Morning Slokas

After waking up in the morning first we should think about our cherished God. Close your eyes and try to see Her or Him. Like, I try to visualize Goddess Durga atop Her lion.

Then, it is time to clean yourself through a hymn –

Lord Ghanashyama

Apabitro pabitro ba sarbabasthan gatopi ba,

Yah smaret Pundarikashyam sa baahaayabhyantara suchi.

Ati nilo Ghanashyamam Naliyalatalochanam,

Smarami Pundarikakshyam teno snato bhabamyaham.

Meaning – The person who thinks of God Pundarikaskhya gets cleaned in whatever condition he remains. By thinking of God Ghanashyama we get a holy bathe (without actually bathing).

The next step is to look at the palm and chant this hymn –

Karagre basate Lakshmi, Karamadhye Saraswati,

Karamule tu Govindah, Prabhate karadarshanam.

Meaning – Look at the finger tip part of your hands and try to visualize Goddess Lakshmi there as She is belived to stay at the finger tips. Then, look at the middle part of your palm and try to see Goddess Saraswatee as She is believed to stay at this place of the hand. Finally, look at the root part of your palm and try to visualize Lord Govinda (Krishna or Vishnu) as He lives there. Finally offer your pranam to all of them.

Now, it is time to beg excuse to mother earth as you are going to put your feet on Her. Chant this hymn –

Samudrah basane devi, Parbatah stanamandale,

Vishnupatni namastubhyam paadasparsham Khyamaswame.

Meaning – Oh mother earth. Ocean is your clothe and mountains are there in your chest. Oh consort of Lord Vishnu please forgive me for putting my feet on you.

Then offer pranam to mother earth and get down from your bed. Now chant the Nabagraha hymn to please the nine planets –

Bramhaa Murari Tripurantakari, Bhaanu Sashi Bhumisutoh Budhascha, Guruscha Sukra Shani Rahu Ketabah, Kurbantu sarbe mama suprabhatam.

Meaning – Oh Lord Bramha, Murari (Another name of Lord Vishnu, Ari or enemy of Mura demon. Lord Vishnu had killed Mura and Daruna, two demons), Tripurantakari (Lord Shiva, who can end the three worlds), Bhanu (Sun), Sashi (Moon), Bhumisuta (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Brihaspati or Jupiter is the teacher or Guru of the Gods), Sukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu, please make my morning good.

When chanting this hymn try to visualize the face of these nine planets when uttering their names. Then first see some holy things like Mridanga, gold, mirror etc. and then go to wash your face.

(Besides the suggestion in the first paragraph, all other slokas can be found in the book ‘Nityakarma Pujaprakash’) 

Written by - Himanshu Guru (the blogger). If you have any doubt in the article please feel free to ask me at himanshuguruz@gmail.com