What is the first thing you do when you open your eyes in the morning?
Keep rolling in the bed for some more time? Reach out for your phone? Get up and brush your teeth? Make up the bed?
Do you want to know how can you start your day differently? Well, read on…
There are many wonderful shlokas, mantras and hymns to choose from to start one’s day. But the popular ones are these two; and they are my personal choices too!
The moment you wake up, while you are still in your bed, gaze into your open palms and recite the shloka -
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती । करमूले स्थितो ब्रह्म प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥
(focusing on the tips of the palms) कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः - at the tip of the palm resides Goddess of Wealth Laxmi
(focusing on the centre of the palms) करमध्ये सरस्वती - at the middle of the palm, (lives) Goddess of Wisdom Saraswati
(gazing at the base of the palms) करमूले स्तिथः ब्रह्म* - at the base of the palm is situated Brahman
(join the hands in namaskara) प्रभाते करदर्शनम् - in the morning, (I) view my palms
The Vishnu Purana has this shloka as above. In the popular version, the beginning of the second line changes to “करमूले तु गोविन्दः” or in some cases “करमूले स्थितो गौरी” – at the base of the palm is Lord Vishnu (Govind) or Goddess Parvati (Gauri).
This shloka is interpreted in many ways.
Some elders state that when you recite it in the morning, you will invite prosperity and wealth (signified by Laxmi), intelligence and wisdom (signified by Saraswati) and happiness and contentment (signified by Govinda).
While some others opine that it is a shloka to remind you of your Karma – your hands represent the कर्मेन्द्रियाः/ karmendriya (action organs) – use the day to do your duties and gain knowledge, and don’t forget to remember God.
I like to interpret this shloka a little differently.
As you wake up and greet the new day in your life, recite this shloka as a Call for Action.
Remind yourself to use your fingers during the day for benevolence – donate whole-heartedly – for the more you give, the more you will receive! Spend a moment in prayer of Goddess Laksmi.
The centre of your palms forms an ओंजळ/ cupped hands – these serve to remind you to always seek education and wisdom all your life. You are never too old to learn something new. Spend a moment meditating on Goddess Saraswati.
The attention shifting now to the base of your hand is to remind you that the foundation of the entire world - visible and invisible is the ब्रह्मन् / Brahman. As you start your day in the material world, take this moment to remember that you are one with the Supreme Consciousness, you arise from it and will resolve into it. So that you will bear it in your mind through the day too.
Thus, recite this shloka to Carpe Diem (seize the day) while staying rooted!
You may ask – “Once I recite this shloka, can I now get off my bed (and get to my phone!!)?” Well, hang on, there’s another one… but for that one, watch this space next week!!
Note – ब्रह्मन् / Brahman is not to be confused with the ब्राह्मण /Brahmin (one of the 4 Varnas).
*संधि-विग्रहः / Sandhi Vigraha - Two words joined in shloka have been separated.
Beautiful, as usual!