Ganesha 1. The remover of obstacles: vakratunda mahaakaaya suryakoti samaprabhaa. nirvighnam kurumedeva sarvakaaryeshu sarvadaa.

Salutations to the supreme Lord Ganesha, whose curved trunk (vakra-tunda) and massive body (maha-kaayaa) shines like a million suns (surya-koti) and showers his blessings on everyone (sama-prabhaa). Oh my lord of lords Ganesha (kurume-deva), kindly remove all obstacles (nir-vighnam), always (sarva-) and forever (sarvadaa-) from all my activities and endeavors (sarva-kaaryeshu).

2. Prayer for Prosperity to Lord Ganesha AUM shrIm gam saubhaagya ga~Npataye varvard sarvajanam me.n vaShamaana namaH
The prayer for prosperity is based on the word, gam, which is the beej (seed) mantra for Lord Ganesha. We ask for good fortune (sau-bhaagya) and many blessings and wishes (var-vard) for our current and future life-times (sarva-janam-me.n). We bow in homage (namH) to Lord Ganesha who protects us with long lives (avaShamaanya) of health and happiness

3. Ganesha Gayatri Mantras OM tadapurushaaya Viddhamahe Vakratundaaya dhimahi Tanno danti prachodayaat
We pray to the supreme and perfect male (tadapurus ya) who is omnipresent (viddhamahe). We meditate upon and pray for greater intellect (dh mahi) to the Lord with the curved, elephant-shaped trunk (vakratun ya). We bow before the one with the single-tusked elephant tooth (tanno danti) to illuminate our minds with wisdom (pracoday t).

OM ekadantaaya viddhamahe Vakratundaaya dhimahi Tanno danti prochodayaat

We pray to the one with the single-tusked elephant tooth (ekadant ya) who is omnipresent (viddhamahe). We meditate upon and pray for greater intellect (dh mahi) to the Lord with the curved, elephant-shaped trunk (vakratun ya). We bow before the one with the single-tusked elephant tooth (tanno danti) to illuminate our minds with wisdom (pracoday t).

Om lambhodaraaya viddhamahe Maho dharraya dhimahi Tanno danti prochoyaat

We pray to the one with the expandable belly (lambodar ya) who is omnipresent (viddhamahe). We meditate upon and pray for greater intellect (dh mahi) to the Lord with the huge belly (mahodar ya). We bow before the one with the single-tusked elephant tooth (tanno danti) to illuminate our minds with wisdom (pracoday t).

4. GAYATRI MANTRA - ITS MEANING AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA, TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT
Gayatri Mantra (the mother of the vedas), the foremost mantra in hinduism and hindu beliefs, inspires wisdom. Its meaning is that "May the Almighty God illuminate our intellect to lead us along the righteous path". The mantra is also a prayer to the "giver of light and life" - the sun (savitur). Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life, Remover of pain and sorrow, The Bestower of happiness, Oh! Creator of the Universe, May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light, May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction. Aum = Brahma ; bhoor = embodiment of vital spiritual energy(pran) ; bhuwah = destroyer of sufferings ; swaha = embodiment of happiness ; tat = that ; savitur = bright like sun ; varenyam = best choicest ; bhargo = destroyer of sins ; devasya = divine ; these first nine words describe the glory of God dheemahi = may imbibe ; pertains to meditation dhiyo = intellect ; yo = who ; naha = our ; prachodayat = may inspire! "dhiyo yo na prachodayat" is a prayer to God

5. MAHA MRITYUNJAYA MANTRA

Aum Trayambakam Yajamahe, Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam; Urva Rukamiva Bandhanaan, Mrityor Mokshiye Maamritat
We worship Shiva - The Three-Eyed (tryambakam) Lord (yajamahe); Who is fragrant (sugandhim) and nourishes (pushti) and grows (vardhanam) all beings. As the ripened cucumber (urvarukamiva) is liberated (bandhanaan) (by the intervention of the "farmer") from its bondage to the creeper when it fully ripens; May He liberate us (mokshiya) from death (mrityor), for the sake of immortality (maamritaat).. The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva (part of the hindu trinity, the lord of destruction, penance and meditation) for help in overcoming "death". The seeker is more concerned with avoiding spiritual "death" rather than physical "death". The mantra is a request to Lord Shiva to lead us to the mountain of meditation, which is indeed Lord Shiva's abode. Legend has it that Lord Shiva appeared before his devotee Markandeya (who was destined to die at the age of sixteen) and stopped his aging process a few days before he was supposed to turn sixteen. Lord Shiva is referred to astryambakam, the three-eyed one, because his third-eye has been "opened" by the powers of penance and meditation. The third eye is said to be located in the space between the eyebrows, and is "opened" when one experiences spiritual awakening. So, when we pray to Lord Shiva, we are in essence asking for his blessings and assistance in opening our third eye of spiritual knowledge. The natural consequence of this awakening is that we will be led towards spiritual liberation ormoksha, and attain freedom from the cycles of death and rebirth. The goal of chanting this mantra is to spiritually "ripen" so that we can free ourselves Lord Shiva can free us from our bondage to all the material things that bind us!

6. Paarvati Devi Mantra Sarva-mangal-maangalye, Shive Sarvaarth-saadhike Sharanye-triyambake Gauri, Naaraayani Namo-stute
The Goddess Paarvati (or Gauri), the consort of Lord Shiva, is praised through this mantra. Paarvati is the one who brings good fortune and prosperity (-mangalmaangalye) to all (-sarva) her devotees. She is the one who is always and forever (sarvaarth) accompanying Lord Shiva in all his meditations (-saadhike). O beautiful and fair-colored one (-gauri), please give us refuge (-sharanye) in the protection of the threeeyed one (-triyambake). We bow to you repeatedly as we sing the praises (namo-stute) of our protector, Goddess Paarvati (-naarayani), the consort of Lord Shiva.

7. Prayers to Lord Hanuman Mano javam maruta tulya vegam Jitendriyam buddhimataam varishtam Vataatmajam vaanara yuuthamukhyam Sree raama dhootam saranam prapadye
Let me pray to the one who is swift as thought (manojavam-), the one who is more powerful than the wind (marut.tulya.vegam-), the one who has conquered his senses (jitendriyam-), the one who is supreme among all intelligent beings, the son of the wind-god (vaataatmajam-), the commander of the army of forest creatures (vaanar.yooth.mukhyam-), Let me find refuge in Lord Rama's Messenger, the incomparable Lord Hanuman. Please accept me and my prayers at your feet.

8. Prayers to Goddess Saraswati Yaa Kundendu tusara haara tavala Yaa subra vastraa vrita yaa veena vara dhamta mamdita karaa Yaa sveetha padmaasana
Salutations to the supreme Goddess Saraswati...whose face is fair as a jasmine flower, luminiscient like the moon and delicate as a snow flake ; who is dressed in brilliant white (shubhra-) garments (vastraA-). She holds the musical instrument (vINA-) in her hands to bestow boons (varada.nDa-) to her disciples as she sits on her white (shveta-) lotus (padma-) throne (aasanA-).

Sarasvathi Namastubhyam Varade Kaamaroopini Vidyaarambham Karishyaami Siddhir Bhavatu Mey Sada
O Goddess Sarasvathi, salutations to Thee. You are the Giver of boons and You grant all our desires. As I begin my studies, please help me make it fruitful and make me successful in all my efforts

Om Vaakdeviyai cha Vidhmahe Virinji Pathniyai cha Dheemahe Thanno Vani Prachodayath.
Om, Let me meditate on the goddess of speech, Oh, wife of Lord Brahma, give me higher intellect, And let Goddess Vani illuminate my mind.

9. Prayers to Goddess Lakshmi Lakshmi Ksheera Samudra Raaja Tanaya Sree Ranga Dhaameshvari Daasi Bhootha Samasata Deva Vanithaam Lokaika Deepankuram Sreeman Manda Kataaksha Labdha Vibhava Brahmendra Gangaadharam Tvaam Trailokya Kudumbineem Sarasijam Vande Mukunda Priyaam