Children Ages 2-6
Kasturi Tilakam
Kasturi Tilakam – Description of Lord Krishna
kastūrītilakaṃ lalāṭapaṭale vakṣaḥsthale kaustubhaṃ
nāsāgre navamauktikaṃ karatale veṇuṃ kare kaṅkaṇam |
sarvāṅge haricandanaṃ sulalitaṃ kaṇṭhe ca muktāvaliḥ
gopastrīpariveṣṭito vijayate gopālacūḍāmaṇiḥ ||
कस्तूरीतिलकं ललाटपटले वक्षःस्थले कौस्तुभं
नासाग्रे नवमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कङ्कणम् ।
सर्वाङ्गे हरिचन्दनं सुललितं कण्ठे च मुक्तावलिः
गोपस्त्रीपरिवेष्टितो विजयते गोपालचूडामणिः ॥
Victory to the radiant Gopāla, the crown-jewel among cowherds! He wears a musk mark on His forehead, the Kaustubha gem on His chest, a fresh pearl on His nose, a flute in His hand, and golden bangles on His wrist. His entire body is smeared with sandal paste, a pearl necklace adorns His neck, and He is lovingly surrounded by the Gopīs.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Līlā
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Līlā – Bhāgavata Summary
ādau devakī-devī-garbha-jananaṁ gopī-gṛhe vardhanaṁ
māyā-pūtanā-jīvitāpaharaṇaṁ govardhanoddhāraṇam ।
kaṁsa-chedaṇa kauravādi-hananaṁ kuntī-sutāṁ pālanaṁ
etad bhāgavataṁ purāṇa-kathitaṁ śrī-kṛṣṇa-līlāmṛtam ॥
आदौ देवकिदेविगर्भजननं गोपीगृहे वर्धनं
मायापूतनिजीवितापहरणं गोवर्धनोद्धारणम् ।
कंसच्छेदन कौरवादिहननं कुंतीसुतांपालनं
एतद्भागवतं पुराण कथितं श्रीकृष्णलीलामृतम् ॥
This shloka recounts the divine pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa—His birth from Devakī, childhood in Gokula, the slaying of Pūtanā, the lifting of Govardhana hill, the destruction of Kaṁsa and the Kauravas, and the protection of the Pāṇḍavas. These form the nectar of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa.
Śrī Rāmāyaṇa Summary – 1
Śrī Rāmāyaṇa Summary – Part 1
ādau rāma-tapo-vanādi gamanaṁ
hatvā mṛgaṁ kāñcanaṁ
vaidehī-haraṇaṁ jaṭāyu-maraṇaṁ
sugrīva-saṁbhāṣaṇam ।
आदौ राम-तपोवनादि-गमनं हत्वा मृगं कांचनं
वैदेही-हरणं जटायु-मरणम् सुग्रीव-संभाषणम् ।
This portion of the Rāmāyaṇa recounts Śrī Rāma’s exile to the forest, the golden deer incident, the abduction of Sītā, the valiant death of Jatāyu, and Rāma’s alliance with Sugrīva to begin His mission of rescue.
Śrī Rāmāyaṇa Summary – 2
Śrī Rāmāyaṇa Summary – Part 2
vālī-nigrahaṇaṁ samudra-taraṇaṁ
laṅkā-purī-dāhanaṁ
paścāt rāvaṇa-kumbhakarṇa-hananaṁ
etad dhi rāmāyaṇam ॥
वाली-निग्रहणं समुद्र-तरणम् लंकापुरी-दाहनं
पश्चात् रावण-कुंभकर्ण-हननं एतद्धि रामायणम् ॥
The story continues with Rāma defeating Vāli, the ocean-crossing of Hanumān, the burning of Laṅkā, and finally the slaying of Rāvaṇa and Kumbhakarṇa. This captures the essence of the sacred Rāmāyaṇa.
Śrī Hayagrīva Stotram
Śrī Hayagrīva Stotram – Meditative Prayer
jñānānandamayaṁ devaṁ nirmalaṁ sphaṭikākṛtiṁ
ādhāraṁ sarva-vidyānāṁ hayagrīvaṁ upāsmahe ||
ज्ञानानंदमयं देवं निर्मल स्फटिकाकृतिम् ।
आधारं सर्वविद्यानां हयग्रीवम् उपास्महे ॥
We worship Lord Hayagrīva, the embodiment of pure knowledge and bliss, spotless and crystal-like in form. He is the very foundation of all learning and sacred wisdom.
Śaraṇāgati Shloka
Śaraṇāgati Shloka – Protection Prayer
shaṅkha-cakra-gadā-pāṇe! dvārakā-nilaya!
acyuta! govinda! puṇḍarīkākṣa! rakṣa māṁ śaraṇāgatam ||
शंख-चक्र-गदा-पाणि ! द्वारकानिलय !
अच्युत ! गोविंद ! पुंडरीकाक्ष ! रक्ष मां शरणागतम् ॥
O Lord who wields the conch, discus, and mace! Dweller of Dvārakā! O Acyuta (unchanging), Govinda, and Lotus-eyed One! I have taken refuge in You—please protect me!
Rāma Nāma Mahimā
Rāma Nāma Mahimā – Glory of Rāma’s Name
shrī rāma rāma rāmēti ramē rāmē manōramē |
sahasra-nāma-tat-tulyaṁ rāma-nāma varānane ||
श्रीराम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।
सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥
O beautiful-faced one! Simply by chanting ‘Rāma, Rāma, Rāma’—the heart delights in Rāma’s name, which is equivalent in merit to reciting the thousand names of Viṣṇu.
Hanumān Stuti
Hanumān Stuti – Salutation to Śrī Hanumān
manojavaṁ māruta-tulya-vēgaṁ
jitēndriyaṁ buddhimatāṁ variṣṭham |
vātātmajaṁ vānara-yūtha-mukhyam
shrīrāma-dūtaṁ śirasā namāmi ||
मनो-जवं मारुत-तुल्य-वेगम्
जितेंद्रियं बुद्धिमताम् वरिष्टम् ।
वातात्मजं वानर-यूथ-मुख्यम्
श्रीराम-दूतं शिरसा नमामि ॥
I bow my head in reverence to Hanumān—the swift one, faster than the mind and the wind, master of the senses, most intelligent, son of the wind-god, leader of the Vānara-s, and the great messenger of Śrī Rāma.
Sarasvatī Stotram
Sarasvatī Stotram – Goddess of Wisdom
yā kundēndu-tuṣāra-hāra-dhavalā yā śubhra-vastrāvṛtā |
yā vīṇā-vara-daṇḍa-maṇḍita-karā yā śveta-padmāsanā |
yā brahmācyuta-śaṅkara-prabhṛtibhir devaiḥ sadā pūjitā |
sā māṁ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśēṣa-jāḍyāpahā ||
याकुंदेंदु तुषार-हार-धवळा या शुभ्र-वस्त्रावृता ।
या वीणा वरदंड-मंडित-करा या श्वेत-पद्मासना ।
या ब्रह्माच्युत-शंकर-प्रभृतिभिः देवैः सदा पूजिता ।
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निश्शेष जाड्यापहा ॥
May the divine Goddess Sarasvatī—fair like the jasmine, the moon and snow, clad in white garments, holding the veena, seated on a white lotus, ever worshiped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva—protect me. She removes all ignorance and dullness.
Sarasvatī Namaskāra
Sarasvatī Namaskāra – Prayer for Learning
sarasvatī namaḥ tubhyaṁ varadē kāma-rūpiṇī |
vidyārambhaṁ kariṣyāmi siddhir bhavatu me sadā ||
सरस्वती नमःस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणी ।
विद्यारंभं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥
May the divine Goddess Sarasvatī—fair like the jasmine, the moon and snow, clad in white garments, holding the veena, seated on a white lotus, ever worshiped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva—protect me. She removes all ignorance and dullness.
Pañcakanyā Smaraṇam
Pañcakanyā Smaraṇam – Remembrance of Five Chaste Women
ahalyaā draupadī tārā mandodarī tathā |
pañca-kanyāḥ smarēt nityaṁ mahā-pātaka-nāśanam ||
अहल्या द्रौपदी तारा तारा मंडोदरी तथा ।
पंच कन्यान् स्मरेन्नित्यम् महापातक नाशनम् ॥
Whoever daily remembers these five great women—Ahalyā, Draupadī, Tārā, Mandodarī, and Sītā—is freed from even great sins.
Nala-Damayantī Glory
Nala-Damayantī Glory – Sin-Removing Chant
kārkōṭakasya nāgasya damayantyā nalaśya ca |
ṛtūparṇasya rājarṣēḥ kīrtanaṁ kali-nāśanam ||
कार्कोटकस्य नागस्य दमयंत्या नळस्य च ।
ऋतुपर्णस्य राजर्षेः कीर्तनं कलिनाशनम् ॥
Chanting the glories of Kārkoṭaka the Nāga, Damayantī, King Nala, and the royal sage Ṛtūparṇa destroys the effects of Kali (the dark age of sin).
Bhakta Namāvali
Bhakta Namāvali – Great Devotees of the Lord
prahlāda nārada parāśara puṇḍarīka
vyāsa ambarīṣa śuka śaunaka bhīṣma dalbhyān |
rukmāṅgada arjuna uddhava vibhīṣaṇādīn
puṇyān imān parama-bhāgavatān smarāmi ||
प्रह्लाद नारद पराशर पुंडरीक
व्यास अम्बरीष शुक शौनक भीश्म दाल्भ्यान् ।
रुक्मांगद अर्जुन उद्धव विभीषणादीन्
पुण्यान् इमान् परम-भागवतान् स्मरामि ॥
I remember the sacred names of these supreme devotees of the Lord: Prahlāda, Nārada, Parāśara, Puṇḍarīka, Vyāsa, Ambarīṣa, Śuka, Śaunaka, Bhīṣma, Dalbhya, Rukmāṅgada, Arjuna, Uddhava, Vibhīṣaṇa, and others.
Recital before going to bed
Recital before going to bed – To Ward off Bad Dreams
rāma-skandaṃ hanūmantaṃ vainateyaṃ vṛkodaram |
śayane yaḥ smarennityaṃ duḥsvapnaṃ tasya naśyati ||
राम-स्कंदं हनूमंतं वैनतेयं वृकोदरम् ।
शयने यः स्मरेन्नित्यं दुःस्वप्नं तस्य नश्यति ।
He who thinks daily of Rama, Skanda, Garuda and Bheema at the time of going to bed will not have bad dreams.
Suprabhātam
Suprabhātam – Wake-Up Call to Śrī Rāma
kausalyā supraja rāma pūrvā sandhyā pravartatē |
uttiṣṭha nara-śārdūla kartavyaṁ daivam āhnikam ||
कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते ।
उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवम् आह्निकम् ॥
O noble Rāma, son of Kausalyā! The morning twilight has begun. Arise, O Tiger among men! It is time to perform your divine duties.
Children Ages 6-12
All the Sanskrit stotrams and Tamil Prabandhams listed below are available in Roman as well as multiple Indian scripts from www.prapatti.com
- Krishnashtakam
- Achyutashtakam
- Haryashtakam
- Mahaalakshmii Ashtakam
- Kaamaasikaashtakam
- Sudarshanaashtakam
- Garuda Dandaka
- Chatusslokii (Yaamunaacharya/Aalavandaar)
Children Above 12
All the Sanskrit stotrams and Tamil Prabandhams listed below are available in Roman as well as multiple Indian scripts from www.prapatti.com
Sanskrit Stotrams
- Hayagriva Stotram
- Lakshmii Hayagriiva Praabodhika Stuti (Srii Krishnabrahmatantra Parakaala Mahaadesikan)
- Godaastuti
- Sriistuti
- Bhuustuti
- Gopaalavimshati
- Bhagavd Dhyaana Sopanam (Bhagavaddhyaanasopaanam)
- Dashaavataara stotram
- Mukundamaalaa stotram
Tamil Prabandhams
- Nityanusandhanam
- Tiruppallaandu
- Tiruppalliyezuchchi
- Tiruppaavai
- Amalanaadipiraan
- Kanninun Shiruttaambu
- Saattrumurai (as per sampradayam)
- Vadagalai
- Tengalai