The Hindus do everything religiously. Given below the various mantras in the scriptures which can be recited by anyone in a day.
GURU MANTRA
| Aum gurur brahmā gurur viṣnuh gurur devo ṃaheśvaraḥ guru sākṣāt para brahma tasmai śrī gurave ṇamaḥ |
The Guru is Brahma (the Creator). He is Vishnu (the Protector), He is also Shiva (the Destroyer). My salutation to such a Guru, who is verily the Parabrahman (Supreme God).
Aum Śrī gurave ṇamaḥ
Śrī Dakṣināmūrtaye ṇamaḥ
MANTRA OF LORD VINAYAKA
| Aum ganānām tvā gaṇapatim havamahe kavim kavīnā mupamaśra vastamam jyeṣṭha rājam brahmaṇam brahmaṇaspata ānaḥ śrṇvan nūtibhis sida sādanam Aum mahā gaṇapataye ṇamaḥ |
You are called Ganapati because you are the leader of the Ganas. We respectfully invite you. You are the intellect among intellectuals. You enjoy great fame. You are the first among equals. You are the luminary of the Vedas. Please hear our prayers and comfort us immediately. Prostrations to you, Lord Maha Ganapati.
EARLY MORNING MANTRAS
As soon as you wake up in the morning, recite the Usha Devi mantra. Usha Devi is the Goddess of Dawn. When we start the day after worshipping Her, our day will be successful.
| AUM prathi thvathya soomanesho puthantha asmaka cha magavano vyam cha thilvila ayathva mushasho vibatheeruyam patha svasthibi: sada na AUM Santhi: Santhi: Santhihi |
O Usha Devi, we have wake up today as good persons. O Usha Devi, nourish the earth with refreshing dew drops. O Devas help us become good people.
| AUM Uṣo vājena vājini pracetā: stomaṃ juṣasva grṇato maghoni purāṇī devi yuvati: puraṃdhi: anu vrataṃ carasi viśvavāre |
O Usha, strong with strength, endowed with knowledge, accept my praise, O wealthy Lady. You are ancient, young, and full of wisdom, and move following the Law.
Next, recite the Hamsa Gayathri five times to awaken the divine spirit residing within us.
| AUM hamsa hamsāya vidmahe parama hamsāya dhīmahi tanno hamsa pracodayāt |
Let us meditate on the Supreme God. May that great Lord, inspire and illumine our mind and understanding.
MANTRAS TO BE RECITED BEFORE BATHING
To obtain the benefits of having bathed in sacred rivers, recite the following mantras before bathing. First take some water in your right hand, pour it on your head while reciting these mantras. While bathing face either the north or the east.
| AUM yanme manasa vacā karmanā va duṣkrtam krtam tanna indro varuno brihaspathis savitā ca punantu punaḥ punaḥ |
May Lord Indra, Lord Varuna, Lord Brhaspathi and Lord Surya, cleanse me from the effects of all sins committed by thoughts, words or actions by me or those related to me.
| AUM gaṇge ca yamune caiva godāvarī sarasvatī narmade siṇdhu kāverī jalesmin saṃnidhim kuru |
In this water, I invoke the presence of holy waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.
All Hindus must make a visit to the seven sacred rivers. Bathing in these rivers will purify the mind and increase their good merits. We can also pray to the river Goddess to appear in whatever water we have through this mantra.
MORNING PRAYERS
After bathing and wearing dress, go to your Pooja Room. Take some vibuthi in your right hand and apply on your forehead while reciting Shiva Shiva 3 times. Stand facing the north and recite:
| AUM tejosi tejo mayi dehi vīryamasi vīryam mayi dehi balamasi balam mayi dehi ojosi ojo mayi dehi manyurasi manyum mayi dehi sahosi saho mayi dehi |
O Lord! You are the embodiment of spiritual effulgence, give me spiritual effulgence. You are infinite vigour, give me infinite vigour. You are strength, give me strength. You are spiritual power, give me spiritual power. You are infinite courage, give me courage. You are infinite patience, give me patience.
| AUM medhā devī juṣamāṇā na āgā dviśvācī bhadrā sumanasya mānā tvayā juṣtā nudamanā duruktān bruhad vadema vidathe suvīrā: |
Let Mother Saraswathi, the goddess of learning come here with happiness. She is everywhere. She has a happy mind. May we become highly intelligent and know the truth.
MANTRA TO BE RECITED BEFORE TAKING FOOD
| Aum bhur bhuva svaha harir dāta harir bhokta harir annam prajāpatih harir vipraśareerastu bhunkte bhojayate harir |
God is the creator. God is the protector. God is the physical body of all living beings. God is the food. So, we offer this food to Him.
| Annapūrṇe sadā pūrne śankara prāṇa-vallabhe jnāna-vairāgya-siddhyārtham bhikṣām dehi ca pārvati |
O Mother Annapurani, You are Blissful! O Mother Parvati! Give me the food, for the purpose of gaining Jnana (Knowledge) and Vairagya (Dispassion).
MANTRA TO BE RECITED WHEN LEAVING HOME
When leaving the home, you should recite the following Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and pray to Lord Shiva for protection.
| Auṁ tryambakaṁ yajāmahe sugandhiṁ puṣṭi-vardhanam ǀ urvārukam-iva bandhanāt mṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt ǁAum jum saha mṛtyumjaya namaha |
We Worship the Three-eyed One (Lord Shiva) who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings. Just like the cucumber is cut from the plant, may Shiva liberate us from death.
MANTRA TO BE RECITED BEFORE BEGINNING LESSONS
| Aum saha nāvavatu saha nau bhunaktu saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai tejasvi nāvadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahai | Aum śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ || |
May He protect us both the teacher and the pupil! May He cause us both to enjoy the bliss of Mukti (Liberation)! May we both exert to discover the true meaning of the sacred scriptures! May our studies be fruitful! May we never quarrel with each other! Let there be peace, peace, peace.
Meditating on this mantra will create a good relationship between the teacher and the pupil. This cordial relationship will enable the pupil to concentrate better in their lessons.
Next recite following mantra to pay homage to Mother Saraswathi, the Goddess of Learning before commencing your studies.
AUM Pirno Devee Saraswathee
Vajepir Vajineevathee
Theenama Vithiryavathu AUM
May Mother Sarawathi who protects those who worship Her, protect us too. May She invigorate our intellect and awaken us.
MANTRA TO BE RECITED BEFORE LUNCH
After washing your hand and feet before lunch recite the following Sraddha mantra in your pooja room or anywhere else where you are. Next recite the moola mantra taught by your Guru 27 times. You make eat your lunch after this prayer.
| Aum śraddhāṃ prātarhavā mahe śraddhāṃ madhyandinaṃ pari śraddhāgṃ sūryasya nimrci śraddhe śraddhāpayehamā Auṁ śānti śānti śānti: |
May we worship Sraddha in the morning, afternoon and at dusk when the Sun sets. O Sraddha grant us faith and self-confidence.
If we want all our efforts to succeed then we must have faith, self-confidence and right understanding. This is the mantra to invoke the blessings of the Goddess who faith, confidence and right understanding.
MANTRA TO BE RECITED DURING EVENING PUJA
| Aum asato mā sadgamaya Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya Mṛtyormā’mṛtaṁ gamaya Aum śāntiḥ, śāntiḥ, śāntiḥ |
Lead us from the unreal to the Real, from darkness to Light, from death to Immortality.
| Aum Namah Sambhave Cha Mayaobhave Cha Namah Shankaraya Cha Mayaskaraya Cha Namah Shivaya Cha Shivtaraya Cha |
Aum. O Almighty God. You are the supreme source of all worldly and divine pleasures. You are the impeller of our physical and spiritual advancement. O supreme Father! We pay our humble obeisance to Thee.
Reat the Shiva mantra 3 times in your pooja room.
| Aum sarve bhavantu sukhinah sarve santu niraamayaa: sarve bhadrani pasyantu ma kascit dukhabhag bhavet |
May all be happy. May everyone be healthy. May everyone get the good. May no one suffer misery.
PRAYERS BEFORE GOING TO BED
Before going to bed, go to the Puja room and say these prayers. First apply vibuthi and recite the Moola Mantra taught by your Guru 27 times. Then, recite the following mantra.
| kāyena vācā manasendriyairvā buddhyātmanā vā prakṛtisvabhāvāt karomi yad yat sakalaṃ parasmai nārāyaṇayeti samarpayāmi |
O Lord, whatever I have done through body, speech, mind, senses, intellect, soul or unconscious natural impulses – all that I dedicate as an offering to You, the Supreme Being.
| Auṃ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidam pūrṇāt pūrṇamudacyate pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇa mevāvaśiṣyate oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ: |
The invisible is God. The visible too is God. The universe has come out of God. God remains the same, even though the universe has come out of Him. Aum Peace! Peace! Peace!
PRAYERS BEFORE SLEEPING
The Goddess of the Night is called Rathri Devi. We must worship this Devi before we go to sleep. Therefore, recite the following mantra whilst sitting on the bed.
| AUM upa te gā ivākaram vrinīśva duhitardivah rātri stomaṃ na jigyuśe |
O Divine Mother Ratri (Kaali), expression of the heavens . You are the milk‐giving cow, the source of Illumination. Please accept our prayer to You and grant us Victory!
| AUM Hreem Rathra Devyai Namaha Dhuis Swapanan Thasyai Nachyathi Mam Rakshanthu |
O Rathri Devi, please bless me deep and restful sleep without disturbing dreams, so that I will wake up next morning refreshed and full of enthusiasm.
GAYATRI MANTRA
The Gayathri Mantra from the Rig Veda, is one of the oldest and most powerful prayer.
| AUM Bhoor Bhuwah Swaha Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachodayat. |
We meditate on that most adorable, most desirable and most enchanting beauty of our Supreme Lord, who is our Creator, Inspirer, and Source of Eternal Joy. May this light inspire and illumine our intellect and remove darkness.
AUM SANTHI SANTHI SANTHI: