Sri Rama
King of DharmaMantra:
apadam apahartaram
dataram sarva-sampadam
lokabhiramam sri-ramam
bhuyo bhuyo namamy aham
Meditation:
I repeatedly bow down to the pleasing form of Rama, who destroys all dangers and bestows all benedictions.
Blessings:
Fidelity in marriage
Obedience as virtue
Security, name and status
Adherence to truth; keeping one's word
Sesha Naga
King of the SerpentsMantra:
Yasyaika-sirse prthivi grhita
siddharthavad dhy eva sahasra-murdhnah
ananta-murteh phanti-nayakasya
sesaya nagaya namo'stu tasamai
Meditation:
I bow down to Sesha Naga, the leader of all the hooded serpents, who takes an infinity of forms and who holds this earth like a mustard seed on just one of his thousands of heads.
Blessings:
Patience and fortitude
Ability to serve with humility
Physical and mental strength
Ability to adjust to various circumstances
Sita Devi
Queen of ChastityMantra:
udbhava-sthita-samhara-
karinim klesa-harinim
sarva-sreyaskarim sitam
nato'ham rama-vallabham
Meditation:
I offer my reverence to Rama's beloved Sita, the source of the world's creation. maintenance and destruction, the remover of all miseries and the bringer of all auspiciousness.
Blessings:
Fidelity in love
Devotion to truth
Penance and tolerance
Power to improve upon one's self
Skanda
God of WarMantra:
sad-ananam kunkuma-rakta-varnam
maha-matim divya-mayura-vahanam
rudrasya sunum sura-sainya-natham
guham sadaham saranam prapadye
Meditation:
I take refuge in Karttikeya, the son of Shiva, who is the god of six faces that are as red as kunkum. This greatly wise deity leads the army of the gods while riding on the back of his divine peacock
Blessings:
Preservation of youth
Prowess in the military arts
Strategic thinking in politics
Leadership qualities in times of peace
Subhadra
Bestower of DevotionMantra:
jaya devi bhakti-datri
prasida paramesvari
jaya devi subhadre tvam
sarvesam bhadra-dayini
Meditation:
Glories to you, Subhadra, the bestower of bhakti! Be kind to me, O ruler of the universe! Please bestow auspiciousness on us all.
Blessings:
Removal of illusion
Worldly power and grace
Blessing of devotion to Krishna
Surya
The Sun GodMantra:
japa-kusuma-sankasam
kasyapeyam maha-dyutim
tamo'rim sarva papa-ghnam
pranato'smi divakaram
Meditation:
Let us sing the glories of the sun god, whose beauty rivals that of the hibiscus flower. I bow to him, the greatly effulgent son of Kashyapa, who is the enemy of darkness and destroyer of all sins.
Blessings:
Honor, status and fame
Reunion with one's beloved
Freedom from disease and ailments
General vitality, respect and power
Varaha
The Boar AvatarMantra:
vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna
sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
kesava dhrta-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
Meditation:
Hail to you, O lord of the universe! You have taken the form of a boar! The earth rests in peace on the tip of your tusk, like a stain on the disk of the moon
Blessings:
Banishment of fear
Protecting the world's ecology
Intelligent use of the world's resources
Freedom from the fear of dirt and darkness
Varuna
Lord of the SeasMantra:
varunaya namas te'stu
jala-vasa hari-priya
yado-natha rasesana
kalyanam dehi me sada
Meditation:
I bow down to Varuna, who lives in the oceans, is lord over the aquatic creatures, the deity of all liquids. May he ever bring us auspiciousness.
Blessings:
Navigation of the seas
Success in fishing
Forgiveness for transgressions
Increase in love between man and woman
Sri Vishnu
Maintainer of the UniverseMantra:
namas tibhyam suresaya
visnave prabhavisnave
purusaya puranaya
nigunaya gundya ca
Meditation:
I offer homage to you, O master of all the gods! O Sri Vishnu, O supremely powerful one, you are the original conscious being. You are beyond the material qualities and yet you possess all the eternal virtues.
Blessings:
Illumination of the heart
Achieving all success in life
Welfare for one's family
True reverence for life
Vrinda Devi
Goddess of DevotionMantra:
vrndayai tulasi-devyai
priyayai kesavasya ca
krsna-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai namo namah
Meditation:
Salutations to you, Vrinda Devi! You are most dear to Keshava. O goddess! O form of truth! You bestow devotion to Krishna, so I bow down to you again and again.
Blessings:
Residence in a holy place
Proximity to natural beauty
Devotion to Krishna or Vishnu
Physical health and well-being
Vamana
The Dwarf AvatarMantra:
trivikramo'stu bhutyai vah
prag-laghvi madhyama tatah
yasya pascad anantabhut
sat-sangatir ivakrtih
Meditation:
May the god who took three steps ever bring you opulence. After taking one step he was still small; with his next, he grew larger, and then he revealed his infinite form with his third and final step, expanding just like good deeds in the company of the pious.
Blessings:
Receiving charity
Resisting cheats and tricksters
Being charitable in the right spirit
Ability to use trickery for a good cause
Yama
Lord of DeathMantra:
mrtyave kala-dandaya
yamaya ca mahatmane
namas te dharmarajaya
sarva-bhuta ksayaya ca
Meditation:
Salutations to you, Yama, the lord of death, the punisher who comes in the form of time. Salutations to the god of the law and the ultimate destroyer of all beings.
Blessings:
Knowledge of the law
Righteousness in action
Overcoming the fear of death
Steadfastness in the face of judgment