Sloka is a term derived from Sanskrit. Sloka is a verse, phrase, proverb or hymn of praise dedicated to the God. Shlokas are usually composed in a specific meter. Sloka is a verse of two lines, each of sixteen syllables.

Sloka usually forms the part of Hindu prayers. Shloka can also be attributed to specific Gods and Goddesses.

What is Sloka
Sloka is a powerful prayer which conveys the dignity and the omnipotence of God. Sanskrit Shlokas describe God in different forms and their celestial powers. People, who sincerely recite these verses and invoke the God mentally, attain a steady and peaceful mind.

Shloka forms the part of ''Stotras'' which are dedicated to Gods as prayers. Slokas are the primary verses from Mahabharata and Ramayana, the great epics of Indian Mythology. In this section, we are covering the following slokas:

Sloka is a term derived from Sanskrit. Sloka is a verse, phrase, proverb or hymn of praise dedicated to the God. Shlokas are usually composed in a specific meter. Sloka is a verse of two lines, each of sixteen syllables.

Sloka usually forms the part of Hindu prayers. Shloka can also be attributed to specific Gods and Goddesses.

What is Sloka
Sloka is a powerful prayer which conveys the dignity and the omnipotence of God. Sanskrit Shlokas describe God in different forms and their celestial powers. People, who sincerely recite these verses and invoke the God mentally, attain a steady and peaceful mind.

Shloka forms the part of ''Stotras'' which are dedicated to Gods as prayers. Slokas are the primary verses from Mahabharata and Ramayana, the great epics of Indian Mythology. In this section, we are covering the following slokas:

Bedtime is the time when people want to relax themselves after the long hectic schedules of the day. It is considerable to remember God at such time. Following Bedtime Sloka / Shloka is a bedtime prayer of the Hindus.

Meaning: The literal meaning of the mantra is: "O God, kindly pardon my incorrect actions done consciously or unconsciously, either through my organs of action (hand, feet, and speech) or through my organs of perception (eyes, ears) or by my mind. I adore the God, who is the ocean of kindness".

Significance: By God's grace, we have completed one more day of our life. So, in order to thank god and to ask for his mercy, one can recite this Sloka. This bedtime Sloka is a prayer to God asking him to excuse our mistakes and maintain his mercy on us.

Slokas are verses in the praise of God. Shlokas from Bhagwad Gita are renowned for their massive power. Gita Slokas bring the idea of spirituality to our mind. Slokas of Bhagavad Gita can be recited in order to get the peace of mind. Daily chant of these slokas, with their meanings kept in the mind, makes the person aware about the fact of material world and the celestial world. Gita Slokas tell about the eternal divine world which is pure and serene. These slokas make the person realize the purpose, for what he/she has come in this world.

Following are some of the Slokas from Bhagavad Gita with their meanings:

"Cancalam Hi Manah Krsna Pramathi Balavaddrdham
Tasyaham Nigraham Manye Vayoriva Suduskaram"

This Sloka states that the Individual self is the traveler in the chariot of the material body and the intelligence is the driver. Mind is the driving instrument and the senses are the horses. Thus, the self is the enjoyer or sufferer in the relationship of the mind and senses.

The Sloka says that God is detached and passionless strength of the dominant and the virtuous craving in men.

This Shloka tells that God is the only source of all good (satva), obsessive (rajas) and dark (tamas) elements still, they are not within the God nor the deity is within them.

This Sloka states that the whole world is engrossed in the three elements of Satva, Raja, and Tama .This is the reason, people don't recognize the Eternal God who is beyond them.

The Shloka states that the celestial maya of God with its threefold attributes is very complex. Yet, those who worship God are able to conquer it.

This Shloka says that people who are attracted by maya of God lose their mind. They get fascinated by the baser impulses and stop worshipping God. These people are stupid and evil who don't even understand that all these things are part of the web created by the Almighty.

This Sloka says that there are four kinds of good people who worship god, those who desire earthly gains, those who are suffering, those who seek knowledge and those who possess wisdom.

This Shloka tells that out of the devotees, there are some wise people who want something in return and the people who don't expect any fruit in return of the worship. God loves the people who don't expect anything in return as their love towards the god is true.

This Sloka states that all those who worship God are commendable. But the outstanding devotees, who worship God with the single motive to merge in the God, are the true devotees who have achieved the highest aim of life.

Durga symbolizes the power of the Supreme Being that maintains moral order and justice in the universe. Durga is also known as "Shakti". Worship of the goddess Shakti is very popular among the Hindu people. Durga stands for the unified symbol of all divine forces; Strength, Morality, Power, Protector. Slokas on Goddess Durga form the part of prayers offered to the goddess. Durga (Devi) Shlokas / Slokas are as follows:

Meaning: Goddess Durga is omnipresent. She is the personification of Universal Mother. She is a Mother, who is present everywhere and who is embodiment of power and energy. Great mother, who is present everywhere and who is embodiment of Peace. I bow to that mother, I bow to Durga, I bow to Shakti.

Durga (Devi) Stuti

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who dwells in all creatures in the name of Maya of Vishnu.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Devi, who abides in all creatures as realization.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who dwells in all creatures in the form of intelligence.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Devi, who lives in all creatures in the form of sleep.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who dwells in all creatures in the form of appetite.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who lives in all creatures in the form of meditation and reflection.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Devi, who dwells in all creatures in the form of Shakti, the creative power.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who dwells in all creatures in the form of thirst.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Devi, who lives in all creatures in the merciful form.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who dwells in all creatures in the form of race.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Devi, who lives in all creatures in the modest form.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who dwells in all creatures in the form of peace (Shanti).

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who lives in all creatures in the form of unshakable faith (Shraddha).

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who lives in all creatures in the form of beauty or brilliance (Kaanti).

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who dwells in all creatures in the prosperous form.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Devi, who dwells in all creatures in the form of motion.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who lives in all creatures in the form of memory.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Devi, who dwells in all creatures in the form of mercy or kindness (Dayaa).

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who lives in all creatures in the form of satisfaction.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Devi, who lives in all creatures in the form of Mother.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who dwells in all creatures in the form of illusion (Bhram).

Meaning: I bow again and again to the all pervading goddess, who continuously controls the senses of all creatures and governs all elements.

Meaning: I bow again and again to the Goddess, who pervades this world and controls in the form of awareness.

Early Morning is considered as the best time to worship God. Early morning is also known as "Brahma Mahurat" in the Hindu Mythology. It is regarded that prayers made at this time reach directly to the God. Early Morning Shloka (Sloka) is given here which also serves as the first prayer of the day to the almighty.

Meaning: The front part of the hands (the finger tips) is credited to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. The middle part or palm is credited to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and the root (the part of hand near the wrist) to Govinda. So, every morning, one should have a reverent look at one's hand which represents sincere labor.

I bow to Mother Earth, who has mountains and jungles on her body and whose clothing is made by the ocean. The wife of Lord Vishnu, please pardon me for touching you with my feet.

It is considered propitious to start the day with this sincere prayer.

Lord Ganesha is the one of the most popular gods of the Hindu Religion. Ganesh is known as the eradicator of obstacles and god of beginnings. Lord Ganesha is considered as the first god to be worshipped. Slokas on Lord Ganesha form the part of prayers offered to the lord. Here is a collection of Ganesha Shlokas:

Meaning: Lord Ganesha always dressed in white represents purity. He is omnipresent with gray complexion like that of ash glowing with spiritual splendor. The Lord with bright countenance has four arms. I meditate on the God who can destroy all obstacles whether material or spiritual.

Meaning: Lord Ganesha has a curved trunk with a powerful body. He has the brilliance of a million suns. May the Lord, remove all the problems from the actions I aim to achieve.

Meaning: Obeisance to Lord Ganesha, the one tusked, huge-bodied, big-bellied, and large-eyed God, whose complexion is like that of molten gold. I surrender myself to such great lord.

Meaning: The lord, for whom Lord Vishnu is the Uncle, whose mother is the divine auspicious one, Parvati and whose father is Lord Shiva. I offer salutations to Sri Ganesha, the Omkara.

Meaning: The Lord Sri Prasanna Vinaayaka, who lives in his Temple of Pearland; one who removes all obstacles of all his devotees at all times; one who has the Omkara face of the elephant. I pray to the divine Ganesha.

Meaning: Lord Ganesha, the elephant faced is like sun to the lotus face of Mother Parvati. The single tusked Ganesha is the giver of boons. I salute the great lord to grant us a boon.

Meaning: The Lord of spiritual faith, son of Lord Shiva, is the wisest among the wise. Ganesha has no comparison. He is the senior Lord of the Vedic mantras, who listens to the devotee's prayers. I invite Lord Ganesha to visit my home with prosperous things and be seated here.

Bathing is a time when people take a shower to shed the physical impurities and dirt of their body. Following is the Shloka/ Sloka for a Holy Bath, which can be recited while taking a bath.

Meaning: The literal meaning of this mantra is: "In this water, I invoke the presence of divine waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. These rivers are considered as goddesses and I pray to them for considering me for their blessings.

Significance: God has given us a beautiful life to live and has created this beautiful world. There are massive rivers and oceans in it. Many rivers like, Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati etc have their own significance. Taking bath in these rivers is considered auspicious. So, reciting this Sloka with a sincere heart brings you the benefit of taking bath in these rivers.

Lord Krishna is one of the most popular and worshipped deities among the Hindus. Krishna represents knowledge, wisdom, beauty and opulence. Shri Krishna is the very embodiment of love and divine ecstasy that destroys all pain and offense. Sloka on Krishna forms the part of prayers offered to the lord. Here is a list of Krishna Slokas / Shlokas:

Meaning: Krishna is the Supreme Lord, Son of Devaki (Sister of Kansa) and Vasudeva. He is the slayer of Kansa and Chanur. I bow to such great lord and may god bless me with his grace always.

Meaning: Lord Krishna is great. Just as every rain drop that falls from the sky flows into the Ocean, in the same way every prayer offered to any deity flows to Lord Krishna. I bow to such great Lord Krishna.

Goddess Parvati is the divine consort of Lord Shiva, the destroyer. Gauri represents virtue, fertility, marital felicity, asceticism and power, as per the Hindu mythology. Parvati is worshipped by women of all ages and is considered as an auspicious goddess. Slokas on Hindu goddess Parvati form the part of prayers offered to the goddess. Parvati Slokas / Shlokas are as follows:

Meaning: Goddess Parvati is the auspiciousness of all that is auspicious. She is the consort of Lord Shiva, who grants every desire of one's heart. I adore such Devi Parvati, who loves all her children. I bow to the great mother, who has given refuge to me.

Meaning: Goddess Parvati is the mother and the divine father is Shiva. The devotees are the children. The world is the creation of these divine beings and we live on the land of such celestial beings.

Lord Rama is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, as per the Hindu Mythology. Ram symbolizes morality, virtue and idealism. Rama Slokas form part of prayers offered to the lord. Slokas on Lord Rama are as follows:

Meaning: Lord Hari is also called as Rama and he is beyond all cause. This whole world is a part of his Maya. Lord Ram is the only one, with whose essence everything shines as real (though in reality it is false) where snake is misapprehended as a rope and whose feet are a boat to those who aspire to cross the ocean of Samsara, the relative existence. I surrender myself to such great Lord.

Meaning: Lord Rama, the beloved King is the root of the tree of all Dharma. He is the full moon, giving delight to the ocean of Viveka or discrimination and the sun for the lotus of Vairagya. He is the destroyer of sin, the dispeller of the darkness of ignorance and the destroyer of pain. In the act of destroying the masses of clouds, of delusion he acts like wind. I bow to the Lord, who is propitious and who brought death to the disgrace to the Brahmin family of Ravana.

Meaning: Lord Rama has a lotus like beautiful face. His beauty neither gets enhanced at the coronation nor fades at the hardships of an exile in the forest. May Lord bless me with all auspicious.

Meaning: Lord Rama is the chief amongst the Raghus. His handsome body is of dark blue color like the blue lotus. He has Sita seated on his left. He is the one, who wields a beautiful bow and arrows in his hands. I bow to such great Lord.

Saraswati is the goddess of arts, music, knowledge, and wisdom. Saraswati is considered as the divine consort of Lord Brahma, the Creator of the universe as per the Hindu Religion. Saraswati is regarded as the destroyer of chaos and confusion. Slokas on Saraswati form the part of prayers offered to the goddess. Saraswati Slokas/ Shlokas are as follows:

Meaning: Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, is praised by the intelligent who have mastered the Shastra (scriptures). She is the wife of the Creator. May she live on my tongue.

Meaning: I bow to Goddess Saraswati, who fulfills the wishes of the devotees. I pray her to enlighten me with knowledge.

Meaning: Saraswati is the provider of boons and the one, who grants all our desires. As I begin my studies, I bow to the Goddess to help me in making it fruitful and make me successful in all my efforts.

Lord Shiva or Siva is considered as the destroyer of the world. Shiva is one of the most popular gods of the Hindu religion. Shiva is also a kind-hearted god who blesses people. Sloka on Lord Shiva forms the part of prayers offered to the lord. Following is the Shloka for invoking Lord Shiva or Shiva Sloka:

Meaning: Lord Shiva is seated on Mount Kailash; his forehead is decked with the moon and the king of serpents as a crown. The lord is full of compassion and the remover of illusion. Shiva is the only protector. I surrender myself to such great Lord Shiv-Shankar.

Eating is an important activity, which is required in order to live. It is God, who has created each and every thing. Food, hunger, living beings, all of them form the part of God's creation. One should remember God, the omnipresent, who has given both, sweet and sour delicacies to satisfy our taste-buds. Following is the Sloka/ Shloka which can be recited while eating or taking your food.

Meaning: The accurate meaning of this mantra is: "A practice of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the device of offering is Brahman, and the fire (hunger) to which the offering is made, is also Brahman. For such a one, who abides in everything (Brahman), by him alone Brahman is reached".

Significance: Brahman refers to God himself. This Shloka suggests that god is everywhere, in the food, inside the devotee and even the hunger is God. So, devotee is taking the food (God) to the hunger (God). To put succinctly, we always thank god for his divine grace.

Light is considered as a symbol of auspiciousness, prosperity and abundance in the Hindu religion. Light brings brightness with it and removes the darkness. Light makes it possible to see things clearly. Following Sloka / Shloka can be recited while lighting the lamp. This prayer is also known ''deepa shlokam''.

Meaning: The accurate meaning of the mantra is: "I fold my hands before the light that brings prosperity, auspiciousness, good health, abundance of wealth and destruction of the enemy's intellect". Here, Darkness symbolizes enemy's intellect and with the arrival of light, darkness disappears. Likewise, light (God's Grace) destroys darkness (enemy's intellect).

Meaning: The literal meaning of the mantra is: "I fold my hands before the lord, the maintainer of this creation, in the form of this light. I adore this light, which destroys all the pains resulting from my omissions and commissions".

Lord Vishnu is considered as the chief god in Hindu religion and Indian mythology. Vishnu, the preserver, forms the part of trinity gods. Vishnu Slokas form the part of prayers offered to the lord. Vishnu Slokas/ Shlokas are as follows:

Meaning: The literal meaning of the mantra is: "I offer everything to Lord Vishnu (Narayana); whatever I do with my body, words, mind, limbs, intellect or my inner self whether intentionally or unintentionally. I bow to the great lord, Vishnu".

Meaning: Lord Vishnu is the personification of peace, who rests on the Shesha Naag. The Narayana, from whose navel the Lotus springs and whose complexion is swarthy like the clouds. The God, who is the beloved of Goddess Lakshmi, whose body shines with divine splendor and whose eyes are like Lotus. I bow to the lord, Vishnu Narayana, who is meditated upon by the yogis and who is the remover of the fear of the world-cycle.