Babosa Prathna

Everyday prayers are very important part in Hindu culture.  There are different prayers for different times & occasions.  I have given below some very important prayers which are very easy to memorize even for children.  Especially parents in US and UK can teach these prayers to their kids to imbibe rich Indian Heritage in the midst of high western influence.

Some of these prayers also act as timers e.g you know when to finish bath, morning prayer. These prayers teach us to remain humble and indebted towards all external forces and entities which help us making our lives successful such as Mother Nature,  Mother Earth, Place where we live, parents, relatives, friends, guru etc...

Shaanti Mantram
शान्ति मंत्रम्  

ओम् सह नाववतु। सह नौ भुनक्तु।

सह वीर्यं करवावहै।

तेजसि्वनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै।

ओम् शान्तिः , शान्तिः ,  शान्तिः 

" Om` sah naavavatu. sah nau bhunaktu. sah viiryaN karavaavahai. tejasi`vanaavadheetamastu maa vidvisshaavahai. Om` shaantih shaantih shaantih"

Meaning :

Om, may He protect us both (Teacher and taught). May He look after us to enjoy (the truits of scriptural study). May we both exert together ( to find the true meaning of the sacred text). May our studies be fruitful so that we acquire lustre. May we never quarrel with each other.

Ganesha Vandna

गणेश वन्दना 

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभा ।

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ||

"Vakratunndd mahaakaay Suryakottisamaprabhaa. NirvighnaN kuru me dev sarvakaaryesshu sarvadaa."

Meaning:

O Lord Ganesha of large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles always.

Pratah Vandna
प्रातः वन्दना 

कराग्रे वसते लछ्मीः करमूले सरस्वती |

करमध्ये तु गोविन्द: प्रभाते करदर्शनम् || 

"Karaagre vasate Lakshmih karamoole Saraswati.  karamadhye tu Govindah prabhaate karadarshnam`."

Meaning: 

On the tips of the fingers resides Goddess Lakshmi, On the wrist resides Goddess Saraswati, In the Centre of the Palm resides Lord Govinda Himself, So every morning one should look at the palm with reverence.

Guru Vandana
गुरु वन्दना

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव,

त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव।

त्वमेव विधा द्रविणं त्वमेव,

त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव।

"Tvamev mata ch pitaa tvamev, tvamev bandhushch sakha tvamev. Tvamev vidhaa dravinnaN tvamev, tvamev sarvaN mam Dev Dev."

Meaning: 

You are my mother, father, brother and companion, You alone are knowledge and Prosperity. O great teacher, you mean everything to me.