11 shlokas · Any week

Shlokas for a mother's health, and bhojan mantras for meals

These verses are for you, the mother. Pregnancy asks a lot of your body, and Indian families have long answered with a small prayer of thanks: before a meal, in the morning sun, or on a day you feel unwell. Here you will find the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, which praises Shiva as the one who nourishes. Annapurna and Brahmarpanam are two well-loved bhojan mantras to say before you eat. There is also a mantra to Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda, and a few very short lines for tired days.

You can chant these in any week. Many mothers pick one verse and say it before each meal, or before the tablets their doctor has given them, as a quiet pause in the day. Read the meaning first, then chant slowly and breathe naturally. Each verse is shown in Devanagari with an easy transliteration, and the practice notes on this page cover most of them.

These are prayers of gratitude, not treatment. Your doctor's advice on food, supplements and medicines always comes first. If something feels wrong, call your doctor straight away. Read our disclaimer

Last updated 11 October 2026

How to practise these verses

For every verse below, unless it says otherwise.

Best time: Before meals, or when taking supplements
How to practise: Once before each meal, or 11 times in the morning
Who can chant: Mother; whole family at meals
Best weeks: Any week

Honest noteA prayer of gratitude. It does not replace diet advice, iron and folic acid, or medicines.

Health and nourishment

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushti-vardhanam, urvarukam iva bandhanan mrityor mukshiya mamritat

Rig Veda 7.59.12

Meaning

We worship the three-eyed Lord, fragrant, who increases nourishment. As a ripe cucumber is freed from its vine, may I be freed from death, not from immortality.

Why we suggest this

Shiva is praised as 'pushti-vardhana', the one who nourishes and helps us grow. Many families also see a birth picture here: a ripe fruit coming away easily when its time is full (our reflection, not the classical meaning).

What you can expect

One of the most comforting health prayers in India. Chant slowly, never breathless.

How to practise: 11 or 21 times, slowly

Gratitude for food

Annapurna – Before Meals

अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे ।ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति ॥

annapurne sadapurne shankara-prana-vallabhe, jnana-vairagya-siddhy-artham bhiksham dehi cha parvati

Annapurna Stotram (attributed to Adi Shankaracharya), verse 11

Meaning

O Annapurna, always full, beloved of Shiva: give me food, so that I may grow in wisdom and inner freedom.

Why we suggest this

Good food matters a lot in pregnancy. This verse turns each meal into a thankful pause.

What you can expect

Slower, more mindful eating, which can also help with heartburn and nausea. For heartburn or nausea, ask your doctor.

Belonging and support

Parvati Is My Mother, Shiva My Father

माता च पार्वती देवी पिता देवो महेश्वरः ।बान्धवाः शिवभक्ताश्च स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम् ॥

mata cha parvati devi pita devo maheshvarah, bandhavah shiva-bhaktash cha svadesho bhuvana-trayam

Annapurna Stotram, verse 12

Meaning

Goddess Parvati is my mother, Lord Shiva my father, the devotees are my family, and the three worlds are my home.

Why we suggest this

A warm verse about belonging, especially for a mother far from her own family.

What you can expect

A feeling of being held by a larger family.

Gratitude for food

Brahmarpanam – Offering the Meal

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् ।ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ॥

brahmarpanam brahma havir brahmagnau brahmana hutam, brahmaiva tena gantavyam brahma-karma-samadhina

Bhagavad Gita 4.24

Meaning

The offering is divine, the food is divine, the fire is divine. The one who sees the divine in every act reaches the divine.

Why we suggest this

One of the best-known Indian mealtime prayers.

What you can expect

Thankfulness at each meal.

Good digestion

I Am the Digestive Fire

अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः ।प्राणापानसमायुक्तः पचाम्यन्नं चतुर्विधम् ॥

aham vaishvanaro bhutva praninam deham ashritah, pranapana-samayuktah pachamy annam chatur-vidham

Bhagavad Gita 15.14

Meaning

I become the digestive fire in living bodies. Joined with the breath, I digest the four kinds of food.

Why we suggest this

Ayurveda places great weight on good digestion (agni) in pregnancy. Traditionally said before eating.

What you can expect

A pause before meals. For acidity or constipation, also follow your doctor's diet advice.

Health and healing

Dhanvantari Mantra

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय धन्वन्तरये अमृतकलशहस्ताय सर्वामयविनाशनाय त्रैलोक्यनाथाय श्रीमहाविष्णवे नमः ॥

om namo bhagavate vasudevaya dhanvantaraye amrita-kalasha-hastaya sarvamaya-vinashanaya trailokya-nathaya shri-mahavishnave namah

Traditional Dhanvantari mantra (used in Ayurveda circles)

Meaning

I bow to Lord Dhanvantari, form of Vishnu, holding the pot of nectar, who removes all illness.

Why we suggest this

Dhanvantari is the god of Ayurveda, the right prayer for health in pregnancy.

What you can expect

Hope and a healthy mindset. Say it before taking your iron or calcium tablets as a reminder.

Best time: Morning, with supplements

Comfort when unwell

The Name Is the Medicine

अच्युतानन्त गोविन्द नामोच्चारणभेषजात् ।नश्यन्ति सकला रोगाः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् ॥

achyutananta govinda namochcharana-bheshajat, nashyanti sakala rogah satyam satyam vadamy aham

Traditional verse (attribution varies)

Meaning

By the medicine of saying the names Achyuta, Ananta and Govinda, all illnesses go away. I say this truly.

Why we suggest this

Very short, and easy on unwell days.

What you can expect

Comfort when you feel sick. It does not replace medicine; take both.

Morning sunlight

Greeting the Sun for Health

आदित्यस्य नमस्कारान् ये कुर्वन्ति दिने दिने ।आयुः प्रज्ञा बलं वीर्यं तेजस्तेषां च जायते ॥

adityasya namaskaran ye kurvanti dine dine, ayuh prajna balam viryam tejas tesham cha jayate

Traditional verse

Meaning

Those who greet the Sun each day gain long life, wisdom, strength, energy and brightness.

Why we suggest this

A reason to step into morning sunlight for a few minutes.

What you can expect

A fresh start to the day.

Best time: Early morning sunlight

Honest noteDo not do fast Surya Namaskar in pregnancy unless a trained prenatal teacher guides you. A simple namaste is enough.

Peace and healing

Dyauh Shanti – Peace Everywhere

ॐ द्यौः शान्तिरन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः पृथिवी शान्तिरापः शान्तिरोषधयः शान्तिः ।वनस्पतयः शान्तिर्विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्तिः सर्वं शान्तिः शान्तिरेव शान्तिः सा मा शान्तिरेधि ॥

om dyauh shantir antariksham shantih prithivi shantir apah shantir oshadhayah shantih, vanaspatayah shantir vishvedevah shantir brahma shantih sarvam shantih shantir eva shantih sa ma shantir edhi

Shukla Yajurveda 36.17

Meaning

May there be peace in the sky, the air, the earth, the waters and the healing plants. May there be peace everywhere, and may that peace come to me.

Why we suggest this

'Oshadhayah shantih', 'may the medicines be peaceful', fits a mother taking supplements and care.

What you can expect

A broad, calming peace prayer.

Health and healing

Roganasheshan – Removing All Illness

रोगानशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान् ।त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां त्वामाश्रिता ह्याश्रयतां प्रयान्ति ॥

roganasheshan apahamsi tushta rushta tu kaman sakalan abhishtan, tvam ashritanam na vipan naranam tvam ashrita hy ashrayatam prayanti

Devi Mahatmya 11.29

Meaning

When pleased, you remove all illness. Those who take refuge in you face no danger, and they become a refuge for others.

Why we suggest this

Durga Saptashati readers traditionally say it for health.

What you can expect

Comfort and hope.

The Goddess as Hunger

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु क्षुधारूपेण संस्थिता ।नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

ya devi sarva-bhuteshu kshudha-rupena samsthita, namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namah

Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), chapter 5

Meaning

To the Goddess who lives in all beings as hunger: I bow to her again and again.

Why we suggest this

Even appetite is sacred: it is how the body feeds the baby. A gentle verse for meal times.

What you can expect

A kinder, less guilty attitude towards cravings and hunger.