Yatra · Pilgrimage

Prayers for your yatra

Find prayers for each part of your pilgrimage, from setting out and travelling to visiting sacred sites and returning home. Suggested counts are included.

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12 prayers

Before you leave 2

For a safe, settled start to your journey.

Ganapati PrarthanaRemoving obstaclesविघ्नेश्वराय वरदाय सुरप्रियाय लम्बोदराय …

Recited before setting out, asking Ganesha to clear the road of unforeseen obstacles.

विघ्नेश्वराय वरदाय सुरप्रियाय लम्बोदराय सकलाय जगद्धिताय। नागाननाय श्रुतियज्ञविभूषिताय गौरीसुताय गणनाथ नमो नमस्ते॥

Vighneshvaraya Varadaya Surapriyaya Lambodaraya Sakalaya Jagaddhitaya, Nagananaya Shrutiyajnavibhushitaya Gaurisutaya Gananatha Namo Namaste.

Count thisRecommended 21 or 108 before leaving

Svasti VachanamBlessing for safe passageस्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः …

An ancient Rigvedic blessing for protection and well-being, recited by travellers at the start of a pilgrimage.

स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः। स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु॥

Svasti Na Indro Vriddhashravah, Svasti Nah Pusha Vishvavedah, Svasti Nastarkshyo Arishtanemih, Svasti No Brihaspatirdadhatu.

Count thisRecommended 11

On the way 2

For courage and calm as you travel.

Mahamrityunjaya MantraMountain and highway travelॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं …

Many yatris recite it on mountain roads and long drives, for protection and freedom from fear.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat.

Count thisRecommended 108 during the journey

Hanuman Chalisa dohaCourage on hard terrainबल बुधि बिद्या देहु …

On steep ghats and remote paths, pilgrims call on Hanuman for strength and courage with this line from the opening doha of the Hanuman Chalisa.

बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार॥

Bal Budhi Bidya Dehu Mohi, Harahu Kalesa Bikaar.

Count thisRecommended 11 or 108

Yatra circuits 7

Prayers for the Jyotirlingas, Char Dham shrines, Shakti Peeth and Divya Desams.

On arrival at each shrine, many pilgrims count the mantra of that deity.

Jyotirlinga YatraDwadash Jyotirlinga Stotramसौराष्ट्रदेशे विशदेऽतिरम्ये ज्योतिर्मयं चन्द्रकलावतंसम् …

Recited on reaching any of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The first verse honours Somnath in Saurashtra.

सौराष्ट्रदेशे विशदेऽतिरम्ये ज्योतिर्मयं चन्द्रकलावतंसम्। भक्तिप्रदानाय कृपावतीर्णं तं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये॥

Saurashtradeshe Vishade Atiramye Jyotirmayam Chandrakalavatamsam, Bhaktipradanaya Kripavatirnam Tam Somanatham Sharanam Prapadye.

Count thisRecommended 108 of Om Namah Shivaya, or the stotram once

Char Dham: YamunotriAbode of Goddess Yamunaॐ यमुनायै नमः

The first shrine of the Himalayan Char Dham. Pilgrims offer this salutation to the river Yamuna on reaching the hot springs and the temple.

ॐ यमुनायै नमः॥

Om Yamunayai Namah.

Count thisRecommended 108 at the shrine

Char Dham: GangotriAbode of Goddess Gangaगङ्गे च यमुने चैव …

At Gangotri, near the source of the Ganga, pilgrims recite the Ganga stuti, calling the sacred rivers into the water before them.

गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति। नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु॥

Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Saraswati, Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jale Asmin Sannidhim Kuru.

Count thisRecommended 108 at the shrine

Char Dham: KedarnathAbode of Lord Shivaॐ नमः शिवाय शंभवे …

Among the high Himalayan peaks, pilgrims count this salutation to Shiva, or the Panchakshara, Om Namah Shivaya.

ॐ नमः शिवाय शंभवे महादेवाय नमः॥

Om Namah Shivaya Shambhave Mahadevaya Namah.

Count thisRecommended 108 at the shrine

Char Dham: BadrinathAbode of Lord Vishnuॐ नमो नारायणाय

The last of the Char Dham. Pilgrims count the Ashtakshara mantra of Vishnu before Badri Narayan.

ॐ नमो नारायणाय॥

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Count thisRecommended 108 at the shrine

Vaishno Devi and Shakti Peeth YatraNavarna Mantraॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं …

Recited on the climb and at the cave shrine, calling on the Divine Mother for strength and grace.

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे॥

Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vichche.

Count thisRecommended 108 (1 mala)

Divya Desam YatraAshtakshara Mantraॐ नमो नारायणाय

Chanted across the ancient Vishnu temples of South India sung by the Alvars.

ॐ नमो नारायणाय॥

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Count thisRecommended 108 (1 mala)

Coming home 1

A prayer of gratitude for the journey.

Kayena Vacha (Samarpan)Offering the journeyकायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना …

From the Bhagavata Purana: whatever I do by body, speech, mind, senses, intellect or nature, I offer to Narayana. Recited at the close of a puja, or on reaching home after a yatra.

कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात्। करोमि यद्यत् सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयामि॥

Kayena Vacha Manasendriyairva Buddhyatmana Va Prakriteh Svabhavat, Karomi Yadyat Sakalam Parasmai Narayanayeti Samarpayami.

Count thisRecommended 1 or 3 on returning home

These are Hindu yatra prayers. Jain and Sikh pilgrimage prayers, for Shikharji, Palitana, Harmandir Sahib and Hemkunt Sahib, are coming soon.

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Quick answers

Yatra prayers: common questions

What to chant before, during and after your pilgrimage.

What prayer should I say before starting a yatra?

Many pilgrims begin with the Ganapati Prarthana, asking Ganesha to remove obstacles (21 or 108 times), and the Svasti Vachanam, a Rigvedic blessing for a safe journey (11 times).

Which mantras are chanted on the Char Dham Yatra?

At each shrine, pilgrims count the mantra of its deity, usually 108 times: Om Yamunayai Namah at Yamunotri, the Ganga Stuti at Gangotri, Om Namah Shivaya at Kedarnath and Om Namo Narayanaya at Badrinath.

Which mantra is chanted at Vaishno Devi?

Many devotees chant the Navarna Mantra, Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vichche, 108 times on the climb and at the cave shrine.

What is chanted at the 12 Jyotirlingas?

The Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotram, which names all twelve shrines, or Om Namah Shivaya 108 times on reaching each Jyotirlinga.

Which mantra is good for safe travel on mountain roads?

Many yatris recite the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra 108 times during the journey, and the Hanuman Chalisa line 'Bal budhi bidya dehu mohi' for courage on hard terrain.

How should a yatra end?

On returning home, many offer the journey with the Kayena Vacha verse from the Bhagavata Purana, recited once or three times.