17 Shlokas For Kids To Learn

Chanting of shlokas has been prevalent in Indian culture for hundreds of centuries. It is the recitation of words that have spiritual meaning. The soothing words in shlokas create a positive environment and help us calm down, releasing our stress and anxiety. Introducing kids to shlokas can improve their concentration and help them focus. Reciting shlokas is a good habit that children must learn; therefore, parents should teach it right from childhood. Let’s read some shlokas for kids below, but before that, let’s take a look at what shlokas are.

What Are Slokas?

Shlokas are Sanskrit verse, proverb, hymn or poem that uses a specific meter. Shlokas are considered to be the basis for epic Indian poetry, as their use is widespread in traditional Sanskrit poems. “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata” are famous texts written entirely in shlokas.

Why Are Shlokas Beneficial for Kids?

Chanting shlokas positively affects the cognitive functioning of the brain. Their other benefits are:

1. Improve Concentration and Memory

Studies have shown that chanting shlokas helps to improve concentration and memory power in children. That’s because shlokas emit vibrations that activate the chakras (on the face and head) that play a role in learning and focus.

2. Reduce Stress

Chanting shlokas also reduces stress and improves the portions of the brain that develop the traits of patience and empathy.

3. Keep the Respiratory System Healthy

When kids chant shlokas, their breathing slows down. They’re able to take deep breaths and hold it for a few seconds. This regulates the functioning of the lungs and keeps the heart healthy.

4. Improve Your Child’s Immunity

Certain mantras put pressure on your child’s tongue, vocal cords, lips and other connected organs. The vibration also stimulates the hypothalamus gland, which regulates the secretion of hormones and improves immunity.

5. Help to Align the Chakras

Each of us has seven chakras, which are responsible for our health and well-being. If they’re out of equilibrium, we tend to fall sick more often. Chanting shlokas can help to align your child’s chakras and prevent him from infections.

6. Give a Boost to the Blood Flow

Regular recitation of shlokas gives a boost to your child’s blood circulation and gets rid of the toxins.

Also Read: Good Manners to Teach Your Kids

Shlokas for Children With Meanings

Here are 17 Sanskrit shlokas for kids (with meanings) that your children can easily memorise and chant.

1. Shanti Mantra

This is the first Shanti mantra; it’s a good shloka for kids. It’s meaningful and also easy to chant. The Shanti Mantra is a prayer of peace from the Upanishads.

Shloka

Asatoma sad gamaya
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
Mrityor ma amritam gamaya
Om shanti, shanti, shanti hi

Meaning: Lead me to truth from ignorance, lead me to light from the darkness, lead me to immortality from death. Let there be peace.

2. Shanti Mantra

This is the second Shanti mantra.

Shloka

Om sahana vavatu sahanau bhunaktu
Sahaveeryam karavavahai
Tejas vinavati tamastu ma vidhwishavahai
Om shanti shanti shanti hi

Meaning: May God protect us both, the teacher and the student, on our journey towards attaining knowledge. May He nourish us. May we work together with great energy. May our studies be enlightening and brilliant. May there be no hate or hostility among us. Let there be peace in me, in nature, and in the divine force.

3. Shanti Mantra

This is the third of the four Shanti mantras.

Shloka

Om sarveshaam swastir bhavatu
Sarveshaam shantir bhavatu
Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu
Sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah
Sarve santu niraamayaah
Sarve bhadraani pashyantu
Maakaschit duhkha bhaag bhavet

Meaning: May auspiciousness, peace, and prosperity be unto all. May everybody be happy and free from disabilities. May all strive for the good of others, and none suffer from sorrow.

4. Shanti Mantra

This is the fourth Shanti mantra that kids can chant every day.

Shloka

Om poornamadah poornamidam
Poornaat poornamudachyate
Poornasya poornamaadaya
Poornamevaavashishyate
Om shanti, shanti, shanti hi

Meaning: God is the ultimate truth. The absolute rises above the absolute. Even when the absolute is taken away from the absolute, it remains.

5. Mooshika Vaahana Mantra

This mantra is for invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesha, who helps to eliminate obstacles in life.

Shloka

Mooshika vahana modaka hasta
Chamara karna vilambita sootra
Vamana roopa Maheswara putra
Vighna vinayaka paada namaste

Meaning: Salutations to the Lord Ganesha, who has a mouse for a vehicle and a modak in his hand. Your ears are like big fans and you wear a sacred thread. You’re short in stature and the son of Lord Maheshwara (Shiva). I bow to you Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles.

6. Guru Mantra

This mantra highlights the importance of teachers and equates them with the Hindu Trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh.

Shloka

Gurur brahmah gurur vishnu
Gurur devo maheshwaraha
Gurur saakshaat param brahmah
Tasmai shree guravey namaha

Meaning: The guru (teacher) is the living representative of the Holy Trinity in Hinduism – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. The teacher is the representative of the Supreme Being. He gives me knowledge and destroys ignorance. I salute such a guru.

7. Saraswathi Namasthubhyam Mantra

This shloka invokes the blessings of the Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of learning and wisdom.

Shloka

Saraswati namastubhyam varade kaamaroopini
Vidyaarambham karishhyaami siddhirbhavatu me sadaa

Meaning: Revered Goddess Saraswati, I prostrate before you as you are the one who can fulfil all my wishes. I am beginning my studies and ask you to bestow your grace upon me so that I am successful in my endeavour.

8. Manojavam Mantra

This shloka invokes the blessings of Lord Hanuman.

Shloka

Mano javam maruda thulya vegam
Jithendriyam buddhi maatham varishtam
Vathaatmajam vanara yudha mukhyam
Sree rama dootham charanam prapadhye

Meaning: I take refuge in Lord Hanuman. I pray and salute the one who is as fast as thought, is more powerful than the wind, has mastered his senses, is the wisest, is the son of the Wind God, is the commander of the monkey brigade, and Lord Ram’s messenger. I bow at your feet.

9. Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra, also called Savitri Mantra, is a Vedic chant from the Rig Veda. It is dedicated to the sun. Make your child recite it while standing under the early morning sun.

Shloka

Om bhur bhuva swaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

Meaning: We meditate on the glory of the vivifying Sun, whose divine light illuminates all realms – the physical, the mental and the spiritual. May your divine light illuminate our intellect.

10. Guravey Sarva Mantra

This is a mantra in praise of the Dakshinamoorthy (Lord Shiva).

Shloka

Guravey sarva lokaanaam
Bishajey bhava rohinaam
Nidhaye sarva vidyanaam
Shree dakshinaa moorthaye namaha

Meaning: We bow to the universal guru who is the teacher of the entire world and the healer of all diseases.

11. Vidyaarthee Sloka

This shloka can be recited while bowing to Lord Ganesha and praying to him to bless you with knowledge, a child, or salvation.

Shloka

Vidyaarthee lapathey vidyaam
Dhanaarthee lapathey dhanam
Puthraarthee lapathey puthraan
Mokshaarthee lapathey gathim

Meaning: Aspire for knowledge, you’ll get it; yearn for wealth, you’ll get it; ask for a child, you’ll get it; strive for salvation, and you’ll reach it.

12. Vakrathunda Sloka

This sloka is about seeking Lord Ganesha’s blessings for removing obstacles in your path to success.

Shloka

Vakrathunda mahaakaaya
Suryakoti samaprabha
Nirvignam kurumey deva
Sarvakaryeshu sarvada

Meaning: Lord with a curved trunk and huge body, and the brilliance of a million suns, I seek your blessings to grace my new beginning and remove all the obstacles as I begin to work.

13. Sarva Kalyaani Mantra

This shloka is a prayer to the Goddess Gauri Narayan for success and prosperity.

Shloka

Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvaartha saadhike
Sharanye trayambake Gauri Narayani namosthute

Meaning: O Goddess of all auspiciousness, who is so harmonious, the fulfiller of our objectives, the giver of refuge, who has three eyes and is in golden colour, our salutations to you, Gauri Narayani.

14. Hyagreevam Stuthi

Hayagreeva is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and kids can recite this shloka before beginning their day.

Shloka

Gyaananandamayam devam
Nirmala spadikakruthim
Aadaram sarva vidyanaam
Hyagreevam upasmahe

Meaning: Salutations to Sri Hayagreeva, the Lord with a Horse face. You are the presiding God for all the knowledge in the world. We offer our prayers to you; please bless us with knowledge and wisdom.

15. Lakshmi Shloka

This shloka is a prayer to seek the blessings of the Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth.

Shloka

Namastestu mahamaye
Sripithe sura pujite,
Sankha chakra gada haste
Mahalaksmi namostute

Meaning: Salute to Goddess Lakshmi, who is the “Cause of Creation” and who is worshipped by the Suras. Salute to the Goddess who is adorned with the conch, disc and mace in her hands. I respectfully bow in front of you.

16. Achyutam Keshavam Sloka

This shloka is in praise of Lord Rama and includes his various names.

Shloka

Acyutam Keshavam Raama-Naaraayannam
Krssnna-Daamodaram Vaasudevam Harim
Shrii-Dharam Maadhavam Gopikaa-Vallabham
Jaanakii-Naayakam Raamacamdram Bhaje

Meaning: This verse lauds Lord Ram, who is also known as Achyuta (infallible), Keshav, Raam, Narayan, Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva, Hari, Shridhara (possessing Lakshmi), Madhava, Gopikavallabha (Dearest of Gopika), and Janakinayaka (Lord of Janaki or Sita).

17. Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Sloka

This shloka is dedicated to the Goddess Durga. You can make your child recite this shloka in the morning before school time.

Shloka

Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Nidra Rupen Samsithaha
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah

Meaning: You are everywhere, Goddess. You are also present while sleeping. I humbly bow to you. I salute you three times. You are the one who, in the shape of the sleep, is present in all living beings.

How Can You Teach Your Child to Learn Shlokas?

Making your child learn shlokas help them to maintain calmness. You can begin by explaining the meaning of each verse to your child and then divide each line into two to make it easier for them to memorise the slokas. Encourage children to practice how to pronounce each word of the shloka correctly. Gradually ask them to chant shlokas, and they will soon master them through regular practice.

Etiquettes for Shloka While Recitation by Children

Here are some etiquettes that children must follow while reciting shlokas.

1. Make your child wear clean and tidy clothes after bathing in the morning, and then do begin their shloka practice.
2. Set aside a space for your child to do shloka practice. You can make them sit on a chair or a small carpet. Ask them to keep their feet on the carpet while reciting.
3. Help your child with the correct pronunciation of the words, as it makes learning easy and better.
4. Make it a routine for children to practise reciting shlokas and stick to time for shloka practice.
5. As you know, repetition is the key to learning something; make your child chant shlokas daily.
6. Ask your child to maintain the right posture while reciting shlokas. Tell them to sit up straight, cross-legged, or on a chair. Bow their head when expressing gratitude while joining hands.
7. Make the learning process a fun experience for your child by using books, colourful pictures, audio, and video of the shlokas. Reciting shlokas with actions and tunes can make it easier for children to get the correct rhythm, pronunciation, and meaning.

Some Sanskrit Shlokas Books for Kids

Wish to teach your little one shlokas? Here are some books with easy Sanskrit slokas for kids that you can buy.

1. The Little Shloka Book by Priya Subramanian

It’s a perfect book for introduction to Sanskrit shlokas for kids. This book is full of colourful illustrations that will attract children to pick up the book and read it.

2. Soulful Shlokas by Rekha Uday Amin

A cheerfully illustrated book with everyday shlokas and mantras for children to recite, the book includes the importance and meaning of shlokas for children’s easy comprehension.

3. Shlokas and Mantras For Kids by Wonder House Books

A perfect book to introduce your little one to shlokas. This book contains simple shlokas and mantras with meanings for the children to recite and remember.

Children can memorise things very quickly, and they only need to listen to a shloka twice or thrice to learn and recite it. It’s believed that the positive effects of shlokas on the brain are permanent.

Also Read:

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