Shlokas and Levels

This is the starter level, recommended for small children, typically 3 - 7 year old kids to learn to recognize popular deities and recite a suitable chant.

Most shlokas are simple, single verse hymns, usually 4 lines.

There are around 20+ shlokas in this level.

Examples

• Gajaananam - Prayer to Lord Ganesha

• Gurur Brahma - Prayer to Guru

• Maha Mrtyunjaya Shloka - Prayer to Lord Shiva

• Saraswathi Namasthubhyam - Prayer to Devi Saraswathi

• Hayagriva Shloka - Prayer to Lord Hayagriva

This is recommended for all levels, and also for typically 3 - 7 year old kids.

Most shlokas are simple, single verse hymns, having special meaning for chanting during daily rituals.

There are around 10+ shlokas in this level.

Examples

• Annapoorani Shloka - Prayer before food

• Deepa Shloka - Prayer for the daily lamp

• Shanti Mantra - Prayer for peace

• Thulasi Shloka - Prayer to the thulasi plant

• Navagraha Shloka - Prayer to the planets
  

Shlokas on various deities each of which is a collection of ~5 hymns or of similar length.
They are also sometimes called Panchakams.

Examples

• Ganesha Pancharatnam - In praise of Lord Ganesha

• Guru Paaduka Pancharatnam - In praise of Shri Kanchi Paramacharya

• Shiva Panchaaksharam - In praise of Lord Shiva

• Sastha Pancharatnam - In praise of Lord Ayyappa

• Meenakshi Pancharatnam - In praise of Devi Meenakshi

• Saraswati Dwadasa Nama Shloka - In praise of different names of Devi Saraswathi

• Sri Seetharamayor Vandanam - In praise of Lord Rama and Devi Sita

• Lalitha Pancharatnam - In praise of Devi Lalithambika

• Subrahmanya Pancharatnam - In praise of Lord Subrahmanya

• Sudarshana shatkam - In praise of the Sudarshana chakra of Lord Vishnu

Shlokas on various deities each of which is a collection of ~8 hymns or of similar length.
They are also sometimes called Ashtakams.

Examples

• Balamukundashtakam - Verses praising beauty of infant Lord Krishna

• Mahalakshmi ashtottaram - Set of 8 hymns composed by the head of Devas, Lord Indra to praise the divine nature of Devi Mahalakshmi from the Padma Purana.

• Shri Krishna ashtakam - Set of 8 hymns in worship of Lord Krishna. This popular prayer is believed to be written by Adi Shankaracharya.

• Navagraha stotram - Hymns for planets and celestial bodies composed by Veda Vyasa.

• Lingashtakam - Hymns in praise of the Shivalinga.

• Dakshinamurthy Ashtakam - Hymns in praise of Guru Dakshinamurthy, the fountain of knowledge.

• Kalabhairava Ashtakam - Composed by Shri Adi Shankara, illustrates the personality of Kala Bhairava of Kashi.

• Annapuranaashtakam - An Ashtakam on Devi Annapurani, the deity of Food and Nourishment.

• Durga saptha shlokee - Collection of the most important shlokas from the Devi Mahatmyam for use in daily prayers and chants. Each of the seven shlokas praise the goddess Durgaa and pray to her for different fruits.

• Ashta Dik Palaka Stotram - A stotram for the deities of eight (dik) directions.

• Kolaru Pathikam (Tamil) - A collection of ten poems by Thirugnana Sambandar

• Shanishwara Bhagwan Stuti - In praise of Shani Bhagwan by Dasharatha to overcome difficulties.

• Todakashtakam - In praise of Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada by his disciple Shri Todakacharya.

• Runa Vimochana Nrusimha Stotram - A powerful stotram from Sri Narasimha Purana, to overcome sufferings in life.
  

Shlokas on various deities each of which is a collection of ~15-40 shlokas or similar.

Examples

• Vinayagar Agaval - Hymns on Lord Ganesha (Tamil) by Avvaiyar

• Shri Devi Suktam - Hymns worshipping multiple forms of Devi from the Devi Mahaatmyam Chandipaatam/Durgasaptasati

• Kanakadhara Stotram - Hymns on Devi Lakshmi (Sanskrit) by Shri AdiShankara Bhagawadpada

• Hanuman Chalisa - Hymns on Lord Hanuman(Hindi/Awadhi) by Sant Goswami Tulsidas

• Subrahmanya bhujangam - Hymns on Lord Muruga (Sanskrit) by Shri AdiShankara Bhagawadpada

• Shanmukha Kavacham - Hymns on Lord Shanmukha (Tamil) by Shri Pamban Swamigal

• Aigiri Nandini - Hymns on Devi Mahishasura Mardani

• Lakshmi Nrsimha Karaavalambam - Hymns on Lord Nrsimha

• Shiva Purana Stotram - Hymns on Lord Shiva

• Nataraja Pathu (Tamil) - A composition by Shri Muniswamy Mudaliar in worship of Lord Nataraja
  

Large collection of shlokas on various deities each of which is a collection of 100+ hymns.
Usually recommended for age group above 10 years or senior students.

Examples

• Soundarya Lahari - A 100 verse composition on Devi Kamakshi by Shri AdiShankara (8th century BCE)

• Lalitha Sahasranama - A 183 verse composition, on the 1000 names of Devi from the Brahmanda Purana

• Vishnu Sahasranama - A composition on 1000 names of Lord Vishnu from the Mahabharatha

• Abhirami Anthathi (Tamil) - A 100 verse composition on Devi by Abhirama Pattar