In the first place, unusual and unprecedented times have hit all of us.

Of course, A lot has been said and a lot is getting discussed too. Here, I’m not repeating the same. My 2 cents are to keep praying and keep thanking for all who are working for us, be it Doctors, nurses, and health workers who are sanitizing and helping people heal, police and defense who are not sitting insides but protecting internal and external borders and keeping cities safe and helping protect families. The FMCG providers, grocery and fresh providers who are trying there best to keep supplies in stock. I salute them for everything they are doing for the nation.

As PM Modi said in his speech yesterday we need to do mangal Kamna for the nation as well as the world as a whole. At the same time, We need to pray together for a better and healthy world that breathes together and lives together. Just sharing with you all simple to do 5-minute shlokas which is very very possible with family in times of quarantine.

image courtesy – whatsapp

As a matter of fact, Chanting mantras have a very positive effect on us. Equally important is that chanting Mantras have healing powers and it helps calm the mind. It regulates the breath and thus helps in numerous health benefits.

Sharing simple meanings of the Gayatri mantra, Mahamrityunjay Mantra, Patanjali mantra, and Shanti mantra.

Gayatri Mantra

ॐ ॐ ॐ
ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः
तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्

Om bhur bhuvah svaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yona prachodayat

Meaning:
I reflect on the unity of Divine Spirit, which pervades everything in the earth, the atmosphere, and the heavens.
May this Supreme Consciousness protect me and illuminate my intellect that I may realize my inherent oneness with That.
I meditate on the great luminous light that enlightens all three worlds.
May it enlighten all.

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

Om Try-Ambakam Yajaamahe
Sugandhim Pusstti-Vardhanam
Urvaarukam-Iva Bandhanaan
Mrtyor-Mukssiiya Maa-[A]mrtaat ||

Meaning:
1: Om, We Worship the Tryambaka (the Three-Eyed One),
2: Who is Fragrant (as the Spiritual Essence), Increasing the Nourishment (of our Spiritual Core);
3: From these many Bondages (of Samsara) similar to Cucumbers (tied to their Creepers),
4: May I be Liberated from Death (Attachment to Perishable Things), So that I am not separated from the perception of Immortality (Immortal Essence pervading everywhere).

Shanti Mantra

ॐ सह नाववतु ।
सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

May we be protected together.
May we be nourished together.
May we create strength among one another.
May our study be filled with brilliance and light.
May there be no hostility between us.
Om peace, peace, peace.

Meaning

1: Om, May God Protect us Both (the Teacher and the Student) (during the journey of awakening our Knowledge),
2: May God Nourish us Both (with that spring of Knowledge which nourishes life when awakened),
3: May we Work Together with Energy and Vigour (cleansing ourselves with that flow of energy for the Knowledge to manifest),
4: May our Study be Enlightening (taking us towards the true Essence underlying everything), and not giving rise to Hostility (by constricting the understanding of the Essence in a particular manifestation only),
5: Om, Peace, Peace, Peace (be there in the three levels – Adhidaivika, Adhibhautika, and Adhyatmika).

Patanjali Sloka

योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां ।
मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन ॥
योऽपाकरोत्तमं प्रवरं मुनीनां ।
पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोऽस्मि ॥

Meaning:
1. I bow down to him who purifies the impurities) of the Mind (by removing the Chitta Vrittis) by Yoga, (who purifies the expression of)
2. and (who purifies the) impurities of the Body through Vaidya (Medical Science),
3. He who is an expert in removing (the impurities of the Body, Mind, and Speech), to that most excellent of Munis,
4. (Who is) Patanjali, I bow down with folded hands.

Try and teach as well as practice yoga with your kids. Check out some easy yoga poses to be done with your kids here.

Hindu New Year – Gudi Padwa

In the light of, Gudi Padwa the day when the Hindu calendar celebrates its new year, it felt like starting afresh. With this reason in mind, I felt this is the day to start self-cleaning as well as self-healing with family. In these unprecedented times, we surely are into creating a new healthy world for all of us. Don’t panic and practice social distancing and quarantine with prayers in mind for healing the world.

The Hindu New Year is also known as the Vikram Samvat. On this day, the sun is found to be at the point just above the intersection of the equator and the meridians. This day also marks the beginning of the season of spring or the Vasanta Ritu. According to the Brahma Purana, the New Year marks the day when Lord Brahma recreated the entire world after the previous Pralaya or Great Deluge. Time, hence, was created anew on this day.