Links to Sanskrit Mantras, Slokas and Prayers

Mantras, slokas, strotras, and prayers are an integral part of Hindu ritualism and contemplative practices. They play an important role in the ritual as well as spiritual practices of devout Hindus. Mantras are used in Hinduism to invoke gods, to appease gods, to propitiate gods, to create favorable conditions, purify the mind and body or a particular place, awaken the chakras, heal the mind and body, or unleash destruction upon enemies, and so on. A mantra is a sacred utterance, word, phrase, syllable, sentence or prayer having the five divine powers of god namely creation, preservation, concealment, destruction and revelation. Hence, they are used in the ritual and spiritual practices for various purposes by devotes Traditionally the mantras are composed in Sanskrit. They may have either a particular meaning or a hidden meaning both. However, some mantras may be simply sounds and may mean nothing. Just as the Vedic hymns, some mantras are chanted, some are sung, some are used in designs or as symbols, and some are used in meditation and ritual worship. Literally speaking mantra (man+tra) that which emanates from a mind. The following are some of the websites on mantras, slokas, prayers and devotional music.