Short Prayers

[Agnideva]

Namaste.

This is a thread dedicated to short prayers we can use in daily worship or at any time. Please share your favorite prayers. If prayers are in Sanskrit, please provide a translation also. Thanks.

Aum,
A.

[Agnideva]

anyathA sharaNaM nAsti tvameva sharaNaM mama |
tasmAd kAruNya bhAvena rakSha rakSha parameshvara ||

I have no other refuge, Thou art my sole refuge,
Out of sense of compassion, protect me, O Supreme Lord!

Aum.

[sm78]

saantaakaaram bhujaga-sayanam padmanaabham suresam
visvaadhaaram gagana-sadrisam megha-varnam subha-angam
Laksmikantam Kamalanayanam Yogibhir-dhyaana-gamyam
vande vishnum bhava-bhaya-haram sarva-lokaika-naatham.

We meditate upon the master of all worlds, lord Vishnu, who is ever peaceful, who lies on the great serpent-bed, from whose navel springs the lotus of the creative power, who is the controller of the gods. Whose form is the entire universe, and who is the foundation for the universe. Who is all pervading as the sky, of the hue of the cloud , of fascinating beauty, the lord of Laksmi, the lotus eyed , he who dwells in the hearts of the yogis and who can be approached and perceived through meditation.

We pray to Lord Vishnu, he who is the destroyer of the fear of samsara and the Lord of all the worlds.

[sm78]

Om Gananam twa ganpati gum havamahe Kavimkavina mupamashravastarm
Jyestharajam Brahmanam Brahmanaspata aanas-shrunvotibhi-seedhasadhanam
Om Sri Maha Ganapataye Namah

May we worship Ganapati, the Protector of Noble People
The best Poet, the Most Honorable,
The Greatest Ruler and the treasure of all knowledge
O Ganapati, please listen to us and take your seat in our heart.

[Agnideva]

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

aum tryaMbakaM yajAmahe sugandhiM puShTivardhanam |
urvArukamiva bandhanAn mRtyor mukShIya mAmRtAt ||

Translation 1

AUM! We worship the fragrant three-eyed One, the Promoter of prosperity.
May we be freed from the bondage of death as a cucumber from its stalk;
But not from immortality.

Translation 2

AUM! We sing Thy praise, O Three-Eyed One,
All-pervasive like fragrance, and the Promoter of Prosperity,
May we be freed from the bondage of death and rebirth
And attain to immortal liberation (moksha).

~ Rigveda Samhita VI:59:12
~ Shukla Yajurveda Vajasaneyi Samhita III:60

[Eastern Mind]

sm78 : I like yours ... at the temple. It seems that when the accompanying brahmins need to fill in time on a parade or something, they just say that one over and over..I'm not sure, it just seems that way.."Aum gananam tva..." I know I really tune in to it, and when they're done , keep hearing it resonate for quite some time, like a jingle from an ad, except that this is a prayer, not some stupid jingle from an ad promoting materialism like 'things go better with coke". Really short one .. Aum Shanti Shanti Shantihi or ... Aum Namasivaya

[Agnideva]

Kshama Prarthana ~ Prayer for Forgiveness
(Generally recommended as a bedtime prayer)

kara charaNa kritaM vAkkAyajaM karmajaM vA
SravaNa nayanajaM vA mAnasaM vAparAdham |
vihitama vihitaM vA sarvametatkSamasva
jaya jaya karuNAbde SrI mahAdeva Sambho ||

Whatever faults I may have committed by hand or foot,
In word or deed, with my ears or eyes, mind or body,
Knowingly or unknowingly - forgive me for them all,
Victory unto Thee, O great Lord Shambhu, the Ocean of Compassion.

~Verse 16, Shiva Aparadha Kshama Stotra
by Adi Shankaracharya