Deep and Sacred Slokas for Kids with Edifying Effects

There are very many peculiarities associated with the Hindu people. Most prominently, the Sanskrit-speaking cultures have the ritual of reciting Slokas. Slokas for kids are also specially structured and scripted to suit their age.  Slokas are quite similar to mantras with just a slight distinction.

Slokas are mainly a form of meditation tool. The Hindu people are quite renowned for its practice and popularity. There are Slokas for kids as well as other classes of people.

The wordings of the Slokas are such as to inspire devotion in the kids and also evoke calmness. Slokas for kids offer some great benefits which will be highlighted in the subsequent sections. Though they may seem difficult to memorize at first, with gradual practice, it becomes easy cram these Slokas for Kids.

This article is designed to give you an idea of Sanskrit Slokas for kids. You can as well use them to improve your meditation skills. We’ll start off by explaining what Slokas are for those that may not really be familiar with the term.

What is a Sloka?

Shloka or Sloka is a poetic form used in Sanskrit, the classical language of India. In its usual form it consists of four pādas or quarter-verses, of 8 syllables each or (according to an alternative analysis) of two half-verses of 16 syllables each. From Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, it is a distich consisting of two lines of 16 syllables each or of four octosyllabic hemistichs that is the chief verse form of the Sanskrit epics.

I am sure if you are not quite familiar with this Sanskrit practice, you will wonder what all these mean. On the Whole, Slokas are a kind of recitation or prayers mostly written and said in Sanskrit language by mostly Hindus.

Why are Shlokas Beneficial for Kids?

Chanting and reciting shlokas positively affects the cognitive functioning of the brain. It also have other beneficial effects. Some of the beneficial effects are:

1. Memory Booster and Aid to Concentration

Studies have shown that chanting shlokas helps to improve concentration and memory power in children. That’s because shlokas emit vibrations that activate the chakras (on the face and head) that play a role in learning and focus.

2. Eases Stress

Chanting shlokas also reduces stress and improves the portions of the brain that develop the traits of patience and empathy.

3. Maintains Healthy Respiratory System

When kids chant shlokas, their breathing slows down. They’re able to take deep breaths and hold it for a few seconds. This regulates the functioning of the lungs and keeps the heart healthy.

4. Boost Immunity

Certain mantras put pressure on your child’s tongue, vocal cords, lips and other connected organs. The vibration also stimulates the hypothalamus gland, which regulates the secretion of hormones and improves immunity.

5. Help to Align the Chakras

Each of us has seven chakras, which are responsible for our health and well-being. If they’re out of equilibrium, we tend to fall sick more often. Chanting shlokas can help to align your child’s chakras and prevent him from infections.

6. Facilitates Normal Blood Flow

With the calm and smoothness of Slokas, blood circulation is positively aided. Regular recitation of shlokas gives a boost to your child’s blood circulation and gets rid of the toxins.

Shlokas for Kids with their Meanings

With all the obvious benefits of Slokas, you might need to teach your kids to chant them. Below is a list of some intense Slokas for kids and what they mean in English.

1. Gayatri Mantra

Also called the Maha Mantra or the Savitri Mantra, this is the most revered mantra, and is dedicated to the Sun. Make the child recite this out under the sun in the morning to refresh their mind and also get some vitamin D.

Verses:

Om bhur bhuva swaha

Tat savitur varenyam

Bhargo devasya dhimahi

Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

Meaning: O God, the Savior, you are the basis of all life, self-existent, and whose touch sets every soul free from the sufferings, who penetrates into the universe and sustains every being, the creator of the whole universe, and who blesses with happiness.

Lord, the purest form and the purifier of this universe, may he enlighten our minds and inspire our intelligence.

2. Shanti Mantra

There are four different Shanti Mantra. They are listed below.

Verses:

Om Sahana Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu

Sahaveeryam Karavavahai

Tejas Vinavati Tamastu ma vidhwishavahai

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Meaning: May the Almighty protect student and teacher and nourish the both of us together.

May the student and teacher work in sync with intensity and our learning be efficient and impressive.  And may there be no enmity between us. May there be peace for all.

3. Shanti Mantra

Verses:

Om sarveshaam swastir bhavatu

Sarveshaam shantir bhavatu

Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu

Sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu

Sarve bhavantu sukhinah

Sarve santu niraamayaah

Sarve bhadraani pashyantu

Maakaschit duhkha bhaag bhavet

Meaning: May auspiciousness, peace, fullness and prosperity be unto all, may all be happy and free from disabilities, may all look to the good of others, and may none suffer from sorrow.

4. Shanti Mantra

Verses:

Asatoma sad gamaya

Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya

Mrityor ma amritam gamaya

Om shanti, shanti, shanti hi

Meaning: Oh Lord, lead us from the unreal to real, darkness to the light and from death to immortality. May peace be with all.

5. Shanti Mantra

Verses:

Om poornamadah poornamidam

Poornaat poornamudachyate

Poornasya poornamaadaya

Poornamevaavashishyate

Om shanti, shanti, shanti hi

Meaning: That is the ultimate truth, the God. This is the absolute. Absolute rises above the absolute. Even when the absolute is taken out of the absolute, it still remains.

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6. Mooshika Vaahana Mantra

This mantra is for invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesha, who helps to eliminate obstacles in life.

Verses:

Mooshika vahana modaka hasta
Chamara karna vilambita sootra
Vamana roopa Maheswara putra
Vighna vinayaka paada namaste

Meaning: Salutations to the Lord Ganesha, who has a mouse for a vehicle and a modak in his hand. Your ears are like big fans and you wear a sacred thread. You’re short in stature and the son of Lord Maheshwara (Shiva). I bow to you Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles.

7. Guru Mantra

This mantra highlights the importance of teachers and equates them with the Hindu Trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh.

Verses:

Gurur brahmah gurur vishnu
Gurur devo maheshwaraha
Gurur saakshaat param brahmah
Tasmai shree guravey namaha

Meaning: The guru (teacher) is the living representative of the Holy Trinity in Hinduism – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. The teacher is the representative of the Supreme Being. He gives me knowledge and destroys ignorance. I salute such a guru.

8. Saraswathi Namasthubhyam Mantra

This shloka invokes the blessings of the Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of learning and wisdom.

Verses:

Saraswati namastubhyam varade kaamaroopini
Vidyaarambham karishhyaami siddhirbhavatu me sadaa

Meaning: Revered Goddess Saraswati, I prostrate before you as you are the one who can fulfil all my wishes. I am beginning my studies and ask you to bestow your grace upon me so that I am successful in my endeavour.

9. Manojavam Mantra

This shloka invokes the blessings of Lord Hanuman.

Verses:

Mano javam maruda thulya vegam
Jithendriyam buddhi maatham varishtam
Vathaatmajam vanara yudha mukhyam
Sree rama dootham charanam prapadhye

Meaning: I take refuge in Lord Hanuman. I pray and salute the one who is as fast as thought, is more powerful than the wind, has mastered his senses, is the wisest, is the son of the Wind God, is the commander of the monkey brigade, and Lord Ram’s messenger. I bow at your feet.

10. Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra, also called Savitri Mantra, is a Vedic chant from the Rig Veda. It is dedicated to the sun. Make your child recite it while standing under the early morning sun.

Verses:

Om bhur bhuva swaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

Meaning: We meditate on the glory of the vivifying Sun, whose divine light illuminates all realms – the physical, the mental and the spiritual. May your divine light illuminate our intellect.

11. Guravey Sarva Mantra

This is a mantra in praise of the Dakshinamoorthy (Lord Shiva).

Verses:

Guravey sarva lokaanaam
Bishajey bhava rohinaam
Nidhaye sarva vidyanaam
Shree dakshinaa moorthaye namaha

Meaning: We bow to the universal guru who is the teacher of the entire world and the healer of all diseases.

12. Vidyaarthee Sloka

Bow to Lord Ganesha with this sloka.

Verses:

Vidyaarthee lapathey vidyaam

Dhanaarthee lapathey dhanam

Puthraarthee lapathey puthraan

Mokshaarthee lapathey gathim

Meaning: Aspire for knowledge, you’ll get it; yearn for wealth, you’ll get it; ask for a child, you’ll get it; and strive for salvation, and you’ll reach it.

13. Vakrathunda Sloka

 The sloka is about seeking Lord Ganesha’s blessings for removing any obstacles on your path to success.

Verses:

Vakrathunda mahaakaaya

Suryakoti samaprabha

Nirvignam kurumey deva

Sarvakaryeshu sarvada

Meaning: O Lord with a curved trunk and huge body, and the brilliance of a million suns, I seek your blessings to grace my new beginning and remove all the obstacles as I begin to work.

Yaa Kundendu

 Pray to the Goddess of Knowledge, Saraswati, before you begin your lessons every day.

Verses:

Yaa kundendu tushaarahaara dhavalaa

Yaa shubhra vastraavritaa

Yaa veenaa varadanda manditakaraa

Yaa shveta padmaasanaa

Yaa brahmaachyuta shankara

Prabhritibihi devaih sadaa pujitaa

Saa maam pattu saravatee

Bhagavatee nihshesha jaadyaapahaa

Meaning: Goddess Saraswati is white like the moonlight, snow, and the pearl and is adorned in pure ivory white. Whilst she plays the veena with her two hands, she gives blessings with the other two hands or punishments when required. She is sitting on a beautiful white lotus. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped by all the divine lords Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the preserver and Maheshwara, the destroyer. May Goddess Saraswati remove any obstacles from my life and shelter me.

14. Sarva Kalyaani Mantra

A prayer to the Goddess for success and prosperity.

Verses:

Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvaartha saadhike

Sharanye trayambake Gauri Narayani namosthute

Meaning: O Goddess of all auspiciousness, who is so harmonious, the fulfiller of our objectives, the giver of refuge, who has three eyes and is in golden color, our salutations to you, Gauri Narayani.

15. Saraswati Namastubhyam

 Pray to the Goddess of Knowledge and seek her blessings for attaining wisdom.

Verses:

Saraswati namastubhyam varade kaamaruupini

Vidyaarambham karishhyaami siddhirbhavatu me sadaa

Meaning: My salutations to Goddess Saraswati. You bless and fulfill all our aspirations. As I am beginning my path to wisdom, I seek your blessings. May I accomplish my goals.

16. Hyagreevam Stuthi

Hayagreeva is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Children may recite this sloka before beginning their day at school.

Verses:

Gyaananandamayam devam

Nirmala spadikakruthim

Aadaram sarva vidyanaam

Hyagreevam upasmahe

Meaning: Salutations to Sri Hayagreeva, the Lord with a Horse face.  You are the presiding God for all the knowledge in the world. We offer our prayers to you; please bless us with knowledge and wisdom.

17. Deepam Sloka

This sloka is a prayer to the lamp.

Verses:

Shubham karoti kalyaanam

Aarogyam dhana sampadaa

Shatrubudhi vinaashaaya

Diipajyoti namoastute

 Meaning: The one who is our light, which brings auspiciousness, prosperity, sound health, abundant wealth, and destroys the intellect’s enemy, our salutations to you.

18. Lakshmi Sloka

This prayer is to seek the blessings of the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi.

Verses:

Namastestu mahamaye

Sripithe sura pujite,

Sankha chakra gada haste

Mahalaksmi namostute

Meaning: Salute to Mahalakshmi, who is the Cause of Creation, and who is worshipped by the Suras. Salute to the goddess who is adorned with the conch, disc and mace in her hands. I respectfully bow in front you.

19. Sastha Dasakam

 Here is a prayer to Ayyappa, the lord of Sabarimala.

 Verses:

Mattha mathanga gamanam

Karunyamrutha pooritham

Sarva vigna haram devam

Sastharam pranamamyaham

Meaning: Salutations to Lord Ayyappa, who gallops like an elephant, is filled with immense compassion, and is the destroyer of hurdles.

20. Bhoothanatha Sloka

Verses:

 Bhoothanatha sadananda

 Sarva bhootha daya para

 Raksha raksha maha baho

 Sasthre thubham namo nama

Meaning: Salutations to Lord Sastha, robust like an elephant and who is ever happy and is filled with mercy for all beings in this universe, the God who removes all obstacles.

Naturally, we humans are spiritual beings, as such, we love expressing our spirituality. It is very necessary to teach Kids the core of their faith right from early days. Accordingly, Slokas for kids are a great way to draw them to their faith. Any of the Slokas for kids above can be practiced at any time.

You can as well impart some souls by simply sharing this article with them.