Prabhata shlokam (Morning Mantras)


Karagre Vasate Lakshmi
Kara Mule Saraswathi
Kara Madhye Tu Govindah
Prabate Kara Darshanam
Sanskrit to English Word Meaning
Karagre-on the tip of your fingers; vasate- dwells; Lakshmi- the Goddess of Prosperity, Lakshmi; karamule- on the base of your hands; Saraswathi- the Goddess of Knowledge Saraswathi; karamadhye- in the middle of your hands; tu-whereas; Govindah-the Lord Govindah; prabhate-in the morning; karadarshanam-look at your palm.
Translation
On the tip of your fingers is Goddess Lakshmi; on the base of your fingers is Goddess Sarasvati; in the middle of your fingers is Lord Govinda. In this manner, look at your palm
Brief Explanation
This is a Morning Prayer called “karadarshana”. One begins the day with this prayer. ‘kara” means the palm of the hand and it stands for the five karmendriyas, or the organs of action. While looking at the palm, one invokes the Lord in the form of various deities, thus sanctifying all the actions that will be done during the day. By acknowledging the Lord as the giver of the capacity to perform actions and as the giver of the fruits of those actions, one sanctifies the actions. Thus, one prays in the morning to reinforce the attitude that all actions are performed as a service to the Lord.
Samudravasane Devi Parvatastanamandale
Vishnupatni Namastubhyam Padasparsham Kshamasva Me
Translation
The ocean is your clothing, the mountain, your bosom, I am about to step on You, so please forgive me.
Brief Explanation
The Earth is as great as our Mother. Hence it is called Mother Land. The food, the shelter, the water and the air all that we need we get from the Earth only. She fondles the mankind with motherly affection. So this humble prayer of gratitude is offered to her before we step on her.