Jaap mantras for pregnancy, with suggested counts

How to choose

Pick the mantra that feels most meaningful to you and your family — perhaps one an elder chanted, or one tied to your family deity. It is better to chant one mantra regularly than to rotate through many. Short mantras suit tired days and late pregnancy; longer verses can be listened to rather than chanted.

The counts below are gentle suggestions based on common practice, not requirements. Reduce them whenever you need to.

Gentle reminders

• Sit supported and breathe naturally; never hold your breath to finish a line.
• Stop if you feel dizzy, breathless or uncomfortable.
• Mantras are spiritual and calming practices — they sit alongside, never instead of, antenatal care.

A simple daily routine

Many mothers find a small, regular routine works best. For example: after the morning bath, light a lamp, sit supported and chant 11 Gayatri or Om; in the evening, before the bedtime story, chant or listen to the Garbh Raksha Stotra once with a hand on the bump. On tired days, listening alone is enough.

Partners can take one of these moments as their own — perhaps the evening chant — so the baby hears both voices and the practice is shared.

Changing the count across trimesters

In the first trimester, when tiredness and nausea are common, short counts of 11 or listening are kind to your body. Many mothers enjoy a full mala in the second trimester. In the third trimester, shorter counts, chanting in a lying-on-your-side position, or silent jaap may feel better. Our jaap during pregnancy guide covers seating and breathing in more detail.

Mantras and suggested counts

• Om (ॐ)11–27

  ॐ

  Slow, humming Om lengthens the exhale. Good in every trimester. Morning or before the evening story — 5 to 11 slow repetitions, sitting comfortably.

  Chant with the jaap counter →
• Gayatri Mantra11 or 108

  ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं । भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

  Traditionally at sunrise. Chant a line per breath if needed. Traditionally at sunrise. Many mothers chant it 3, 11 or 108 times as part of a morning ritual.

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• Garbha Raksha Ambika Stotram (Garbh Raksha Stotra)1–3 recitations

  वापीतटे वामभागे वामदेवस्य देवस्य देवि स्थिता त्वम् । मान्या वरेण्या वदान्या पाहि गर्भस्थजन्तून् तथा भक्तलोकान् ॥ श्रीमाधवीकाननस्थे गर्भरक्षाम्बिके पाहि भक्तां स्तुवन्तीम् ॥

  A stotra rather than a short mantra — recite or listen once or a few times daily. Many mothers recite it daily from early pregnancy, often in the morning after a bath or before the evening story. Reciting the refrain alone, slowly, is a complete practice on tired days.

  Chant with the jaap counter →
• Santan Gopal Mantra11–108

  ॐ देवकीसुत गोविन्द वासुदेव जगत्पते । देहि मे तनयं कृष्ण त्वामहं शरणं गतः ॥

  A prayer to child Krishna for a healthy child. Chanted by couples hoping to conceive and during pregnancy for blessings on the child.

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• Mahamrityunjaya Mantra11, 27 or 108

  ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

  The classic prayer for health and protection. Chanted for health and protection. Many families chant it during pregnancy for the wellbeing of mother and baby.

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• Sarva Mangala Mangalye (Durga Mantra)11–21

  सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

  A short Devi prayer for all that is auspicious. A short verse from the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), easy to chant 3, 11 or 21 times in the morning or during Navratri. It suits days when you want steadiness and strength.

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• Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah (Shanti Mantra)3–11

  ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः । सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु । मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

  A peace prayer for everyone's wellbeing — lovely to close a session. A gentle close to the evening ritual, after the story.

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• Vishnu SahasranamaListen once

  शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् । प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥ विश्वं विष्णुर्वषट्कारो भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः । भूतकृद्भूतभृद्भावो भूतात्मा भूतभावनः ॥ श्रीराम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे । सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥

  Long; many mothers listen while resting and chant the "Shri Rama Rama" verse 3 times. Traditionally recited in the morning or on Thursdays and Ekadashi. In pregnancy, listening to a recording while resting is a gentle way to take part; recite only the selected verses if the full text feels long.

  Chant with the jaap counter →
• Hanuman Chalisa1 recitation

  ॥ दोहा ॥ श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि । बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि ॥ बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार । बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार ॥ ॥ चौपाई ॥ जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर । जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर ॥ राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा । अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा ॥ महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी । कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी ॥ … ॥ दोहा ॥ पवनतनय संकट हरन, मंगल मूरति रूप । राम लखन सीता सहित, हृदय बसहु सुर भूप ॥

  Recited for courage, often on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Many mothers recite or listen to it on Tuesdays and Saturdays, or any evening when they want to feel brave. A full recitation takes about 8–10 minutes; listening to a calm recording is just as valid on tired days.

  Chant with the jaap counter →

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• NCCIH (US National Institutes of Health) — Meditation and mindfulness: what you need to know