Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,863

Date uploaded in London –12 June 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx 

The Pratasmaranam consists of some verses that are to be recited in the morning soon after waking up from the bed. प्रातः = at dawn, and

स्मरणम् = remembering.

There are many versions of this poem containing  less number of verses or more. One well known version is that of Sri Sankaracharya and this consists of just four verses. These verses are highly significant as

they contain thoughts about the godhead residing within us.

When I was in India until December 1986, I ued to attend RSS shaka every morning in Madurai Simmakkal Shaka (Simmakkal Branch). There we used to recite the updated version of old Pratasmaran. RSS authorities included Tiru Valluvar, Rajendra Choza, Orissa Jain King Kharavela etc.

Now in London I recite only the first sloka every morning: Karagre Vasate Lakshmi………………

The wonder is in this morning prayer the Indian rivers, mountains,heroes, famous women, kings, saints, poets, Gods, Goddesses etc are included. When children are taught this, they will learn little by little about all in the Slokas. This is vey unique in Hinduism. You teach Religion, Geography, History, Sacred places and our location in the universe.

Though the full updated RSS version I recited in those days was very long taking 20 minutes, here below is a short version taken from Sanskrit documents.org

            ॥ प्रातःस्मरणम् ॥

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती ।

करमूले तु गौरी च प्रभाते करदर्शनम्  ॥ १॥

Meaning:- Laksmi ( the goddess of wealth) resides in the upper part of hands, Sarasvati (the goddess of learning) resides in the middle, and Gauri (the goddess of valour) in the lower part. Therefore, every

morning one should respectfully have a look at one’s hands.

(In some versions Gauri is replaced by Govindah)

***

Big Salute to Earth!

Hindus are great environmentalists. Even when they dig earth for wells or ploughing, they first apologise for hurting or changing the environment. This feeling will make anyone to use anything carefully with minimum wastage. In Tamil there is a proverb about using water with respect/appreciation. In Sanskrit there are Vedic mantras praising water.

समुद्रवसने देवी पर्वतस्तनमण्डले ।

विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे ॥ २॥

Meaning:- O Devi! You are wearing the ocean as a clothing on your body. The mountains are your breasts!  O Consort of Visnu! I salute you and beg your pardon for having to set foot on your body for my routine activities.

***

नमोऽस्तु प्रियदत्तायै तुभ्यं देवि वसुन्धरे ।

त्वं माता सर्वलोकानां पादन्यासं क्षमस्व मे ॥ ३॥

Meaning:- O Devi! I salute you and beg your pardon for having to set foot on your body for my routine activities.  You are the giver of all that is dear to us. You are the mother and repository of all wealth.

***

Hindu Belief in Astrology; Salute to Nine Heavenly Bodies!

ब्रह्मा मुरारिस्त्रिपुरान्तकारी भानुः शशी भूमिसुतो बुधश्च ।

गुरुश्च शुक्रः शनि-राहु-केतवः कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम्  ॥ ४॥

Meaning:- Brahma (the Creator), Murari (Visnu), Tripurantakari (Siva, the slayer of Tripuras), the nine planets, Sun, the Moon, Mars the son of Bhumi, Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Sukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu; may all these make the morning auspicious for me.

***

About Music, About Universe!

सनत्कुमारः सनकः सनन्दनः सनातनो-ऽप्यासुरि-पिङ्गलौ च ।

सप्तस्वराः सप्त रसातलानि कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम्  ॥ ५॥

Meaning:- Sanatkumara, Sanaka, Sanadana and  Sanatana ( whom Brahma, the creator,  begot by wish); Rsi Asuri ( a disciple of Rsi Kapila, the founder of the Samkhya system of philosophy), Rsi Pingala  ( the author of Hindu Prosody); the Seven Svaras (tones) (i.e. Shadja, Rsabha, Gandhara, Madhyam, Panchama, Dhaivata and Nisada); and the seven nether-worlds

(Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Rasatala, Mahatala and Patala) —may all these make the morning auspicious for me !

***

Blow to Idiots (actors and actresses)

Now and then we read in newspapers about the bluffing of idiots (mostly from film stars)  who believed that British united India. But the rivers, mountains, sacred cities we recite every day show Hindus know the Akhanda Bharath. Many reciters are children or illiterate or neo literates!

सप्तार्णवाः सप्त-कुलाचलाश्च सप्तर्षयो द्वीप-वनानि सप्त ।

भूरादिकृत्वा भुवनानि सप्त कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम्  ॥ ६॥

Meaning:- The seven oceans ( Lavanabdhi, Iksu, Suravarpa, Ajay, Dadhi, Ksira and Svadu-jala); the seven mountains (Mahendra, Malaya, Sahydri, Suktiman, Rkasavan, Vindhya and Pariyatra): the seven Rsis (Kasyapa,Atri, Bharadvaja, Visvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Vasishta): the seven dvipas ( Continents) (i.e. Jambu, Plaksa, Salmala, Kusa, Kroncha, Saka and Puskara): the seven vanas (forests) ( i.e. Dandakaranya, Khandaranya,  hampakaranya, Vedaranya, Naimisaranya, Brahmaranys and Dharmaranya); and the seven bhuvanas (heavens) (i.e.) Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahah, Janah, Traph and Satyam) —may all these make the morning auspicious for me

***

पृथ्वी सगन्धा सरसास्तथापः स्पर्शी च वायुर्ज्वलनं च तेजः ।

नभः सशब्दं महता सहैव कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम्  ॥ ७॥

Meaning:- The Earth with its quality of smell , Water with its quality of taste, Air with its quality of touch, Fire with its quality of teja (glow), Akasa (space) with its quality of sabda (sound)—- may all these elements along with the element of Buddhi (intellect) make my morning auspicious for me !

(This is in 2000 year old Tamil Literature as well)

***

Mountains

महेन्द्रो मलयः सह्यो देवतात्मा हिमालयः ।

ध्येयो रैवतको विन्ध्यो गिरिश्चारावलि-स्तथा ॥ ८॥

***

Rivers

गङ्गा सिन्धुश्च कावेरी यमुना च सरस्वती ।

रेवा महानदी गोदा ब्रह्मपुत्रा पुनातु मम्  ॥ ९॥

Himalaya, Ganga are mentioned in 2300 year old Sangam Tamil literature.

***

Sacred Cities

अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका ।

पुरी द्वारावती चैव सप्तैता मोक्षदायिकाः ॥ १०॥

प्रयागा पाटलीपुत्रं विजयानगरं पुरीम् ।

इन्द्रप्रस्थं गयां चैव प्रत्यूषे प्रत्यहं स्मरेत् ॥ ११॥

***

Great Women!

Who in the world gave this much importance and respect to women? Only Hindus can show Gargi and Maitreyi from Vedic literature.

अरुन्धत्यनुसूया च सावित्री जानकी सती ।

तेजस्विनीइ च पाञ्चाली वन्दनीया निरन्तरम्  ॥ १२॥

Arundhati, Sita and others are mentioned in Ancient Tamil verses.

वैन्यं पृथुं  हैहयमर्जुनं च

शाकुन्तलेयं भरतं नलं च ।

रामं च यो वै स्मरति प्रभाते

तस्यार्थलभो विजयश्च हस्ते ॥ १३॥

***

Great Puranic Men

दध्यङ् मनुर्भृगुरसौ हरिपूर्वचन्द्रो

भीष्मार्जुन-ध्रुव-वशिष्ट-शुकादयश्च ।

प्रह्लाद-नारद-भगीरथ-विश्वकर्म-

वाल्मीकयोत्र चिरचिन्त्यशुभाभिधानाः ॥ १४॥

***

Seven People with Eternal Life! (meaning is ever remembered)

अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनूमांश्च विभीषणः ।

कृपः परशुरामश्च सप्तैते चिरजीविनः ॥ १५॥

सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम् ।

जीवेत् वर्षशतं साग्रमपमृत्युविवर्जितः ॥ १६॥

***

Great People who succeeded after a long period of suffering!

पुण्यश्लोको नलो राजा पुण्यश्लोको युधिष्ठिरः ।

पुण्यश्लोको विदेहश्च पुण्यश्लोको जनार्दनः ॥ १७॥

***

Great Women from Epics and Puranas

अहल्या द्रौपदी कुन्ती तारा मन्दोदरी तथा ।पञ्चकन्याः स्मरेन्नित्यं महापातकनाशनम् ॥Ahalya Draupadi Kunti Tara Mandodari tathaPanchakanya smaren nityam mahapataka-nashanamMeaning and Translation”One who daily remembers the five maidens—Ahalya, Draupadi, Kunti, Tara, and Mandodari—is freed from even the greatest of sins.”The Five Revered WomenThese women are celebrated for their resilience, immense wisdom, and moral courage in the face of extraordinary adversity:Ahalya: Praised for her incredible patience, endurance, and ability to begin anew.Draupadi: Known for her fierce courage and her refusal to silently accept injustice.Kunti: Symbolizes sacrifice, immense maternal strength, and resilience.Tara: Revered for her sharp political intelligence and wisdom.Mandodari: Represents righteousness and unwavering wisdom, even in the midst of a corrupt kingdom.

This is only a short version; there are longer versions with regional variations. The very concept is unique to Hinduism.

When you remember 100+++ good things you day will bring you 1000+++ good things!

Please recite as many slokas as possible.

–Subham—

Tags- Pratas smaranam, Morning prayer, Hills rivers, sacred cities, Nine planets, Gods, Goddesses, Gret women, seven Chiranjeevi