Sloka chanting has been practiced in Indian culture for hundreds of years. Here I have compiled Easy Sanskrit Slokas for Kids. If you teach slokas at an early age and have them recite them every day from childhood, it will develop a good habit that will benefit them even after they have grown up.

What are Slokas?

Sloka is the Indian term for hymns and prayers written in Sanskrit. It typically consists of four verses of eight syllables each. In the simplest terms, it refers to a song in the Sanskrit language.

Benefits of Slokas to Kids

Sloka recitation has its own set of benefits. Various intellectuals from throughout the world have praised India’s ancient tradition of singing mantras. A neuroscientist named James Hartzell studied 21 pundits who chanted Sanskrit mantras on a regular basis. AIIMS conducted a similar study on the Gayatri Mantra. The findings were shocking! The subjects exhibited increased development of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that deals with memory and emotions. The subjects’ brain areas that control speech and voice were likewise observed to have grown in size.

Slokas Helps to  Improve Concentration and Memory in Kids

Chanting of Sanskrit Slokas helps to improve concentration and memory in kids. This is due to the fact that when we recite slokas, it creates vibrations that activate the chakras (on the face and head) that are involved in learning and focus.

Slokas Helps to Reduce Stress

Studies have found that regular chanting of slokas helps to reduce the occurrence of negative thoughts and stress. The slokas emit vibrations that activate the Chakras that helps to be calm.

Slokas Helps to keep Lung Healthy

When children chant shlokas, their breathing slows. They have to deep breaths and hold them for a few seconds. This process helps to keep the lungs healthy.

Slokas Helps to Keep Heart Healthy

According to the findings of a study published in the British Medical Journal, repeating a mantra considerably slows down a person’s breathing, which helps synchronize and regularise heartbeats, so keeping them healthy.

Slokas Teach Valuable Lessons

All shlokas have a profound meaning to them. If we explain the meaning of slokas to the children, then they can also learn life lessons from it.

15 Easy Sanskrit Slokas for Kids With Meanings

Here are fifteen easy Sanskrit slokas for kids, together with their meanings, for them to quickly memorize and chant.

1. Om Namah Shivaya

|| Om Namah Shivaya ||

The chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ is done to harmonise the five components in the surroundings.

Meaning

I bow down to Shiva God. Na  Ma  Shi  Va  Ya are the five syllables that represent the five elements Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. Lord Shiva is the lord of these five elements. These are the building blocks of everything in creation, including the human body. ‘Om’, on the other hand, is the sound of the universe. ‘Om’ means peace and love. When all five components are at peace, love, and harmony, there is happiness and satisfaction not just within you, but also all around you.

2. Hare Krishna Mantra

|| Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,  Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare ||

This mantra honors Lord Vishnu’s two avatars, Krishna and Rama.

Meaning

Hey Lord Krishna ! Lord Rama ! Please employ me in your service.

3. Hanuman Moola Mantra

|| Om Shri Hanumate Namah ||

This mantra honors Lord Hanuman.

Meaning

I bow to the Vayu’s son and Shri Rama’s loving devotee.

4. Guru Mantra

| Gurur Brahmah Gurur Vishnu 
Gurur Devo Maheshwaraha |
|| Gurur Saakshaat Param Brahmah
Tasmai Shree Guravey Namaha ||

The sloka is a salutation to the teacher, who is compared to the Hindu Trinity.

Meaning

The teacher or guru is as great as Brahma (The Creator), Vishnu ( the preserver), and Maheshwara ( the destroyer). The guru is the same as the Almighty. I honor and bow to my teacher or Guru, who is the one and only true God in my life. He possesses the highest power to create, preserve, and guide us to the path of enlightenment.

5.  Gayatri Mantra

| Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha |
| Tat Savitur Varenyam |
| Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi |
|| Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat ||

This sloka is dedicated to the Sun God.

Meaning

You are the master of the universe and our protector. You take away all our sufferings and give us happiness. Your divine light illuminates all domains, including the physical, mental, and spiritual. May your divine light enlighten our minds.

6. Vakrathunda Ganesh Sloka

| Vakrathunda Mahaakaaya |
| Suryakoti Samaprabha |
| Nirvignam Kurumey Deva |
|| Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada ||

This sloka is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The sloka is about asking Lord Ganesha for his blessings in order to remove any obstacles in our way to prosperity.

Meaning

Dear god, you have a curved trunk, an enormous body and you shine bright like million suns. Please bestow your blessings for my new beginnings and remove all troubles and obstacles.

7. Ek Danta Vidhamahe Ganesh Sloka

| Aum Ekadantaya Viddhamahe|
| Vakratundaya Dhimahi|
Tanno Danti Prachodayat॥

This sloka is asking lord Ganesh for his blessings.

Meaning

Dear God Ganesha with one tooth and one tusk. You are the first of all wise lords. I bow before you. Please bless me with wisdom.

8. Om Gam Ganapathiye Ganesh Sloka

| Om Gam Ganapathiye Namo Namah |
| Shree Siddhivinaayaka Namo Namah |
| Ashta Vinaayaka Namo Namah |
|| Ganapati Bappa Mauriya ||

This sloka is in praise of Lord Ganesh.

Meaning

Lord Ganesh, you are the remover of barriers, the giver of Siddhi (or success), and the one worshipped in eight magnificent forms.

9.  Sarvamangala Mangale Shiva Mantra 

| Sarv Mangal Mangalye |
| Shive Sarvarth Sadhike |
| Sharanye Trayambke Gouri |
|| Narayani Namostute ||

This sloka is dedicated to Goddess Durga.

Meaning

The most auspicious of the auspicious! Goddess Parvathi you fulfill all our desires. We celebrate your divinity!! You are the mother of the three worlds, O Gauri, I bow again and again to you.

10. Asatoma Sadgamaya Shanti Mantra

| Asato Ma Sadgamaya |
| Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya |
| Mrtyorma Amrtam Gamaya |
|| Om Shanti Shanto Shantihi |

Asatoma Sadgamaya is a Shanti Mantra.

Meaning

O Lord! Bring me from ignorance to knowledge, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality. Om Shanti !

11. Tvam-Eva Maataa Ch Pitaa Tvam-Eva

| Tvam-Eva Maataa Ch Pitaa Tvam-Eva |
| Tvam-Eva Bandhush-Ch Sakhaa Tvam-Eva |
| Tvam-Eva Viidyaa Dravinnam Tvam-Eva |
| Tvam-Eva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva ||

This mantra is in praise of our teacher or guru.

Meaning

You are my Mother and my Father. Guru! You truly are my relative, as well as my friend. Guru ! You truly are my wealth and my source of knowledge. You truly are my Everything, My God of Gods.

12. Karpuura Gauram Karunna Avataaram

| Karpuura-Gauram Karunna-Avataaram |
|Samsaara-Saaram Bhujagendra-Haaram ।
|Sadaa-Vasantam Hrdaya-Aravinde |
||Bhavam Bhavaanii-Sahitam Namaami ।|

 It is an ancient Sanskrit Shloka in praise of Lord Shiva. 

Meaning

O Shiva, You are Pure White like Camphor, You an Incarnation of Compassion, You are the essence of World’s Existence, Your Garland is the King of Serpents, You are always living inside the Lotus of the Heart, I Bend before Shiva and Shakti together. Har Har Mahadev!

13. Achyutam Keshavam Sloka

| Acyutam Keshavam Raama-Naaraayannam
Krssnna-Daamodaram Vaasudevam Harim |
| Shrii-Dharam Maadhavam Gopikaa-Vallabham
Jaanakii-Naayakam Raamacamdram Bhaje ||

This sloka is in praise of Lord Rama.

Meaning

This verse lauds Lord Ram, who is also known as Achyuta (infallible), Keshav, Raam, Narayan, Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva, Hari, Shridhara (possessing Lakshmi), Madhava, Gopikavallabha (Dearest of Gopika), and Janakinayaka (Lord of Janaki or Sita).

14. Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Sloka

| Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Nidra Rupen Samsithaha |
|| Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah ||

This shloka is dedicated to the goddess Durga.

Meaning

You are everywhere, Goddess (Devi). You are also present while sleeping. I humbly bow to you. I salute you three times. You are the one who, in the shape of Sleep, is present in all living beings (Nidra).

15. Buddham Saranam Gachami

| Buddham Saranam Gacchami।
| Dhammam Saranam Gacchami।
|| Sangham Saranam Gacchami।|

It is a highly important Buddhist chant.

Meaning

The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha are the Three Jewels of Buddhism, and achieving or surrendering to these three heals all sorrows.

Books on Sanskrit Slokas for Kids

Here are links to books and flash cards related to Sanskrit Slokas for kids that you can buy for your little ones.

1. Jigyasa Gods and Goddesses Flashcards

These flashcards with Hindu gods and goddesses also function as slokas and chant cards. A simple and enjoyable approach to introduce Hindu gods and goddesses to children. There are 12 cards depicting Hindu gods and goddesses, each with an eye-catching image on the front and slokas and chants about the deity on the back.
A sloka-chanting habit tracker is included to assist the kid in developing a daily practice.

2. Soulful Shlokas for Kids

This brightly designed book has a collection of popular shlokas and mantras for youngsters to recite. Early morning shloka, Surya Vandana, Hanuman Vandana, Ganpati Vandana, daily prayer for enlightenment, Saraswati Vandana, Gayatri Mantra, Guru Mantra, Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, Devi Mantras, and more are included in this book! It includes the significance as well as the shloka interpretations for easy comprehension.

3. The Little Shloka Book

The Little Shloka Book is an excellent introduction to Sanskrit shlokas for children. The book contains shlokas for every little thing that happens throughout the day. It’s full of vibrant images.

4. My First Shloka Book

My First Shloka Book is an excellent introduction for children to the world of Shloka. A wonderful collection of easy shlokas for children to learn in a fun way. There are even activities at the end for the child to do along with trivia related to gods. It also includes audio files for help in phonetics and recitation.

How to Teach Sanskrit Slokas to Kids?

Here are some tips to teach Sanskrit Slokas to kids,

• If you are just starting to teach your child slokas, don’t overload them with too many at once.
• Begin with the simplest then progress to the more complex ones. Make sure your child recites the correct pronunciation of every word. You don’t want your child to pronounce it wrong. If they mispronounce a word, it will linger with them for a long time and will be tough to unlearn and rectify.
• Also, explain the meaning of each sloka to them so that they understand and appreciate what they are saying.
• Play the shlokas in background. This is a good passive technique to memorize the wordings.
• Whenever your child is reciting the slokas, make them do it loudly. This speeds up memorization process.
• Last but not the least, recite and practice every day.

I hope you found this post of Easy Sanskrit Slokas for Kids helpful. Let me know in the comments if you would like to add any sloka to our list.

Also Read General Knowledge Questions for Kids.