On Hinduism

Every Hindu prayer begins with Om, the sacred sound in Hinduism that holds a lot of spiritual significance. This is followed by an invocation to Lord Ganesha, the giver of auspicious beginnings and remover of obstacles: Om Śhrī Mahāgaṇapataye Namaha.

.

These are selected Sanskrit prayers for the Welfare of the World:

• Om sarve bhavantu sukhinaha. Sarve santu niraamayaaha. Sarve bhadraani pashyantu. Maa kaschid dukha bhaag bhavet “May all beings be happy. May all beings be healthy. May all beings experience prosperity. May none in the world suffer.”

• Lokaah samastaah sukhino bhavantu “May all beings be always happy”

• Om shanti, shanti, shantihi “Om, peace, peace, peace”

Many Hindus meditate on this Sanskrit word, “Shanti,” thereby invoking inner peace and radiating the same in external circumstances. 

A popular hymn chanted in times of fear, danger, and uncertainty is the Hanuman Chalisa, forty verses that glorify Lord Hanuman, the giver of strength, courage, and protection.

Advanced practitioners chant these Sanskrit mantras and stotras (devotional hymns) to seek the grace of various deities in the Hindu tradition. Chanting these prayers with utmost faith is the key to reap their full benefits. These are specifically for good health, expedited healing, and the elimination of disease:

.

Prayers to Lord Vishnu:

Om Achyuta Ananta Govindāya Namaha 

Salutations to Achyuta Ananta Govinda! (These are all names of Lord Vishnu.)

Stotra: Śhrī Sudarśhana Ṣhatkam, śhloka 3

Srākārasahitam Mantram

Paṭhantam Śhatrunigraham

Sarvarogapraśhamanam

Prapadyeham Sudarśhanam

I salute Lord Sudarshana, who destroys all enemies,

and cures all diseases of those who chant his mantra “Sra”.

Stotra: Śhrīman Nārāyaṇeeyam, daśhakam 8, śhloka 13

Asmin Parātman Nanu Pādmakalpe

Tvamitthamutthāpita Padmayonihi

Anantabhūma Mama Rogarāśhim

Nirundhi Vātālayavāsa Viṣhno 

Oh Supreme Lord of incomprehensible powers, 

you made Lord Brahma emerge from the lotus.

Oh Lord Vishnu who has manifested in the temple of Guruvayoor,

Please cure all my diseases. 

.

Prayer to Lord Shiva: 

Stotra: Śhrī Vaidyanātha Aṣṭakam, śhloka 4

Prabhūtavātādi Samastaroga

Pranāśha Kartre Munivanditāya 

Prabhākarendvagni Vilochanāya 

Śhrī Vaidyanāthāya Namah Śhivāya

I bow to that Lord Shiva, who is the king among physicians, who cures all great diseases like rheumatism and arthritis, who is worshipped by great sages, and to whom, the Sun, Moon and God of Fire are eyes.

.

Prayer to Goddess Devi: 

Stotra: Śhrī Lalitā Sahasranāmāvali, 551 & 552

Om Sarvavyādhi Praśhamanyai Namaha (Salutations to the goddess who cures all diseases)

Om Sarvamrtyu Nivāriṇyai Namaha (Salutations to the goddess who removes all types of death)

.

Prayer to Lord Kārtikeya, also known as Sharavana Bhava: 

Om Śharavaṇa Bhavāya Namaha (Salutations to Lord Sharavana Bhava)

.

Prayer to Lord Rama: 

Āpaduddhāraka Śhrī Rāma Stotram, śhloka 1

Āpadām Apahartāram

Dātāram Sarvasampadām

Lokābhirāmam Śhrīrāmam

Bhūyo Bhūyo Namāmyaham 

I respectfully bow down again and again to Shri Rama, who removes all obstacles, blesses one with all types of wealth, and pleases all in the world.

.

Prayer to Lord Hanuman:  

Āpaduddhāraṇa Hanumat Stotram, śhloka 5

Ādivyādhi Mahāmāri Grahapīḍāpahāriṇe

Prāṇāpahartre Daityānām Rāmaprāṇātmane Namaha

I prostrate before Lord Anjaneya, who is the destroyer of worries (ādhi), illnesses (vyādhi), chronic illnesses (mahāmāri), evil effects from the changes in the position of planets (grahapīḍā); he is the annihilator of demons, he is the protector of living beings. 

.

Other reading material:Relevant videos: Health & Healing Mantras for Coronavirus Protection, Swami Nikhil Anand Hinduism Q & A: Does God Answer Our Prayers (this one is general on prayer, not covid)

Contributor: Lakshmi Subramanian

Location of this post (3j): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-hindu-prayers-for-covid-19-situations/

Hinduism has many prayers which are about universal unity and universal peace. Below are some such inclusive prayers which can be used in interfaith circles. 

.

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

Om Saha Navavatu |
Saha Nau Bhunaktu |
Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai |
Tejasvi Nau-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:

Om, May the lord protect us all, may he give us knowledge. May he give us energy and focus. May we not have any hostility and may we love each other.

May we have Peace in our heart, peace with each other, may there be peace in the universe. 

This Shanti mantra is in Taittiriya, Katha Upanishad and Shvetashvatara Upanishads

.

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:

Om, May we all be happy, May we all be healthy, May we always see auspicious things and May no one suffer. May we have Peace in our heart, peace with each other, may there be peace in the universe. 

This shanti mantra is from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

.

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om Asato Ma Sad Gamaya |
Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya |
Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya |

Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:

Om, Lead me from the unreal to the real, Lead me from darkness to light, Lead me from death to immortality. May we have Peace in our heart, peace with each other,vmay there be peace in the universe. 

This is a Shanti mantra from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Puurnnam-Udacyate |

Puurnnasya Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||

Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

Meaning:

What is visible is the infinite. What is invisible is also the infinite. The world is full of Divine consciousness. Nothing is more significant or less significant than anything else because they are all part of the same infinite totality. May we have Peace in our heart, peace with each other, May there be peace in the universe. 

This shloka is from Isavasyopanishad. 

.

ॐ द्यौः शान्तिरन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः

पृथिवी शान्तिरापः शान्तिरोषधयः शान्तिः ।

वनस्पतयः शान्तिर्विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्तिः

सर्वं शान्तिः शान्तिरेव शान्तिः सा मा शान्तिरेधि ॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

om dyauh santirantariksam santih

prthivi santirapah santirosadhayah santih

vanaspatayah santirvisvedevah santirbrahma santih

sarvam santih santireva santih sa ma santiredhi

om santih santih santih

Om, May peace radiate there in the whole sky as well as in the vast space everywhere. May peace reign all over this earth, in water and in all herbs, trees and all plants. May peace flow over the whole universe. May peace be in each of us. And may everything always exist in all peace and peace alone. May we have Peace in our heart, peace with each other, may there be peace in the universe. 

Other reading material: Three slokas for general use,

Relevant videos

Contributor: Sudha Bhat

Location of this post (7g): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-a-good-all-inclusive-prayer-for-an-interfaith-circle-meetings/

God always answers prayers of his devotees in a manner that is most beneficial for that individual in the long run. Like parents, God also likes to see his children happy. He feels very good when he sees his children and devotees happy. Many of our saints have said that He is also very compassionate.
Remember, whatever happens, happens for one’s benefit.
The answers may not exactly be what we want to see at the time of the request, but God can see ahead, in the future and the answer will in the long run be more for the person’s benefit and spiritual growth. This may be difficult to accept, but having faith in God in these situations is necessary. You have to then ask God, to give you strength to accept the decision. So do not hesitate to ask Him whatever you want.

Other reading material:

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhilnand Hinduism Q & A: Does God Answer Our Prayers

Contributor: Dr. Jyoti Lulla

Location of this file (8b): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/does-god-answer-our-prayers/

Lamps were the only source of artificial light in olden days. Consider a dark room, where God, a symbol/representation of the divine, is placed (in the sanctum of temples). The priest shows a lamp in the form of Aarathi close to the murti. The purpose is to make sure the picture is registered in our minds.
Light represents knowledge. When praying we are saying that the Lord gives me enough knowledge all the time.

Other reading material:
Relevant videos:

Contributor: Dr. Jyoti Lulla

Location of this post (18d): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/why-do-you-use-light-aarti-to-pray/