Vadakkunnathan Temple

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya

Meaning — I bow to Shiva, the auspicious and benevolent one. The five syllables are held to represent the five elements.

Recited for: Daily japa, inner purification, peace of mind

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥

Oṃ Tryambakaṃ Yajāmahe Sugandhiṃ Puṣṭivardhanam, Urvārukamiva Bandhanān Mṛtyor Mukṣīya Māmṛtāt

Meaning — We worship the three-eyed one who is fragrant and nourishes all beings. As the cucumber is freed from its vine, may we be liberated from death and not from immortality.

Recited for: Health, recovery from illness, protection from untimely death

कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम्। सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि॥

Karpūragauraṃ Karuṇāvatāraṃ Saṃsārasāraṃ Bhujagendrahāram, Sadāvasantaṃ Hṛdayāravinde Bhavaṃ Bhavānīsahitaṃ Namāmi

Meaning — I bow to Shiva, white as camphor, the embodiment of compassion, wearing the king of serpents as a garland, ever dwelling with Bhavani in the lotus of the heart.

Recited for: Dhyana before Shiva worship

ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि। तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात्॥

Oṃ Tatpuruṣāya Vidmahe Mahādevāya Dhīmahi, Tanno Rudraḥ Pracodayāt

Meaning — May we know the supreme person, may we meditate on Mahadeva. May Rudra illumine our minds.

Recited for: Gayatri japa, clarity and courage

त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिमूर्तिर्या त्रिदैवतम्। त्र्यक्षरं यत् स्मरेन्नित्यं स ब्रह्मा स शिवः स हरिः॥

Tridalaṃ Triguṇākāraṃ Trimūrtir Yā Tridaivatam, Tryakṣaraṃ Yat Smarennityaṃ Sa Brahmā Sa Śivaḥ Sa Hariḥ

Meaning — The three-leaf bilva stands for the three gunas, the three forms and the three deities. Whoever remembers it daily attains Brahma, Shiva and Hari.

Recited for: Bilva archana during pooja

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

Oṃ Gaṃ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ

Meaning — I bow to Ganapati, the lord of the ganas, with the bija of obstacle removal.

Recited for: Japa before any new venture

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥

Vakratuṇḍa Mahākāya Sūryakoṭi Samaprabha, Nirvighnaṃ Kuru Me Deva Sarvakāryeṣu Sarvadā

Meaning — O curved-trunked, mighty-bodied Lord, radiant as a million suns, make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.

Recited for: Beginning of worship and new work

ॐ एकदन्ताय विद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि। तन्नो दन्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥

Oṃ Ekadantāya Vidmahe Vakratuṇḍāya Dhīmahi, Tanno Dantiḥ Pracodayāt

Meaning — May we know the one-tusked Lord, may we meditate on the curved-trunked one. May the elephant-faced Lord illumine our minds.

Recited for: Gayatri japa, wisdom

प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं गौरीपुत्रं विनायकम्। भक्तावासं स्मरेन्नित्यमायुःकामार्थसिद्धये॥

Praṇamya Śirasā Devaṃ Gaurīputraṃ Vināyakam, Bhaktāvāsaṃ Smarennityam Āyuḥkāmārthasiddhaye

Meaning — Bowing with the head to the Lord, the son of Gauri, Vinayaka, the refuge of devotees, one should remember him daily for long life, fulfilment of desires and prosperity.

Recited for: Removal of troubles and obstacles

ॐ विघ्नहर्त्रे नमः

Oṃ Vighnahartre Namaḥ

Meaning — I bow to the remover of obstacles.

Recited for: Archana with durva grass and modak

ॐ सुब्रह्मण्याय नमः

Oṃ Subrahmaṇyāya Namaḥ

Meaning — I bow to Subrahmanya, the auspicious and ever-youthful lord.

Recited for: Daily japa, courage and wisdom

ॐ सुब्रह्मण्याय विद्महे शक्तिपाणये धीमहि। तन्नो स्कन्दः प्रचोदयात्॥

Oṃ Subrahmaṇyāya Vidmahe Śaktipāṇaye Dhīmahi, Tanno Skandaḥ Pracodayāt

Meaning — May we know Subrahmanya, may we meditate on the one who holds the spear. May Skanda illumine our minds.

Recited for: Gayatri japa, protection

ॐ शरवणभवाय नमः

Oṃ Śaravaṇabhavāya Namaḥ

Meaning — I bow to the one born in the reeds, the eternal youth of the sacred grove.

Recited for: Japa during Skanda Shasti

ॐ षण्मुखाय नमः

Oṃ Ṣaṇmukhāya Namaḥ

Meaning — I bow to the six-faced Lord who sees in all directions.

Recited for: Archana and kavadi offering