Guides
Festivals, mantras for every need, prayers, and the basics of mantra practice.
Festivals
- Navratri 2026: dates, the nine goddesses and the colour of each day
Sharad Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday 11 October to Tuesday 20 October. Here is every day's goddess, tithi and colour, with Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja and Dussehra.
- Which day of Navratri is today?
Today's day of Sharad Navratri 2026, the goddess worshipped today, her mantra and the colour of the day. Updates every day from 11 to 20 October.
- Navratri mantras for all nine days
The mantra for each of the nine goddesses of Navratri, in Devanagari with transliteration and meaning, plus the Navarna mantra, Ya Devi and Sarvamangala. How and when to chant them.
- Navratri havan mantra: a simple havan at home, step by step
The mantras for a Navratri havan at home, in order: Ganesha, Agni, the Navagraha, the nine goddesses, the Navarna mantra and the purnahuti. With the 2026 dates for Ashtami and Navami.
- Lakshmi mantra for Diwali: what to chant at Lakshmi Puja
The Lakshmi mantras for Diwali 2026 (Sun 8 Nov) in Devanagari with transliteration and meaning, plus the order of a simple Lakshmi Puja at home.
- Mantra for Dhanteras: Dhanvantari, Lakshmi and Kubera
The Dhanteras 2026 mantras (Fri 6 Nov): Dhanvantari for health, Lakshmi and Kubera for prosperity. Devanagari, meaning, and how to chant them in the evening.
- Karva Chauth mantra: what to chant at the puja and moonrise
Karva Chauth 2026 is Thu 29 Oct (puja 5:38–6:56 pm, moonrise 8:17 pm, Delhi). The Shiva-Parvati, Ganesha and Chandra mantras, with meaning and puja steps.
- Mantra for tarpan: remembering ancestors in Pitru Paksha
The Pitru Gayatri and other mantras for tarpan during Pitru Paksha 2026 (26 Sep to 10 Oct), with a gentle step-by-step way to offer water to your ancestors.
- Is today Ekadashi? Today's tithi and the next Ekadashi dates
Check if today is Ekadashi, see the next Ekadashi dates, and learn what to chant and how to keep a simple, kind Ekadashi fast for Lord Vishnu.
- Nirjala Ekadashi 2027: date, story, mantra and a safe fast
Nirjala Ekadashi 2027 is on Monday 14 June. Why it is kept, the story of Bhima, the Vishnu mantras to chant, and how to keep the waterless fast safely.
- Mantra for raksha sutra: Yena Baddho Bali Raja, with meaning
The raksha sutra mantra "Yena Baddho Bali Raja" in Devanagari with meaning, how to tie a rakhi or kalava, and protection mantras. Raksha Bandhan: 17 Aug 2027.
- Maha Shivratri mantra: what to chant through the night
The Maha Shivratri mantras, Om Namah Shivaya, Mahamrityunjaya and Rudra Gayatri, with meaning, plus a simple plan for the four prahars of the night.
- Holika Dahan mantra: puja, meaning and fire safety
The Holika Dahan mantra with meaning, the story of Prahlad, a simple puja for the bonfire and how to keep it safe. Holika Dahan is on Sunday 21 March 2027.
- Janmashtami mantra: Krishna mantras for the midnight puja
Janmashtami mantras for Krishna's birthday, from Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya to the Hare Krishna maha mantra, with meaning and a simple midnight puja.
- Ganesh Chaturthi mantra: for sthapana, puja and visarjan
The Ganesh Chaturthi mantras for welcoming Ganpati home, daily puja and visarjan: Vakratunda, Om Gan Ganapataye Namah and the Ganesha Gayatri, with meaning.
- Makar Sankranti mantra: Surya mantras for the sunrise arghya
Makar Sankranti mantras for offering water to the Sun, with meaning: Surya Gayatri, the Surya beej mantra and Japa Kusuma. Sankranti is on 15 January 2027.
- Guru Purnima mantra: verses to honour your teacher
Guru Purnima mantras with meaning: Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu, Akhanda Mandalakaram, Om Gum Gurubhyo Namah and the Guru Gayatri. On Sunday 18 July 2027.
Mantras for every need
- Mantra for morning: 5 mantras to start the day
The best mantras for the morning: Karagre Vasate on waking, the Gayatri Mantra, Surya mantras at sunrise and a dawn prayer to Shiva, with meaning.
- Mantra for study: Saraswati mantras for focus and memory
Saraswati mantras for study, with Devanagari, transliteration and meaning. What to chant before studying, how many times, and how to keep your focus.
- Mantra for money: Lakshmi and Kubera mantras for abundance
Lakshmi and Kubera mantras for money and abundance, with meaning and how to chant them. An honest guide: gratitude and right effort, no promises of wealth.
- Mantra for meditation: 5 simple mantras and how to use them
The best mantras for meditation, from Om and So Hum to Om Namah Shivaya, with meaning and a step-by-step way to meditate with a mantra, even as a beginner.
- Shanti mantra: 6 peace mantras with meaning
The Shanti mantras for peace: Om Dyauh Shanti, Om Saha Navavatu, Om Purnamadah, Asato Ma Sadgamaya and more, in Devanagari with transliteration and meaning.
- Mantra for power: Hanuman and Durga mantras for inner strength
Mantras for inner strength and courage: Hanuman Chalisa, Om Hum Hanumate Namah and Durga's Ya Devi, with meaning and how to chant them for power and steadiness.
- Mantra for karya siddhi: for success in a task
Karya siddhi mantras for success in a task or new undertaking: the Hanuman karya siddhi verse, Vakratunda Mahakaya and more, with meaning and how to chant.
- Mantra for sleep: 5 bedtime mantras for a calm night
Mantras for sleep: the Hanuman bedtime verse Ramaskandam, Shantakaram, Om Shanti and So Hum, with meaning and a simple five-minute bedtime practice.
- Mantra for anxiety: 5 calming chants and how to use them
Five gentle mantras for anxious moments, with Devanagari, meaning and a simple breath-led way to chant them. A support for calm, not a replacement for care.
- Mantra for good health: 5 traditional prayers for well-being
The Maha Mrityunjaya, Dhanvantari and other mantras traditionally chanted for good health, with Devanagari, meaning and how to chant them each day.
- Mantra for havan: a simple havan at home, step by step
The mantras for a simple home havan, in order: Ganesha, Agni, the Navagraha, the Gayatri, your main deity and the purnahuti. With fire safety tips.
- Mantras for puja: a simple daily puja at home, step by step
A simple daily puja at home with the mantra for each step: lighting the lamp, Ganesha, the guru, offerings, japa, aarti and the closing prayer.
- Most powerful mantra for success in exams: Saraswati and Ganesha
The Saraswati and Ganesha mantras students chant before study and exams, with Devanagari and meaning, plus a routine that pairs them with good study habits.
- Mantra for 7 chakras: LAM, VAM, RAM, YAM, HAM, OM
The seed sound for each of the seven chakras, LAM VAM RAM YAM HAM OM, with where each chakra sits, its element, and a simple way to chant all seven.
- Mantra for yoga: opening and closing chants for practice
The mantras chanted at the start and end of yoga practice: Om, the Ashtanga opening prayer, the Patanjali invocation, Om Saha Navavatu and Lokah Samastah.
Best mantras
- Most powerful mantras in Hinduism: 10 chanted for centuries
Ten of the most revered Hindu mantras, from Om and the Gayatri to Om Namah Shivaya, with Devanagari, meaning, source text and how to begin chanting.
- Powerful mantras for success: 8 to chant before you begin
Eight traditional mantras for success in work, study and new beginnings, from Ganesha and Saraswati to Hanuman and Krishna, with meaning and how to chant.
Learn
- Japa mala: what it is and how to use 108 beads
A japa mala is 108 beads plus a guru bead for counting mantras. How to hold it, which finger to avoid, materials like tulsi and rudraksha, and simple rules.
- Bija mantra: the seed syllables Om, Shreem, Hreem, Gam and more
A bija mantra is a one-syllable seed sound like Om, Shreem or Gam. What each main bija means, the chakra and planet bijas, and how to chant them.
- What is a mantra? Meaning, types and how to begin
A mantra is a sacred word, sound or verse repeated to focus the mind. Where the word comes from, the main Hindu and Buddhist types, and how to begin.
- Why chant a mantra 108 times? The traditional reasons
Why mantras are chanted 108 times: the stars, planets, scriptures and breath behind the sacred number, the practical reason, and how to chant a round of 108.
Tools
- Japa counter online: count your mantra with a free mala counter
A free naam japa counter online. Tap to count each mantra, rounds of 108 like a mala, daily and all-time totals saved on your device. No sign-up, no ads.
Listen
- Mantra radio: listen live, free, 24 hours a day
Mahakatha Radio is a free 24-hour mantra radio station. Shiva, Ganesha, Devi, Krishna and Om mantras, no ads, no sign-up. Press play and listen live.
- Bhakti radio online: free devotional mantra radio, live
Listen to bhakti radio online, free and without ads. Mahakatha Radio plays Hindu mantras, stotras and chants live, 24 hours a day, in any browser.
- Om mantra meditation music: live Om chanting, free
Om chanting for meditation, live and free on Mahakatha Radio. How to meditate with Om, Om mantras with meaning, and why 108 repetitions. No ads, no sign-up.
Prayers
- Light a candle for a prayer request: the diya and prarthana
In Hindu homes, lighting a candle for prayer means lighting a diya. Prayers to say as you light it, the Shubham Karoti mantra, and a prayer read on air.
- Prayer for healing: Hindu prarthana for someone unwell
Gentle prayers for healing for someone who is ill or in hospital, the Mahamrityunjaya and Dhanvantari mantras, and how to have your prayer read aloud on air.
- Prayer for exam: Saraswati prarthana for students
Short prayers for exams, for a student or for your child, with Saraswati and Ganesha mantras, how to pray before an exam, and how to have a prayer read on air.
- Prayer for family: Hindu prarthana for the ones you love
Short prayers for your family: protection, harmony, family far away and a morning blessing, with the Om Saha Navavatu mantra and a prayer read on air.