46 - Common Mantras - Part 2

There have been several requests for common mantras to be used before, during and after prayers. Every household, every mandir, every Ramayan Mandali chooses to use their own compilation. While I am no expert, here is the first instalment of some common mantras and attempted meanings. Hopefully some learned people will correct my inadvertent errors. We hope these will assist you in compiling your own version.

Many thanks to Avinesh Maharaj from Suva Fiji.....




मंगलाचरण  (वक्ता क वादा)

ॐ शन्नो मित्रः शं वरुणः। शन्नो भवत्वर्यमा। शन्न इन्द्रो बृहस्पतिः। शन्नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः।नमो ब्रह्मणे नमस्ते वायो  त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि
त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्म वदिष्यामि  ऋतं वदिष्यामि। सत्यं वदिष्यामि।तन्मामवतु। तद्‌वक्तारमवतु। अवतु माम्‌। अवतु वक्तारम्‌।ॐ  शांतिः  शांतिः  शांतिः

(तैत्तिरीय  उपनिषद् 1/1)

Manglacharan – Prachaarak’s Promise

OM Shanno Mitrah Sham Varunah Shanno bhawtwayarama
Shanna Indro Brahaspati Shanno Vishnu Rurukramah
Namo Brahmane, Namaste Wayo Twameo Pratyaksham Brahmaasi,
Twameo Pratyaksham Brahm Vadishyaami Rittam Vadishyaami,
Satyam Vadishyaami
Tanmaamawatu, Tadwaktaaramawatu, Awatu Maam, Awatu Waktaaram
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih(Taittireeya Upanishad 1/1)

Attempted Translation

My dear Akshar-Brahman, Guru Ji, Gyan Daata, please accept my humble respect and reverence. We worship you as an incarnation of God, and believe that God lives within you. Being close to you, my guru Ji, I feel I am getting closer to God.

Rittam Vadishyaami, Satyam Vadishyaami (The Preacher’s Vow)
The Prachaarak, Preacher, Teacher or Tutor of religion has a duty to teach. He vows to teach what is contained within the religious scriptures and associated books. “I shall teach truthfully and with integrity”. He vows not to teach false principles. To tell a lie is a sin, but to teach a lie is a grave sin.
The Prachaarak, Preacher, Teacher or Tutor should be aware of his responsibility to the disciple, mandali, mandir, and the greater society. 

Tan maam awatu, Tad waktaaram awatu, Awatu Maam, Awatu WaktaaramThe Prachaarak, Preacher, Teacher or Tutor knows he must be honest and tolerant. He also knows that speaking the truth will cause discomfort and hostile reaction from some members of society.  For this reason he prays to God for protection from such elements. Awatu Maam – O Lord ! Save Me. Awatu Waktaaram – Please protect the orator or preacher. Please God !  grant understanding and tolerance to those who do not agree with my teachings.

Any errors found in these translations are not meant to confuse you, but is an indication of a lack of knowledge on my part. Please correct and use as you choose fit.
Muskuraate RahoTaittireeya Upanishad is contained within and is part of Yajur Ved. We are so fortunate that ancient educators, the Rishis and Gurus had collected and collated such vast amounts of experiences and knowledge for future generations.

OM Shanno Mitrah Sham Varunah Shanno bhawtwayarama
Shanna Indro Brahaspati Shanno Vishnu RurukramahAt the beginning of a prayer the Guru or Prachaarak  prays for peace, happiness, Anand, Mangal, Kalyaan for the entire world. We request the Devtas Mitra, Varun, Yarmaa, Brahaspati, and lord Vishnu, to bestow eternal happiness and inner peace specifically to all present here today, and generally to everyone everywhere else. (The beauty of Indian Spirituality is the eradication of unhappiness in everyone’s life).

Namo BrahmaneUsing the word Brahmane the Guru or Prachaarak pays respect to two entities, Akshar-Brahman (the pamarath Gyani who has mastered the teachings of God, and from whom we have obtained knowledge)  and Par-Brahman (God Himself).

Twameo Pratyaksham Brahmaasi