Daily Routine For Kids: In Indian households, teaching kids slokas has been a century old tradition which fosters the idea of spirituality in kids from early childhood. Chanting of these shlokas has a positive impact on the cognition of daily routine for children and it improves their memory.
Learning how to recite shlokas and memorizing them also helps kids in developing the concentration power in kids daily activities.
So here are some shlokas with their meaning that you can easily teach your kids:
1. Shanti Mantra
As the name suggests, the shloka is one of shanti or peace. It emits peaceful vibes and is a Sanskrit recitation from the Upanishads.
Shloka: Asatoma sad gamaya
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
Mrityor ma amritam gamaya
Om shanti, shanti, shanti hi
What does it mean?
The literal translation of Shanti Mantra is a prayer asking to be led to truth from ignorance, to move towards light out of the darkness, to become immortal instead of dying and the last sentence means ‘Let there be peace.’
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2. Guru Mantra
Children must be taught from early childhood the importance of having a good teacher and a guide in their life. Hindu mythology places a lot of importance on Gurus and equates them with God. Therefore, Guru Mantra is one which highlights the role of Gurus.
Shloka: Gurur brahmah gurur vishnu
Gurur devo maheshwaraha
Gurur saakshaat param brahmah
Tasmai shree guravey namaha
What does it mean?
The shloka equates a teacher with that of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh who are the Holy Trinity and most revered Gods in Hinduism. It says that a teacher is Supreme since he leads the way from ignorance to knowledge. And to such a Guru, I offer my salutations.
3. Gayatri Mantra
The Gayatri Mantra is such that it is remembered by almost all individuals. It invokes the sun God and is a vedic Chant that dates back to the Rig Veda. It is meant to be recited early in the morning and is comparatively the easiest shloka to memorise.
Shloka: Om bhur bhuva swaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
What does it mean?
Since the Shloka is dedicated to the glory of the Sun, it praises the sun for illuminating all realms with its light. By realms, it includes a human’s physical, emotional and spiritual realm as well. In the same way it requests the sun to illuminate the reciter’s intellect as well.
Since children are quick learners, beginning with these three shlokas is a good option. Once they memorise it by listening and reciting it four or five times, you can try kids teaching them more complex shlokas such as the rest of the Shanti Mantra, Manojavam Mantra and Guravey Sarva Mantra.