गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः। गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥

"The Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva — verily the Supreme Being. Salutations to that Guru."

सा विद्या या विमुक्तये।

"That alone is true knowledge which liberates" — education should free the mind, not just fill it.

विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद् याति पात्रताम्। पात्रत्वात् धनमाप्नोति धनात् धर्मं ततः सुखम्॥

"Knowledge gives discipline, discipline brings worthiness" — a reminder I share with every student.

असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय। मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय॥

"Lead me from untruth to truth, from darkness to light" — the true purpose of a teacher.

या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता।

Saraswati Vandana — a salutation to the Goddess of Knowledge, invoked before every lesson begins.

न चोरहार्यं न च राजहार्यं न भ्रातृभाज्यं न च भारकारि। व्यये कृते वर्धत एव नित्यं विद्याधनं सर्वधनप्रधानम्॥

"Knowledge cannot be stolen, divided or burdensome — and it grows the more you share it." The gift I try to give every day.

ॐ सह नाववतु। सह नौ भुनक्तु। सह वीर्यं करवावहै। तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

The Shanti Mantra — recited before class begins: may teacher and student be protected, nourished and enlightened together, without discord.

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

The Gayatri Mantra — a prayer for the awakening of intellect, invoked to bless every mind that seeks knowledge.