In the Hindu religion, people have various ways of connecting to the supreme powers. Some of them believe in meditation, while some of them believe in hosting pujas and yagyas. Some even believe in donation while others visit some holy places. However, one common thing among all these methods of channeling is using mantras or stotras or shlokas for spiritual empowerment.
1. Mantram
This contains Beejaksharas such as OM, HREEM, SREEM, KREEM, and so on. In fact, there are mantras for all the different forms of God. The symbol of God is, in fact, the personification of mantra. They are power-packed syllables which produce a deep impact on the person. Mantras need to be handled carefully, and it should be utilized just after taking proper initiation from a Guru; for example, Gayatri Mantra, Om, and Shanti Mantra.
Gayatri mantra – meaning.
Every one of us meditates on that most adored Supreme Lord, the creator, whose effulgence, or divine light, illumines all realms, mental, physical and spiritual. So, we should let this divine light illuminate our intellect.
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra – meaning.
Here, we worship the three-eyed One, the Lord Shiva, who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings; We should let him liberate us from death, for the sake of immortality, and even as the cucumber gets severed from the bondage.
Shree Ganesh Mantra – meaning.
Salutations to the Supreme Lord Ganesha, who has a curved trunk and huge body that shines like a million suns and showers the blessings he gives on everyone. We should ask him to remove all the obstacles, always and forever, from all our activities and endeavors.
2. Stotra
This is depicted as an aspect of God in poetic form. It consists of Shlokas, and it is specific to a particular God. It can be masted with a focused practice; for example, Panchakshara Stotra, Ram Raksha Stotra.
Saraswati stotra – meaning.
Salutations to Devi Saraswati who is pure white like Jasmine, with the coolness of Moon, brightness of snow and shine like the garland of pearls; and who is also covered with pure white garments, whose hands are adorned with Veena (a stringed musical instrument) and the boon-giving staff; and who is also seated on pure white lotus, who is always adored by Lord Brahma, Lord Acyuta (Lord Vishnu), Lord Shankara and other devas, O Goddess Saraswati, Please Protect us and remove our ignorance completely.
Maa Laxmi Stotram – meaning.
Salutations to Mother Lakshmi, who always dwells in the body of Hari like an ornament of Ecstatic Delight; just like the bees that delightfully decorate the half-open flowers of the Tamala tree, who has also contained within her body the entire opulence of the Universe; May that glance bring auspiciousness in our life; that divine glance of the Mangala Devata.
Stuti
This one can be in prose form or also poetic form. It is the easiest one you can follow. Stuti may be done in several ways, such as by reciting mantra, or suktam, stotra, aarti’s, and bhajan.
Laxmi Stuti – meaning.
I worshipfully salute Devi Mahalakshmi, who is the Mahamaya, and who is also worshiped in Sri Pitha by the Suras. I worshipfully salute her who is adorned in her beautiful form with Shankha (conch), chakra (disc) and Gada (mace) in her hands; I worshipfully salute Devi Mahalakshmi.
Shloka
This is a poetic verse which is created based on a particular meter on any particular topic. There may also be Shlokas on Gods who depict a particular aspect or mahatmya of God. They may even be shlokas on general topics, as well. Most of the Hindu structures are written in forms of slokas such as Mahabharata, Ramayana & Upanishads.
The six syllable mantra is the most well known mantra. It is used to purify certain areas in a person such as pride, jealousy, desire, ignorance/prejudice, greed, and hatred. Our bracelet is a beautiful real clear quartz crystal in its purest form with its main cylinder center bead exquisitely etched with the 6-syllable mantra.
