Slokas To Prevent Nightmares

This sloka is useful to prevent having nightmares. Every night before sleeping, sit and chant this sloka 3 times in your mind. It is the name of 7 powerful gods and characters in Hindu mythology. it is believed that the utterance of their name is enough to keep all evil entities away from causing nightmares

Om braahmanam shankarum vishnum

yamum ramum dhanum bhaliim

sapthai thaan yah smare nithyam

dhuswapnam thasyanuu nashyathi

The sloka given below is also used to prevent having nightmares. This sloka is especially beneficial for little kids to chant before sleeping. It is advisable to try and instill this practice of sloka chanting as a habit in children at a young age itself. This sloka is is the 12 divine names of lord Hanuman , who is always willing to come to the rescue of his devotees.

om hare rama 

hanuman anjanasuno vayuputro mahabhala

Rameshtt phalguna sakha pingaksh amithavikrama

udhadhikramana sithashokavinashaka 

lakshmana praanadatha dasagreevasyadarpaha

What Is Devotion ?

Any religion or ritual is complete only if practiced with devotion. A robotic repetition of words or actions can not capture the infinite power approachable through devotion. But, how exactly do we explain this state of mind dubbed ‘devotion’?

Devotion does not necessarily require sacrifice of all worldly possessions or severe penance. Devotion is an emotional attachment with God, but that does not require a mandatory detachment from this world. The measure of devotion is sincerity and belief. These sentiments are often overshadowed by the presence of distractions in the mind. Hence it is necessary to focus all our senses towards devotion. [This is the reason behind the special ambience provided in temples, where there are visual and audio factors present to induce concentration towards devotion.]

Devotion is a sentiment which has to be present in the mind and not only in words. Devotion itself can be of several forms. There are references in our scriptures to god being pleased with being considered as a master, teacher, parent, friend and even as an enemy. Even if one considers himself/herself as an enemy, it requires an uninhibited and continuous thought about god and his influences on life. It establishes an involuntary communication with God. This single-minded surrender to God is a distinguishing factor of devotion.

Who is a Devotee ? - By Lord Vishnu

There is an interesting folktale that explains god’s judgement of devotion. Sage Narada used to always be proud of the fact that he always chants ‘narayana’(lord Vishnu’s name) and is Lord Vishnu’s greatest devotee. One day sage Narada asked Lord Vishnu whom he considered his biggest devotee, in the expectation that it would be himself. But, lord Vishnu told that there is a particular farmer who is his greatest devotee. Sage narada was stunned to know that Lord Vishnu didn’t consider him as his best devotee. He was even more shocked to know that the greatest devotee was not a saint or a great king but just a normal farmer. Sage narada enquired what made the farmer special. Lord Vishnu took sage Narada to meet the farmer from the sky. Lord Vishnu told narada to observe the farmer for a whole day and then return to Heaven. 

After completing the observation and returning, Lord Vishnu asked Narada what he saw. Narada said that the famrmer didn’t perform any rituals or pooja. The farmer only chanted the lord’s name thrice a day and not more. Sage narada continued and then asked, how is this famrer a greater devotee than himself who always chants god’s name.

To this lord Vishnu smiled and gave Sage narada a little pot full of water. Lord Vishnu told sage Narada to walk 25 steps with this pot on his head but on the condition that a single drop of water should not drop out. Sage narada completed the task as he was told. Now, Lord Vishnu asked sage Narada how many times he remembered god during this task. Sage narada was embarrassed and confessed that he hadn’t thought of god even once since he was busy making sure the water doesn’t spill. Lord Vishnu smiled and said “the greatness of the farmer is that he sincerely and selflessly remembered god while performing his own duties. This pleases me the most and such a devotee is of utmost greatness for me”.Sage Narada lost all his ego and praised the greatness of lord Vishnu.

What characteristics are essential for a devotee according to you? Please do share your views in the comments.   

Sloka To Chant While Ringing Bell In Temples & Home

It is a common ritual in Hindu temples to ring bells during aarathi and pooja. The ringing of the bell is not an attempt to show one’s presence at the temple or to wake up a sleeping god, as many believe. The rituals in temples like sounding a conch or ringing the bell are ways of creating a suitable ambience for devotion. These sounds distract us from any disturbing noises that may be prevalent in the premises, and focuses our attention towards the pooja. Also, it is said that the sound produced by the conch and while ringing the bell produces positive vibrations which enhances the spiritual experience of the devotee. The sloka below is to be chanted while ringing the bell at temples as a prayer to usher in auspiciousness.

Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam

Gamanaarthamtu rakshasaam

Kurve ghantaaravam tatra

Devataahvaahna lakshanam

Meaning - “I ring this bell to invoke divinity to let noble forces enter my heart and keep demonic forces away from it”

Sloka To Chant While Lighting The Lamp At Home

The lamp is given great significance in Hinduism. It is a representation of ‘agni’/fire , the universal witness. ‘Agni’ is said to be the only element which purifies other things without getting impure itself, and is hence regarded as a demi-god. The influence that fire has in our life is very obvious and important. The Hindu ritual of lighting a lamp in the morning and evening is a way of having a representative of God amidst us. The fire of the lamp (and the lamp itself) is considered on par with an idol of God in temples and during poojas. The sloka below is to be chanted while lighting the lamp at home to bring welfare to the family.

Subham karoti kalyanam

Arogyam dhana sampadah

Shatru buddhi vinashaya

Deepa jyotir namosthuthe

Meaning - “I salute the lamplight that brings auspiciousness, abundance of wealth, good health and destroys all enemies of intellect ”