Most any action in the vedic traditions begins with a prayer. Prayers serve as a container for the energies of what ever activity one wishes to perform. In this case it is for study.

The main three opening prayers are for protection from obstacles in the activity. The request for wisdom and clarity for the activity. And finally request for the highest teachings and understanding available in moving forward with the activity.

These three intentions are universal in vedic study and in all hindu rituals. However the actual wording of the prayer may differ from tradition to tradition.

The three prayers within this course is in the style of the Ayurvedic Institute and Dr. Vasant Lad's tradition.

The next opening prayer usually is specific to the text studied or activity performed. In this case we are using the Ashtanga Hrdayam's invocation called the Mangalacaranam. It is the opening shloka or verse to the Ashtanga Hrdayam and is dedicated to the divine physician or healer.

Closing prayers end the activity. They are usually contain some mention of the completion and fullness of the activity. In the case of a group activity there is usually a peace prayer asking that all involved in the activity should be fulfilled by the action and that there should be present and future understanding among the participants. There is usually a dedication to a personal god as well as requesting to be released from egoic negative attachment to what has come before.

In this course there are 4 prayers.

Each prayer contains the devanagari writing, a transliteration in english letters and a recording of the chant for study.

Each prayer is translated for meaning as well a paragraph for context.

The prayers are:

1. Prayer to Ganesh - Shloka by Rshi Agastya
2. Prayer to Saraswati
3. Guru Mantra from the Guru Gita
4. Mangalacaranam from the Ashtanga Hrdayam