Prayer to be recited before a bath
and shlokas to be recited while bathing

Reciting shlokas while bathing

1. Prayer unto the Jaladevata (Deity of water)

‘O Jaladevata, with your pure water, may the black covering of Raja-Tama predominant waves around my gross body be destroyed. Along with my external cleansing, may my subconscious mind also become pure and clean.’

2. Importance of bathing amidst
chanting the Name of God or recitation of shlokas

Underlying science

While bathing and chanting the Name of God or recitation of shlokas, the Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) in the water gets activated, touches the body and dissipates to every cell in the body, because of which the body acquires divinity and develops the ability to perform day-to-day activities at the level of Chaitanya. – A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 30th October 2007, 1.23 p.m.)

3. Shlokas to be recited while bathing

A. गंगे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति ।
नर्मदे सिंधु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु ।। – Sri Bruhannardiya Puran

Meaning: O rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri, please enrich the water I am bathing with, with your presence.

B. गंगा सिंधु सरस्वति च यमुना गोदावरि नर्मदा ।
कावेरि शरयू महेन्द्रतनया चर्मण्वती वेदिका ।।
क्षिप्रा वेत्रवती महासुरनदी ख्याता जया गण्डकी ।
पूर्णा:पूर्णजलै:समुद्रसहिता:कुर्वन्तु मे मंगलम् ।।

Meaning: May rivers Ganga, Sindhu, Saraswati, Yamuna, Godavari, Narmada, Kaveri, Sharyu, Mahendratanaya, Chambala, Vedika, Kshipra, Vetravati (a rivulet), chiefly the Mahasurnadi, Jaya and Gandaki become sacred and absolute, and along with the sea, shower benevolence on me.

C. नमामि गंगे तव पादपंकजं सुरासुरैर्वन्दितदिव्यरूपाम् ।
भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च ददासि नित्यं भावानुसारेण सदा नराणाम् ।

Meaning: O Mother Ganga, the bestower of all worldly happiness, pleasures and Moksha as per the different levels of bhav of the worshipper, all Deities and demons worship your Holy feet, I too offer obeisance at your Holy feet.

D. गंगा गंगेति यो ब्रूयात् योजनानां शतैरपि ।
मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ।।
तीर्थराजाय नमः ।

Meaning : The one who remembers Ganga even when hundreds of miles away from Her, and repeats ‘Ganga’ thrice is cleansed of all his sins and goes to Vishnulok after death.

E. पापोऽहं पापकर्माऽहं पापात्मा पापसंभवः ।
त्राहि मां कृपया गंगे सर्वपापहरा भव ।।

Meaning: I have performed wrong karmas (Actions). I am sin personified and was created from the bad. O Mother Ganga, please cleanse me of my sins and protect me.

Reference : Sanatan’s Holy Text ‘Daily Conduct and the science underlying its Acts’