A Prayer Book for Children (Sanskrit Text, Transliteration and English Translation)

Vedic Prayers

The Vedas are the oldest scriptures in the world. They are four in number-Rig Veda. Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. They are the source books for Hinduism.. All the other scriptures are based on the Vedas only. The Vedic Prayers are for the good not only of the individual but also for the whole humanity without any distinction of cast or creed. Of all kinds of prayers in the Hindu Scriptures, none are so attractive and impressive as the prayers in the Vedas. They have a direct appeal to the heart. What is the reason for it? These prayers are not mere compositions or writings of any sages. When the sages were meditating, these prayers appeared before their mind's eyes in glowing golden letters. The sages memorised them and taught them to their disciples. So these prayers are God-Given. Proper utterance of these mantras bring whatever result one asks for.

Lord Vinaayaka

Om Ganeshaaya namah

Mahaaganapati has several names. The familiar ones are Ganapati, Ganesha, Vinaayaka, Gajaanana etc. He is the God of plenty, wisdom, good fortune, peace and spiritual success. Pleased by our prayers. He removes all obstacles in the path of any work we undertake. So He is called Vighneshvara. He stands for Om, for His figure with an elephant's trunk resembles the form of Om. Hence He is also called Pranava Svaruupa.

He represents perfect wisdom. He has an elephant head. We are all familiar with the story how He got the elephant head. But it has a great symbolic explanation. A common word for elephant in Sanskrit is 'gaja'. Ga means the 'gati' or the final goal towards which the entire creation is moving. Ja stands for 'janma', birth or origin. Hence 'gaja' signifies God from whom the worlds have come out and towards whom they are progressing to merge in Him at the end. His large ears indicate continuous and intelligent listening to the teacher.

Introduction:

Faith in God and prayer to Him are a must for every one for a happy and peaceful life. God created this world. It is He who creates father, mother, brother and sister. He is not far away in the sky. He is in our heart. He knows what is good for us. By praying to Him we can get whatever we want. Prayer helps us to keep in contact with Him. As Sri Ramakrishna says, 'When we put a post card in a letter box, we surely believe it reaches the destination, so also when we pray to God, it surely reaches His ears. 'Prayer also purifies our mind and takes us nearer to God. Prayer not only soothes away sorrows and distresses, but makes the mind receptive and responsive at the same time.

Prayer is an appeal to God to make us better persons. Children cannot survive without the love of their parents, even so they cannot survive without the love of God, because God is the parent of parents. Therefore children should cultivate from their young age the habit of praying to God. The constant repetition of the prayers set forth in this book will help the children to gain more and more faith in God.