Before completing the Durga Saptasati (Devi Mahatmyam), in the first place, Goddess’s devotees generally chant this Stotram. Here Sage Markandeya is telling his disciples in 27 inspiring slokas on the greatness of Devi. She has been described in all aspects and names and at the end of each Sloka, prayer is offered to Devi for material prosperity, physical fitness, fame and victory.

Devi Mahatmyam is a portion of the Markandeya Purana authored by Sage Markandeya. It is also known as Durga Saptashati and Sri Chandi. It is a text which describes the victory of the good in the form of Goddess Durga over the evil represented by the demons Mahishasura and others. The text contains 700 verses (Saptashata) and because of that the whole composition is known as Durga Saptashati. The seven hundred verses are arranged in 13 chapters. For ritual reading purposes a number of subsidiary texts are appended before and after these 700 verses. A ritualistic reading of Durga Saptashati is part of the Navratri celebrations in honour of Goddess Durga.

It is popularly known as Chandi because it describes the glory of the Goddess as Chandika, the terrible. The Goddess has two forms- a malevolent form and a benevolent form. In her terrible form she destroys the evil demons. Yet in her form, one can see the light of a benevolent regeneration too. This benevolent form is her compassionate form as the Mother of the Universe.

Lalita sahasranamam and Devi Mahatmyam are the two famous sacred texts that laud the glory of the Mother. Both are considered to be extremely auspicious and powerful as tools of transformation. Both can be recited daily.

In this stotram the devotees of the Goddess ask her blessings for both the material and spiritual prosperity. The devotees pray to the Goddess to fulfil all the worldly needs first because we know that she is the Mother of the Universe and her merciful nature is to grant us and provide us with our basic needs first.

The Stotram can make one strong enough to overcome all day to day problems of life.

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This is a hymn which occurs in the Valmiki Ramayana.

Valmiki Ramayana is well known. It was a scene in the Yudha Kanda during the final between Sri Rama and Ravana. The battle was in progress. Sri Rama had used all kinds of weapons and missiles against Ravana, but in vain. The power of Ravana seemed invincible. Sri Rama was tormented by fatigue, both mentally and physically. Then, there came a brief time of respite.

At this juncture, as the gods looked on the battle from the sky, the sage Agastya appeared in front of Rama. With the aim of rejuvenating Sri Rama and hastening the outcome of the battle, Sage Agasthya teaches to Sri Rama a prayer to the Sun-God, and disappeared soon after. Having received the prayer towards the Sun-God from Sage Agastya and upon reciting it Sri Rama became energized. He lifted his bow, prepared for the final confrontation and ultimately slayed Ravana in battle.

In this hymn of 31 slokas, the first 30 are set in the Anushtub meter. The various attributes and activities of the Sun-God are mentioned in verses 6 to15 and the verses 16 to 21 form the crux of the prayer. The listing of the benefits of recitation of the hymn called phalsruti is given initially in verses 3 to 5 and near the end in verses 25 to 27. It is said in the phalsruti that this hymn has the potency to vanquish all enemies, bestow victory and bless its chanter with unending auspiciousness, sound health and eradication of all miseries and sins. Agastya said to Sri Rama, “Oh Rama! During times of danger, in places of fear or uncertainty, whoever recites this hymn shall not fall into misery. Upon chanting this hymn thrice unto Lord Aditya with complete devotion, you shall attain victory and you shall defeat Ravana the very next instant.”

It is thus clear from what is stated therein that the hearing or chanting of this hymn would instill confidence inthe mind of the devotees, something which manifested almost instantaneously in Sri Rama.

Ramayana, as we all know, is the Hindu historical religious text which describes and accounts the story and journey of Lord Rama. The great epic written by Maharshi Valmiki highlights the heritage of India and is considered as an integral part of the history of ancient India.

The epic narrates the life of Sri Rama. It follows his fourteen-year exile to the forest by his father King Dasharatha, on request of his step-mother Kaikeyi. The travels of Sri Rama across the forests of this county with his wife Devi Sita and brother Lakshmana, the kidnapping of Devi Sita by Ravana, the king of Lanka, resulting in a war with him, and Sri Rama's eventual return to Ayodhya to be crowned king is the crux of the epic.

Consisting of nearly 24,000 verses (mostly set in the anushtub meter), the epic is divided into seven Kandas and about 500 cantos or chapters called sargas.

The canto in which the marriage of Sri Rama with Devi Sita takes place is presented in this recitation.

Reciting this canto or even listening to this recitation will bring welfare and prosperity.

Ramayana, as we all know, is the Hindu historical religious text which describes and accounts the story and journey of Lord Rama. The great epic written by Maharshi Valmiki highlights the heritage of India and is considered as an integral part of the history of ancient India.

The epic narrates the life of Sri Rama. It follows his fourteen-year exile to the forest by his father King Dasharatha, on request of his step-mother Kaikeyi. The travels of Sri Rama across the forests of this county with his wife Devi Sita and brother Lakshmana, the kidnapping of Devi Sita by Ravana, the king of Lanka, resulting in a war with him, and Sri Rama's eventual return to Ayodhya to be crowned king is the crux of the epic.

Consisting of nearly 24,000 verses (mostly set in the anushtub meter), the epic is divided into seven Kandas and about 500 cantos or chapters called sargas.

The canto in which the birth of Sri Rama takes place is presented in this recitation.

Reciting this canto or even listening to this recitation will bring welfare and prosperity.

This stotram, also known as Sankata Nashana Ganapati Stotram is one of the most effective prayer to Lord Ganesha. This is coming in the Narada Purana.

The term Sankata or Sankashta means ‘problems’ and Nashana means ‘removing forever’. Therefore it means that chanting or listening to this stotram will help us to free our lives from all kinds of impediments, sorrows, and difficulties forever.

Through this stotram Sage Narada explains Lord Ganesha’s greatness. The sage enumerates twelve names of Lord Ganesha. They are Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Krishna Pingaksha, Gajavaktra, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnaraja, Dhumravarna, Phalchandra, Vinayaka, Ganapati and Gajanana. He says that that every person should bow his head and worship Lord Ganesha with these twelve names and ask for longevity of life and elimination of all problems.

The phalasruti says that any one reading these twelve names three times a day at dawn, noon and dusk, will never have fear of defeat, and would always achieve whatever he wants.

One who pursues education will get knowledge, one who wants to earn money will get money, one who wishes for a son will get a son, and one who wants salvation will get salvation.

Results of chanting this prayer of Ganapati will be got within six months and within a year, he would get all wishes fulfilled. And there is no doubt about this.

Those who give this prayer in writing to eight wise people as an offering to Lord Ganesha, will become knowledgeable and would be blessed with all fine qualities by the grace of the Lord.

In this technological age we can easily send this to eight people who believe in the greatness of Lord Ganesha.

This stotram in praise of Lord Shiva is composed by Adi Shankara. Vaidhyan means Physician and in this stotram he is worshipped as Vaidhyanatha, the king among the Physicians. Devotees who are desirous of getting cured of diseases should recite or listen to this stotra.

Lord Shiva is worshipped in this form at a famous temple in Tamil Nadu at a place called Vaitheeswaran Koil near Mayiladuthurai. It is believed that Lord Rama performed the cremation of the bird Jatayu in this spot. It is also believed that Angaraka (the deity of planet Mars) who was afflicted by leprosy got cured in this place. It is also believed that Lord Subramanya also known as Karthikeya, the younger son of Lord Shiva, got his trident (called as Vel in Tamil) after worshipping in this temple. There is a temple tank called Siddha Amrutha Theertha in this temple. Bathing in this tank is supposed to cure all diseases. Pills made of Vibuti called Tiru Chandu pills are distributed in this temple and are considered as a cure of all diseases. This is purported to be the medicine, which Lord Vaidyanatha gave to Angaraka to cure his illness.

The stotra offers repeated salutations to Lord Shiva as the king among the physicians by singing his glory. Lord Shiva is worshipped by Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Jatayu, the Vedas, the Sun-God, Angaraka and the devas. He is having a blue neck and is the personification of mercy. He wears the flow of Ganges and the moon on his head. He has the Sun, the Moon and the Agni as his three eyes. He cures all great diseases like rheumatism and arthritis and is saluted by great sages. He blesses and cures all those who have lost their speech, hearing, sight and ability to walk and provides cure for devastating diseases like leprosy. He removes all sufferings caused by bad spirits, sorrows and fears. And he grants good spouse, good children and blesses us with all good luck.

The phalasruti says that those who recite this prayer thrice a day with devotion and pray to Lord Vaidyanatha along with his consort Balambika and who removes the fear of birth and death would get cured of all great diseases.

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There was a great scholar and an interpreter of Advaita philosopy after Adi Sankara. His name was Appayya Dikshitar. He belonged to a place in the South Arcot District of Tamilnadu. He composed this beautiful hymn on Lord Shiva who was called as Margabandhu in a place called Virinchipuram near Vellore in South Arcot District.

This stotra contains a total of six verses followed by a phalasruti. Sri Dikshitar offers prostrations to the Lord who is the God of Gods, the greatest God and an abode of peace who blesses us all with welfare and prosperity. He praises Lord Shiva as Margabandhu, a friend of our path. How Lord Shiva kills the enemies with his trident, how he burnt Manmatha, the god of love with his third eye, how he used the golden Mount Meru as his bow in the war against three demons etc have been stated while praising the Lord. The various attributes like his blue neck, the matted lock adorned with the Ganges and the Moon etc have been picturised beautifully while rendering this hymn.

In conclusion, while acknowledging that he is the author of the hymn, he assures all that if this stotra is read with devotion during journey, Lord Shiva would be easily pleased and would ensure fulfilment of all wishes along with protection during the journey.

I have also brought about an audio book titled ‘A few hymns on Lord Shiva’ which you may like to hear. It is available with leading audio book-sellers like Google’s play books.

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This stotram is the prayer stated to have been made by Lord Indra in praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi. This occurs in the Padma Purana. It is considered that those who chant this hymn gain success in all walks of life. The phalasruti says that Goddess Lakshmi would be pleased with all those who recite this prayer; that the sins of those who recite this stotra atleast once daily would be destroyed; that those who recite twice daily would be endowed with wealth and food; and that those who recite it three times daily would be able to win over all their enemies.

This is a hymn on Lord Shiva composed by Sage Markandeya.

I have also brought about an audio book titled ‘A few hymns on Lord Shiva’ which you may like to hear. It is available with leading audio book-sellers like Google’s play books.

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This is a canto in Narayaneeyam composed by Narayana Bhattathri describing the Rasa dance that Lord Krishna had with the gopikas.