Prayer is an integral part of Hinduism, as it is viewed as holding immense power.
Prayer is a way of connecting with the deities, expressing love and devotion, and seeking blessings.
In ancient Vedic times, elaborate rituals involved chanting mantras or prayers to seek God's blessings for individual desires or community well-being. For example, the Shanti Mantra sought peace, health, and well-being for all.
Prayer is practiced during Hindu worship (puja), and is an expression of devotion (Bhakti). The chanting of mantras is the most common form of Hindu worship. Other Vedas are liturgical texts, such as mantras and hymns, and Stuti is an umbrella term for religious literary creations, but it literally means "praise."
Hindu devotional Bhakti traditions focus on repetitive prayer, known as japa. Devotees repeat mantras (sacred syllables) to connect with specific deities. For example, chanting "Om Namah Shivaya" invokes Lord Shiva. Japa is central to Bhakti traditions, focusing on personal forms of gods and goddesses, such as Vishnu's avatars, most notably Rama and Krishna, Shiva, or Shiva's sons, Kartikeya and Ganesha, as well as Mahadevi, the supreme goddess, and her forms, such as Lakshmi or Kali.
Puja worship rituals involve offerings, incense, flowers, and lamps to deities at home shrines or temples. Puja can be elaborate or simple.
Rare today, Vedit rituals known as Yagnas involve offerings in sacrificial fires (havans) to purify the body, mind, and environment. Specific yagnas exist for various life occasions.
Each day of the week is devoted to a specific deity or deities. Rituals, including fasting and prayer, honor these gods and goddesses. For example, Monday (Somvar) is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati, while Tuesday (Mangalvar) honors Lord Hanuman, and Wednesday (Budhvar) is for Lord Krishna and Lord Vihal.
Nitya rituals are daily offerings at home shrines or performing puja to family deities, and Naimittika rituals occur during specific times, such as festivals, while Kamya rituals are optional, but desirable practices.
To someone in the West, Buddhist and Hindu prayer might seem similar, and they may be in some ways, but there are differences. While Hindu prayer often centers on specific deities, Buddhist prayer emphasizes inner states of being and aspirations. Hindu prayer seeks blessings from the gods, while Buddhist prayer focuses on inner transformation and compassion. Both Hindu and Buddhist prayers offer unique paths to spiritual growth, connecting individuals with the divine or inner wisdom.
This category focuses on Hindu prayer.
Recommended Resources
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha: Prayer
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, an organization that focuses on spiritual and humanitarian activities, made the form available. The form allows visitors to the website to enter their name, city, and country, along with a prayer in English, Devanagari, or Gujarati. Prayers submitted on this page will be printed and offered during Mahapuja at Akshar Deri. The site defines prayer as our communication with God, and offers additional information on the nature of prayer.
https://www.baps.org/Prayer.aspx
Hindu Prayer and Cultural Center
HPCC is a registered non-profit organization in Washington State. Its purpose is to provide educational information to the Sanatan Hindu Dharma community on topics such as Sanatan Vedic Hindu prayer, Veda recitation, art culture, yoga, pranayama meditation, music, dance, drama, literature, and languages. In Sanatan Dharma, prayers are done in various forms, all under the rubric of prayer, each for a different reason, which is discussed here, along with the text of several.
https://www.hinduprayer.org/
Mahalakshmi Devasthanam, the Hindu Temple of Delaware, is dedicated to the Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. This section of the website features some of the prayers and stotras that are sung while offering Arati to God. Understanding the meaning of the prayers is important in order to communicate with God appropriately and receive His blessings. For this reason, the English meaning of the prayers is provided below each prayer. Sponsorships are acknowledged on the site.
https://hindutemplede.org/prayers/
Hindus worship several deities, such as Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Hanuman, Krishna, Devi Laxmi, Parvati, and so on. Many prayers are dedicated to various deities, and these prayers are further divided into groups, such as Aartis, Shlokas, Stotras, Bhajans, Mantras, and Songs. This section of the Hinduism Facts site classifies these different types according to the deities they are dedicated to. These prayers are presented in various languages, as well as in English.
https://www.hinduismfacts.org/hindu-prayers/
Indif Technologies is an Indian resource for information, spirituality, food, and children. India is traditionally a land of spirituality and faith. Currently, India is a secular state in which religion plays a major role in the daily life of its people, with rituals, worship, prayer, and other religious activities prominent in an individual's life. Prayer is an integral part of the Hindu religion. This is a collection of Hindu prayers and articles related to prayers common in Hinduism.
https://www.indif.com/nri/hindu_prayers.asp
Temple Purohit: Mantras, Slokas & Stotras
Temple Purohit is an online spiritual destination for Hindus that provides in-depth and original resources on Hinduism's beliefs, philosophy, and essential practices. This section of the website highlights Hindu mantras, slokas, and stotras. Combined with the sound elements and the essence of what is being recited, mantras can transform individuals leading to power and strength. Multiple mantras are featured on the website, and an Android application can be downloaded from Google Play.
https://www.templepurohit.com/mantras-slokas-stotras/
