Durga Suktam

Meaning:

Jātavedase sunavāma soma marātīyato nidahāti vedaḥ .
Sa naḥ parṣadati durgāṇi viśvā nāveva sindhuṃ duritātyagniḥ ..1..

We offer oblations of Soma unto Agni. May he burn those who are against us. May that Agni lead us beyond all difficulties, like a boatman takes his boat across a river. 

Tāmagnivarṇāṃ tapasā jvalantīṃ vairocanīṃ karmaphaleṣu juṣṭām .
Durgāṃ devīm̐̐ śaraṇamahaṃ prapadye sutarasi tarase namaḥ ..2..

I take refuge in that Goddess, who has the lusture of fire, who is radiant due to her penance, who gives the fruits of all actions, and who is difficult to obtain. O Durga, we bow to you who are skilled in making us cross all difficulties.

Agne tvaṃ pārayā navyo asmān svastibhirati durgāṇi viśvā .
Pūśca pṛthvī bahulā na urvī bhavā tokāya tanayāya śaṃyoḥ ..3..

Oh Agni! You are worthy of all praise. Lead us safely beyond all difficulties. May our land and our earth be abundant. Bless our children and their children with happiness.

Viśvāni no durgahā jātavedaḥ sindhunna nāvā duritātiparṣi .
Agne atrivanmanasā gṛṇāno'smākaṃ bodhyavitā tanūnām ..4..

O Destroyer of all difficulties! Rescue us from difficulties, just as one crosses a river by means of a boat. O Agni! Protect our bodies vigilantly like Atri (who is concerned with the welfare of all beings).

Pṛtanā jitam̐̐ sahamānamugramagnim̐̐ huvema paramāthsadhasthāt .
Sa naḥ parṣadati durgāṇi viśvā kṣāmaddevo atiduritātyagniḥ ..5..

We invoke Agni from the highest assembly , who charges and vanquishes his enemies and is fearsome. May that Agni protect us and lead us beyond all that is transient, all difficulties, and all sins. 

Pratnoṣi kamīḍyo adhvareṣu sanācca hotā navyaśca sathsi .
Svāñcāgne tanuvaṃ piprayasvāsmabhyaṃ ca saubhagamāyajasva ..6..

O Agni! You who are adored in sacrifices multiply our joy. You are present in the sacrifices and are always laudable. Grant us happiness thinking of us as your own body. Bring us good fortune from all corners.

Gobhirjuṣṭamayujo niṣiktaṃ tavendra viṣṇoranusañcarema .
Nākasya pṛṣṭhamabhi saṃvasāno vaiṣṇavīṃ loka iha mādayantām ..7..

O all-pervading Indra who is unattached ! We shall follow you blessed with cattle and happiness. May those who live in the upper reach of the heavens bless me with the world of Vishnu in this life.

Oṃ kātyāyanāya vidmahe kanyakumāri dhīmahi .
tanno durgiḥ pracodayāt ..8..

We perceive the daughter of Katyayana; we meditate on that young virgin.
May that Durga inspire us (to reach that goal).

Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ..
Om peace peace peace.

This hymn is found in the Taittiriya Aranyakam. ie. Prapathaka 2 of Chapter 10.The Gayatri at the end of the hymn is found in Prapathaka 1.7 of the same. 

Notes:

The Chapter 10 of the Taittiriya Aranyakam is also referred to as Mahanarayana Upanishad. The word "Durga" means difficulty. The hymn is addressed mostly to Agni, with verses 2 and 8 addressed to Goddess Durga and verse 7 addressed to Indra. Agni is requested to help us overcome all the obstacles that we face in our lives. Chanting of this hymn removes all difficulties in one's life.

Shivashtakam

Meaning:

Tasmai namaḥ paramakāraṇa-kāraṇāya
Dīptojjvalajjvalita-piṅgalalocanāya .
Nāgendrahāra-kṛtakuṇḍala-bhūṣaṇāya
Brahmendra-viṣṇuvaradāya namaḥ śivāya ..1..

Salutation to that Shiva, who is the cause of all creation, who has reddish brown eyes which shine fiercely, who wears garlands and earrings made of the best of snakes, and who gives boons to Brahma, Indra and Vishnu.

Śrīmatprasanna-śaśipannaga-bhūṣaṇāya
Śailendrajāvadanacumbitalocanāya .
Kailāsamandiramahendraniketanāya
Lokatrāyārtiharaṇāya namaḥ śivāya ..2..

Salutation to Shiva, who is happy, who is adorned by the moon and snakes, whose eyes are softly touched by the face of the daughter of the mountains, who lives on the mountains of Kailasa and Mahendra, and who removes the sorrows of the three worlds.

Padmāvadāta-maṇikuṇḍala-govṛṣāya
Kṛṣṇāgaru-pracuracandana-carcitāya .
Bhasmānuṣakta-vikacotpala-mallikāya
Nīlābja-kaṇṭhasadṛśāya namaḥ śivāya ..3..

Salutation to Shiva, who wears ruby earrings, who rides on a bull, who is smeared with agar wood  and plenty of sandal paste, who applies ash on his body, who wears a garland of opened lotus flowers, and whose neck resembles the blue water lily.

Lambat-sapiṅgala-jaṭāmukuṭotkaṭāya
Daṁṣṭrākarāla-vikaṭotkaṭa-bhairavāya .
Vyāghrājināmbara-dharāya manoharāya
Trailokyanātha-namitāya namaḥ śivāya ..4..

Salutation to Shiva, who has a crown of matted and reddish-brown hair, who appears fearsome due to his sharp teeth, who has a terrible roar, who is clothed with tiger skin, who is beautiful, and who is worshiped by the rulers of the three worlds.

Dakṣaprajāpati-mahāmakha-nāśanāya
Kṣipraṁ mahātripura-dānava-ghātanāya .
Brahmorjitordhvaga-karoṭi-nikṛntanāya
Yogāya yoganamitāya namaḥ śivāya ..5..

Salutation to Shiva, who destroyed the great sacrifice of Daksha Prajapati, who killed the great demon Tripura in a trice, who cut off the powerful and egoistic head of Brahma, who is yoga, and who is revered by yoga.

Saṁsārasṛṣṭighaṭanā-parivartanāya
Rakṣaḥpiśāca-gaṇasiddha-samākulāya .
Siddhoraga-grahagaṇendra-niṣevitāya
Śārdūlacarma-vasanāya namaḥ śivāya ..6..

Salutation to Shiva, who continuously creates and destroys the universe, who is surrounded by demons, ghosts, ghouls and siddhas, who is worshiped by the host of siddhas, serpents, and planets, and who wears the skin of a tiger.

Bhasmāṅgarāga-kṛtarūpa-manoharāya
Saumyāvadāta-vanamāśritam-āśritāya .
Gaurīkaṭākṣa-nayanārdha-nirīkṣaṇāya
Gokṣīradhāra-dhavalāya namaḥ śivāya ..7..

Salutation to Shiva, who beautifies his body using ash as his cosmetic, who is the refuge for those who take shelter in the forests, who looks at the sideways glance of Gowri with half-open eyes, and who is as white as a stream of cow's milk.

Āditya-soma-varuṇānila-sevitāya
Yajñāgnihotra-varadhūma-niketanāya .
Ṛksāmaveda-munibhiḥ stutisaṁyutāya
Gopāya gopanamitāya namaḥ śivāya ..8..


Salutation to Shiva, who is served by the sun, the moon, the ocean and the wind,who lives in the sacred fumes of fire sacrifices, who is extolled by sages learned in Rik and Sama Vedas, who takes care of a cow, and who is worshiped by a cowherd.

This hymn was composed by Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada.

Notes:

This hymn is in praise of Lord Shiva. It is set to the Vasantatilaka meter. It is very poetic and contains lot of imagery. 

Shanti Mantra 1

Meaning:

Oṁ saha nāvavatu . Saha nau bhunaktu . Saha vīryaṁ karavāvahai . Tejasvināvadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahai.

Oṁ śantiḥ śantiḥ śantiḥ ..1..

May both of us be protected. May both of us enjoy together. May we both perform heroic deeds. May we become brilliant. May we never hate each other. Om peace, peace, peace.

Oṁ gaṇānāṁ tvā gaṇapatim̐̐ havāmahe kavim kavīnāmupamaśravastamam . 

Jyeṣṭharājaṁ brahmaṇāṁ brahmaṇaspata ā  naḥ śṛṇvannūtibhissīdasādanam. 

Oṁ mahāgaṇapataye namaḥ ..2..

O the leader of the ganas, who is learned and the foremost among the learned, who is  the eldest of the elders, who is  Brahman, and the embodiment of Brahman; we offer our oblations unto you. Please come to us by Listening to our Prayers and be Present in the Seat of this Sacred Sacrificial Altar. Om salutation to the great Ganapati.

Oṁ śaṁ no mitraḥ śaṁ varuṇaḥ . Śaṁ no bhavatvaryamā . Śaṁ na indro brihaspatiḥ . Śaṁ no viṣṇururukramaḥ . Namo brahmaṇe . Namaste vāyo . Tvameva pratyakṣaṃ bhrahmāsi . Tvāmeva pratyakṣam brahma vadiṣyāmi . Ṛtaṃ vadiṣyāmi . Satyaṃ vadiṣyāmi . Tanmāmavatu . Tadvaktāramavatu . Avatu mām . Avatu vaktāram .

Oṁ śantiḥ śantiḥ śantiḥ ..3..

May Mitra and Varuna be auspicious to us. May Aryama be auspicious  to us. May Indra and Brihaspati be auspicious to us. May Vishnu who took long steps be auspicious to us.  Salutation to Brahman. Salutation to you, O wind! You are the visible Brahman. I shall declare you alone as the visible Brahman. I shall speak right. I shall speak truth. May he protect me. May he protect the speaker. May he protect me. May he protect the speaker. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Oṁ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidam pūrṇāt pūrṇamudacyate .

Pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate . 

Oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ..4..

That is infinite, and this is infinite. This infinite emerges from that infinite. After taking this infinitude out of that infinite, that still remains as infinite. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Notes:

• The first Shanti Mantra is the opening hymn of chapter 10. The speakers wish that they enjoy and grow together. 
• The next Mantra is addressed to Ganesha and is found in Rigveda Mandala 2 Chapter 23 Verse 1.
• The second Shanti Mantra is the opening hymn of chapter 7. The speaker says that he will speak the truth. He requests that truth to protect him.
• The last Shanti Mantra is the invocation of Ishavasya Upanishad i.e. Chapter 40 of the Vajasaneyi Samhita of Shukla Yajurveda. This Mantra explains the nature of the Prakriti(universe)-referred to as "this"-and Purusha(conciousness)-referred to as "that". It is mostly used as a concluding Shanti Mantra.

Medha Suktam

Meaning:

Oṁ yaśchandasāmṛṣabho viśvarūpaḥ . Chandobhyo'dhyamṛtātsambabhuva . Sa mendro medhayā spṛṇotu . Amṛtasya deva dhāraṇo bhūyāsam . Śarīraṁ me vicarṣaṇam . Jihvā me madhumattamā . Karṇābhyāṁ bhūriviśruvam . Brahmaṇaḥ kośo'si medhayā pihitaḥ . Śrutaṁ me gopāya . 

Oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ..

May the universal form, exalted among the Vedas and born of the essence of the Vedas, bless me with wisdom. May I be blessed with the nectar of immortality. May my body become active. May my tongue speak sweetly. May my ears hear everything well. You are the repository of Brahman, and are hidden by the intellect. May my memory protect me. Om peace, peace, peace.

Medhā devī juṣamānā na āgād-viśvācī bhadrā sumanasyamāna .
Tvayā juṣṭā nudamānā durūktān bṛhadvadema vidathe suvīraḥ ..1..

O goddess of wisdom! You are pleased, all-pervading and have a peaceful mind. Bless us so that we may give up bad speech and speak well in an assembly like heroes.

Tvayā juṣṭa ṛṣirbhavati devi tvayā brahmāgataśrīruta tvayā .
Tvayā juṣṭaścitraṁ vindate vasu sā no juṣasva draviṇo na medhe ..2..

O goddess! Blessed by you one becomes a sage; like Brahma. Blessed by you one attains prosperity. Blessed by you one attains many treasures. Bless us with that wealth of intelligence.

Medhāṁ ma indro dadātu medhāṁ devī sarasvatī .
Medhāṁ me aśvinavavubhavadhattaṁ puṣkarasrajā ..3..

May Indra give me intelligence. May goddess Saraswati give me intelligence. May the two Ashwins, who wear garlands of lotuses, give me intelligence.

Apsarāsu ca yā medhā gandharveṣu ca yanmanaḥ .
Daivīṁ medhā sarasvatī sā māṁ medhā surabhirjuṣhatam̐̐ svāhā ..4..

May Saraswati, who is fragrant, bless me with the divine intelligence which is the wisdom of the Apsaras and the mind of the Gandharvas.

Ā māṁ medhā surabhirviśvarūpā hiraṇyavarṇā jagatī jagamyā .
Ūrjasvatī payasā pinvamānā sā māṁ medhā supratīkā juṣantām ..5..

May that Saraswati, who is intelligence personified, who is fragrant, who is all pervading, who has a golden complexion, who is the earth, who is accessible to all, who is full of vigour, who is overflowing with the nectar of knowledge, and who is beautiful; come to me and bless me with intelligence.

Mayi medhāṁ mayi prajāṁ mayyagnistejo dadātu .
Mayi medhāṁ mayi prajāṁ mayīndra indriyaṁ dadātu .
Mayi medhāṁ mayi prajāṁ mayi sūryo bhrājo dadātu ..6..

May Agni give me intelligence, people and vigour. May Indra give me intelligence, people and bodily power. May Surya give me intelligence, people and brilliance.

Oṁ haṁsa haṁsāya vidmahe paramahaṁsāya dhīmahi .
Tanno haṁsaḥ pracodayāt ..7..

We perceive the Hamsa that is the soul; we meditate on that Hamsa that is the supreme being.

May that Hamsa inspire us (to reach that goal).

Oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ..

Om peace, peace, peace.

This hymn is found in the Taittiriya Aranyakam of the Krishna Yajurveda. 
The Shanti Mantram preceding the hymn is found in Prapathaka 4 of Chapter 7. 
The hymn itself is composed of Prapathakas 41-44 of Chapter 10.

Notes:

The given version is found in the Taittiriya Aranyakam. Other hymns, also called Medha Suktam can be found in Rigveda and Atharvaveda. This prayer is addressed to the Goddess of learning, Saraswati. It asks her to bless us so that we may become wise. Chanting this hymn daily improves memory, intelligence, grasping power and speaking capacity. 

Totakashtakam

Meaning:

Viditākhilaśāstrasudhājaladhe 

Mahitopaniṣatkathitārthanidhe .

Hṛdaye kalaye vimalaṃ caraṇaṁ 

Bhava śaṅkara deśika me śaraṇam ..1..

O one who has obtained the nectar-ocean of all the shastras! O treasure of the great wealth of the Upanishad! I worship your pure feet in my heart. O Teacher Shankara! Be my refuge.

Karuṇāvaruṇālaya pālaya māṁ 

Bhavasāgaraduḥkhavidūnahṛdam .

Racayākhiladarśanatattvavidaṁ 

Bhava śaṅkara deśika me śaraṇam ..2..

O ocean of mercy! Protect me whose heart is afflicted by the pain of samsara and  make me learned in the meaning of all the philosophies. O Teacher Shankara! Be my refuge.

Bhavatā janatā suhitā bhavitā 

Nijabodhavicāraṇa cārumate .

Kalayeśvara jīvavivekavidaṁ

Bhava śaṅkara deśika me śaraṇam ..3..

The common people have been enlightened by you. O one who meditates upon the Self! O one with a beautiful mind! Make me learned in the knowledge of God and living-beings. O Teacher Shankara! Be my refuge.

Bhava eva bhavāniti me nitarāṁ 

Samajāyata cetasi kautukitā .

Mama vāraya mohamahājaladhiṁ

Bhava śaṅkara deśika me śaraṇam ..4..

I have always had a doubt whether you are Shiva and thinking of this my mind is curious. Please clear my immense ocean of delusion. O Teacher Shankara! Be my refuge.

Sukrite’dhikrite bahudhā bhavato 

Bhavitā samadarśanalālasatā .

Atidīnamimaṁ paripālaya māṁ 

Bhava śaṅkara deśika me śaraṇam ..5..

When numerous virtues have been accomplished by You, a desire to achieve indifference emerges. Protect me as I am very poor. O Teacher Shankara! Be my refuge.

Jagatīmavituṁ kalitākṛtayo 

Vicaranti mahāmahasaśchalataḥ .

Ahimāṃśurivātra vibhāsi guro 

Bhava śaṅkara deśika me śaraṇam ..6..

To save the world many wise men roam the earth after taking a human form. You shine like the sun among them. O Teacher Shankara! Be my refuge.

Gurupuṅgava puṅgavaketana te 

Samatāmayatāṁ nahi ko’pi sudhīḥ .

Śaraṇāgatavatsala tattvanidhe 

Bhava śaṅkara deśika me śaraṇam ..7..

O best of Gurus! O bearer of the flag with the insignia of a bull! There is no wise man to equal you. O giver of refuge! O one who knows the truth! O Teacher Shankara! Be my refuge.

Viditā na mayā viśadaikakalā 

Na ca kiñcana kāñcanamasti guro .

Drutameva vidhehi kṛpāṁ sahajāṁ 

Bhava śaṅkara deśika me śaraṇam ..8..

Neither have I understood any branch of science in detail, nor do I have any wealth with me. Bestow upon me your compassion, which comes naturally to you. O Teacher Shankara! Be my refuge.

This hymn was composed by Totakacharaya in praise of his Guru, Adi Shankara.

Notes:

  This hymn has an interesting story behind it. There used to be a student of Adi Shankara called Giri. He was very devoted and hard-working but was also very dull in studies. One day he had gone to the riverbank to wash the master's clothes. Adi Shankara did not start his morning class that day even though the other students were assembled, and waited for Giri to come back. 

  One of the Guru's senior disciples, Padmapada, asked the Guru as to why the class had been delayed. Adi Shankara replied that he was waiting for Giri to start his lesson. On hearing this, Padmapada commented-" O Revered one, why do you waste time teaching Giri? Teaching him is as good as teaching a wall." The master smiled.

  Adi Shankara had always admired Giri, so he mentally transferred his knowledge to Giri. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Giri came running to the master, fell at his feet, and composed these verses spontaneously in praise of him. The verses he composed were set to the Totaka meter and this earned him the name Totaka. Due to his erudition, he was referred to as Totakacharya.

Vishnu Shodashanama Stotram

Meaning:

Slokas:

Śuklāmbaradharaṁ viṣṇuṁ śaśivarṇaṁ caturbhujaṁ .
Prasannavadanaṁ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye ..

Worship that Vishnu, who wears white clothes, who has the colour of the moon, who has four hands, and who has a smiling face for the removal of all obstacles.

Śāntākāraṁ bhujagaśayanaṁ padmanābhaṁ sureśaṁ 

Viśvādhāraṁ gaganasadṛśaṁ meghavarṇaṁ śubhaṅgaṁ .

Lakṣmīkāntaṁ kamalanayanaṁ yogihṛddhyānagamyaṁ 

Vande viṣṇuṁ bhavabhayaharaṁ sarvalokaikanāthaṁ ..

I salute that Vishnu, who has a serene appearance, who sleeps on a serpent, who has a lotus in his navel, who is the overlord of the gods, who sustains the universe, whose is boundless like the sky, whose colour is like the cloud, who has an auspicious body, who is the husband of Lakshmi, whose eyes resemble a lotus, who is attained by sages by worshipping him in their hearts, who removes the fear of samsara and who is the lord of all the worlds.

Vishnu Shodashanama Stotram:

Auṣadhe cintayedviṣṇuṁ bhojane ca janārdanam .
Śayane padmanābhaṁ ca vivāhe ca prajāpatiṁ ..1..

Remember Vishnu while taking medicine, Janardana while eating food, Padmanabha before sleeping, and Prajapati during marriage.

Yuddhe cakradharaṁ devaṁ pravāse ca trivikramam.

Nārāyaṇaṁ tanutyage śrīdharaṁ priyasaṅgame ..2.

Remember Cakradhara while fighting wars, Trivikrama while in foreign lands, Narayana before death, and Sridhara when meeting the beloved.

Dussvapne smara govindaṁ saṅkaṭe madhusūdanaṁ .
Kānane nārasimhaṁ ca pāvake jalaśāyinaṁ ..3..

Remember Govinda during bad dreams, Madhusudana in times of distress, Narasimha in the forest, and Jalashayin the middle of fire.

Jalamadhye varāhaṁ ca parvate raghunandanaṁ .

Gamane vāmanaṁ caiva sarvakāryeśu mādhavaṁ ..4..

Remeber Varaha in the middle of water, Raghunandana when on mountains, Vamana while travelling, and always remember Madhava.

Ṣoḍaśaitāni nāmāni prātharutthāya yaḥ paṭhet .
Sarvapāpavinirmukto viṣṇuloke mahīyate ..5..

Whoever wakes in the early hours and recites these sixteen names becomes free from all his sins and attains the world of Vishnu at the end of his life.  

The verses before this hymn are taken from the Vishnu Sahasranamam. The source of the hymn is unknown.

Notes:

This hymn gives sixteen names of lord Vishnu, each to be chanted during various experiences in life.