Transliteration (ITRANS) Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation

a	“a” in “Roman”
A	“a” in “far”
i	“i” in “pin”
I	“ea” in “peak”
u	“u” in “pull”
U	“u” in “rule”
e	“ey” in “they” (without the off-glide)
ai	“ai” in “aisle”
o	“o” in “note”
ou	“ow” in “now”
M	anusvara - the nasal sound of the consonant that follows it.
H	visage - shorter and softer version of vowel before it.
k	“k” in “sky”
kh	k with strong expulsion of breath
g	“g” in “go”
gh	g with strong expulsion of breath
˜Na	No equivalent sound in English
ch	the second “ch” in “church”
cch	ch with strong expulsion of breath
j	“j” in “jam”
jh	j with a strong expulsion of breath
˜na	No equivalent sound in English
T	“t” in “stop” with tongue curled further backward
Th	T with strong expulsion of breath
D	“dd” in “odd” with tongue curled further backward
Dh	D with strong expulsion of breath
N	“n” in “land” with tongue curled further backward
t	T with tongue starting just behind and touching upper teeth
th	t with strong expulsion of breath
d	D with tongue starting just behind and touching upper teeth
dh	d with a strong expulsion of breath
n	“n” in “no” with tongue starting just behind and touching upper teeth
p	“p” in “spin”
ph	p with strong expulsion of breath
b	“b” in “ban”
bh	b with strong expulsion of breath
m	“m” in “man”
y	“y” in “yes”
r	“r” in “drama”
l	“l” in “lion”
v or w	“w” in “we”
sh	“sh” in “shall”
Sh	approach the roof of the palatal dome with tip of the tongue and expel breath
s	“ss” “lesson”
h	“h” in “hope”

gaNesha shloka

shuklAmbara dharaM viShNuM
shashi varNaM chaturbhujam
prasanna vadanaM dhyAyet
sarva vighnopa shAntaye

Meaning: May one meditate upping Lord Vigneshvara, who wears the white garment, who is all pervasive, who has a bright complexion (like the full moon), who has four hands (representing all power), who has am ever-smiling face (or an elephant face), for the removal of all obstacles.

guru shloka

gurur brahmA gurur viShNuH
gurur devo maheshvaraH
gurussAkShAt paraM brahma
tasmai shrI gurave namaH

Meaning: The guru is brahmA, the guru is viShNu, the guru is maheshvara. The guru is ultimate truth. Unto that guru my prostration.

nArAyaNa shloka

shAntAkAraM bhuja˜Nga shayanaM padma nAbhaM sureshaM
vishvAdhAraM gagana sadrshaM meghavarNaM shubhAngam
lakShmI kAntaM kamala nayanaM yogi hriddhyAna gamyaM
vande viShNum bhava bhaya haraM sarva lokaika nAtham

Meaning: I worship Lord viShNu the embodiment of peace, who is reclining on the serpentAdisesha, whose navel has a lotus (of brahma), who is the Lord of the Gods, who is the supporter of the universe, who is all prevailing (the omnipresent), Lord of lakShmi (wealth); whose eyes are like lotus, who is attainable by yogi through meditation, who is the destroyer of all fear of birth and death and who is the only Lord of allthe three lokas (worlds).

lakShmI aShTakam

namaste’stu mahAmAye
shrI pIThe sura pUjite
sha˜Nkha chakra gadA haste
mahA lakShmI namo’stu te

Meaning: Salutation to you, O mahAlakShmi, who is all power, who is the seat of wealth, who is worshipped by the gods and who has a conch, a disc and a mace in her hands.

namaste garuDAruDhe
kolAsura bhaya˜Nkari
sarva pApa hare devI
mahA lakShmI namo’stu te

Meaning: Salutation to you, O mahAlakShmi, who is mounted on garuDa, who instilled fear in the hearth of the demon kola and who is the destroyer of all miseries.

sarasvatI shloka

sarasvatI namastubhyam
varade kAmarUpiNI
vidyArambham kariShyAmi
siddhirbhavatu me sadA

Meaning: O Mother saraswati, my humble prostrations to Thee, who art the fulfiller of all my wishes. I begin my studies with the request that Thou wilt bestow Thy blessings on me.

yA kundendu tuShAra hAra dhavalA yA shubhra vastrA vrutA
yA vINA varadanDamanDitakarA yA shvata padmAsanA
yA brahmachyuta shankara pabhrutibhir devaiH sadA pUjitA
sA mAm pAdu sarasvatI bhagavatI nishsheSha jADyApahA

Meaning: Goddess saraswati is fair like the jasmine-colored moon; her pure white garland is like frosty dew drops; she is adorned in radiant white attire. While two of her hands play the veena, the two other hands are poised to give boons, awards and punishments as needed. She is seated on a white lotus. She is ever worshipped by all the devas including brahma, viShNu and maheshwara. May this Goddess saraswati, the one who completely removes lethargy, sluggishness and ignorance, protect me.

annapUrNA stotram

annpUrNe sadA pUrNe
shankara prANa vallabhe
j˜nana vairAgya siddhartham
bhikShAm dehi cha pArvatI

Meaning: Hey , Mother annapUrNeswari,beloved shakti of shivA,fullness everlasting and fully manifest as this food,please give me alms,of knowledge, renunciation and spiritual perfection,for me forever.

Birthday Wishes

janma-dinam-idam ayi priya sakhe
shantanotu te sarvadA mudam
prArthayAmahe bhava shatAyushi
Ishvaras-sadA tvAm cha rakShatu
puNya karmaNA kIrtim-arjaya
jIvanam tava bhavatu sArtakam

Meaning: O! Friend, may this birthday of yours
bring in auspiciousness and happiness.
We pray that you enjoy hundred beautiful years of life, and
may the Lord always protect you.
By your virtuous act, earn fame and
may your life be fulfilling.

Seva Theme Song

bhArata desha hitAya
bharatAdi mahamati sevita
Asetu himAcala vana giri jana samrakshanAya
kuru sevAm tvam kuru sevAm

Meaning: For the good of the country bhArata which was served by great minds like bhArata and others for all around protection of all those who dwell in the forests and hills from rAmeshvaram to the himalayas do service, you do service …

AyUrArogya vivardhanAya dharma samsthApanAya
kShobha nivAraNAya subhiksha pariprApaNAya
dinajana uddhAraNAya
kuru sevAm tvam kuru sevAm

Meaning: For the improvement of longevity and health, for the establishment of all forms of justice and order, for the removal of all forms of affliction (like poverty etc.), for bringing about all round prosperity, for the upliftment of all those who need help, do service, you do service…

Pledge

India is my country
All Indians are my brothers and sisters.
I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage.
I shall always strive to be worthy of it.
I shall give my parents, teachers and all elders
respect and treat everyone with courtesy.
To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion.
In their well-being and prosperity alone lies my happiness.
Jai Hind!

National Anthem

jana gaNa mana adhi nAyaka jaya he
bhArata bhAgya vidhAtA
punjAba sindhu gujarAta marAThA
drAviDa utkala banga
vindhya himAchala yamunA gangA
uchChala jaladhi taranga
tava shubha nAme jAge
tava shubha AshiSha mAge
gAhe tava jaya gAthA
jana ga?a mangala dhAyaka jaya he
bhArata bhAgya vidhAta
jaya he jaya he jaya he
jaya jaya jaya jaya he!

Meaning: Thou are the ruler of the minds of all people, dispenser of India's destiny. The name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujurat and Maratha. Of the Dravid and Orissa and Bengal. It Echoes in the hills of Vindhyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea. They pray for your blessing and sing thy praise. The salvation of all people is thy hand, thou dispenser of India's destiny. Victory, Victory, Victory to thee.

Transliteration Guide for Pronouncing Thamizh Thaai Vaazhththu Correctly

Thamizh Thaai Vaazhtthu

nIrAru˜ng kadaluduththa nilamada˜ndai kezhilozhugum
sIrArum vadanamenath thigazh baradhak kaNdamidhil
thekkaNamum adhiRsiRa˜ndha dhrAvida˜nal thirunAdum
thakkasiRu piRai˜nudhalum thariththa˜naRu˜n thilagamumE
aththilaga vAsanaippOl anaiththulagum inbamuRa
eththisaiyum pugazhmaNakka iru˜nda peru˜n thamizhana˜ngE thamizhana˜ngE
un sIriLamaith thiRam viya˜ndhu
seyal maRa˜ndhu vAzhththudhumE!
vAzhththudhumE!vAzhththudhumE!
- Manonmaniyam P. Sundaram Pillai