Morning Mantras: Connecting with the Divine in the Early Hours

Pratah Kara Darshanam is a tradition practiced by many at the dawn of each day. This practice is not just a ritual but a profound method to connect with the divine, beginning the day with a sense of gratitude, reverence, and spiritual focus.

One of the most fundamental and widely practiced mantras is Waheguru Waheguru. Reciting this mantra helps to filter out the noise of daily life and remember that there is ek onkar, one divine creator, present in everyone and everything. This devotional practice is easy to incorporate into your morning routine and can yield quick results, as it clears the mind and instills a sense of purpose for the day ahead.

Early Morning Mantras are deeply personalized and can be tailored to individual spiritual needs and traditions. Here, we explore some of the mantras and prayers that are often recited in the early morning:

Morning Prayers

Upon waking, the first set of mantras focuses on recognizing the divine within the hands and the wider environment:

Opening Your Palms

Repeating the following mantra while looking at your palms:

Karaagrae Vasatae Lakshmihi
Karamadhyae Saraswathi
Kara Moolaethu Govindaha

This practice symbolizes acknowledging the presence of Lakshmi (goddess of prosperity), Saraswathi (goddess of knowledge), and Govinda (Krishna) within the body. Joining the palms together with the declaration Prabhathae Kara Darshanam further reinforces the symbolic gesture of reverence and honest labor.

Placing One's Feet on the Floor

Before placing one's feet on the ground, the following prayer is offered:

Samudra Vasanae Devi
Parvatha Stana Manadithae
Vishnu Patri Namahastubhya
Paadasparsham Kshamaswa Mae

Here, one acknowledges the divine as the ocean and mountains, and seeks forgiveness for the act of treading, which is a way of showing reverence and gratitude to the spiritual world.

Bathing or Showering

While bathing or showering, this prayer evokes the cleansing of not just the body but of the mind, intellect, and body:

Gangae’cha Yamunae Chaiva Godavari Saraswathi
Narmade’ Sindhu Kaaveri Jalaesmin Sannidhim Kuru

By visualizing the water as the sacred rivers of India, one seeks to purify oneself spiritually as well as physically.

Prayer Before Meals

This prayer before meals is a declaration of gratitude and recognition of the divine in the act of sustenance:

Om Brahmar’panam Brahma Havir
Brahmaghnau Brahmana Hutam
Brahmeva Taen Gantavyam
Brahmagit-samtanuma

By chanting this mantra, one acknowledges that the food being offered is a part of the divine and that the act of eating is through the grace of the deity.

Prayer Before Dawn and Dusk

The Gayatri Mantra, one of the most revered hymns in Hinduism, is often recited at the time of dawn and dusk. This 24-syllable mantra is meant to invoke the divine light:

Om Bhur Bhuvaha Swaha
Om Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat

It is recommended to commune with this mantra a minimum of ten times, 108, or even 1008 times, depending on one's sankalpa or pledge. It is important to sit on a cushion or mat such as a deer skin and kusha grass while chanting to avoid sitting directly on the floor.

Conclusion

The practice of morning mantras not only helps in spiritual growth but also serves as a reminder to treat everything around with reverence and gratitude. These mantras, when practiced regularly, can profoundly shape one's perspective and enhance spiritual well-being. By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can embark on a beautiful journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.

Keywords

Morning mantras, Spiritual practices, Early morning prayers