Wisdom · Essential shlokas
Essential shlokas for children and the whole family
The short prayers Hindu families pass on: what each word means, the story behind it, and when it is said, with a calm video to watch together and a card to print. Ordered through the day, from waking to bedtime.
Morning
Coming soon · Karagre Vasate: the prayer on waking
Before anything new
Coming soon · Saraswati Vandana: the prayer before study
Coming soon · Guru Brahma: the prayer to the teacher
At meals
Coming soon · Bhojan Mantra (Brahmarpanam): the prayer before food
Evening
Coming soon · Shubham Karoti Kalyanam: the evening lamp prayer
Any time
Coming soon · Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
Coming soon · Om Namah Shivaya
Coming soon · Om Sahana Vavatu, the peace prayer
Coming soon · Twameva Mata: you are my mother and father
Bedtime
Coming soon · A bedtime prayer for the whole family
How to learn a shloka together
- Pick one moment of the day and say the same shloka then, every day.
- Learn it a word at a time, with its meaning, rather than as a string of sounds.
- Watch the video together and join in at "say it with us".
- Print the card and keep it where you pray.
Frequently asked questions
Which shlokas should children learn first?
Many families start with the Gayatri Mantra in the morning, Vakratunda Mahakaya before anything new, and Asato Ma Sadgamaya with the evening lamp. They are short, and their meanings are easy to explain.
How can I help my child remember a shloka?
Say it together at the same moment each day, learn one word at a time with its meaning, and keep a printed card where you pray. Our videos end with a slow "say it with us" for exactly this.
Do I need to know Sanskrit?
No. Each page gives the Sanskrit, an easy way to say it in English letters, and the meaning of every word.