My favorite prayer song

अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे
शंकर प्राणवल्लभे ।
ज्ञान वैराग्य सिध्यर्थं
भिक्षां देहिच पार्वति ॥

माता च पार्वती देवी
पिता देवो महेश्वरः ।
बान्धवाः शिवभक्ताश्च
स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम् ॥

annapūrṇe sadāpūrṇe
śaṃkara prāṇavallabhe
jñāna vairāgya sidhyarthaṃ
bhikṣāṃ dehica pārvati

mātā ca pārvatī devī
pitā devo maheśvaraḥ
bāndhavāḥ śivabhaktāśca
svadeśo bhuvanatrayam

Salutations to Mother Annapoorna: O Mother Annapoorna, You who are always full (with the gift of Food and Blessings), You who are the beloved of Shankara (Shiva),
O Mother Parvati, Please grant me the alms of your Grace, to awaken within me Spiritual Knowledge (Jnana) and detachment, freedom from all worldly desires (Vairagya).

Salutations to Mother Annapoorna, my Mother Devi Parvati, and my Father, Deva Maheswara (Shiva). My friends are the devotees of Lord Shiva, and my residence is all the Three Worlds (whose Lord is none other than Shiva-Parvati).

My favorite prayer song:

कस्तूरितिलकं ललाटपटले वक्षःस्थले कौस्तुभं
नासाग्रे नवमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कंकणम् ।
सर्वांगे हरिचंदनं सुललितं कंठे च मुक्तावलिं
गोपस्त्री परिवेष्ठितो विजयते गोपाल चूडामणिम् ।।

kastūritilakaṃ lalāṭapaṭale vakṣaḥsthale kaustubhaṃ
nāsāgre navamauktikaṃ karatale veṇuṃ kare kaṃkaṇam .
sarvāṃge haricaṃdanaṃ sulalitaṃ kaṃṭhe ca muktāvaliṃ
gopastrī pariveṣṭhito vijayate gopāla cūḍāmaṇim ..

With the fragrant kasturi-mark on the forehead, the precious Kaustubha gem on the chest, the lovely pearl-jewel at the nose tip, the flute in the palm and the kankan (bangle) encircling the hand, the scented sandalwood paste all over the body, the pearl-necklace around the beautiful neck, surrounded by milk-maids – may victory be yours, O crown gem of Gopalas.

Several years ago,my father sent me a prayer book, Prarthana Tarangini.The book originally belonged to my mother and she signed her name on the first page and dated the copy on 1-2-89 (January 02, 1989). Apparently,she liked some prayers more than others and she check marked her favorite selections in the prayer book.I liked her choice of “Bruhi Mukundeti.”

bruhi mukundeti he rasane pahi mukundeti ||

keshava madhava govindeti krishnananda sadanandeti ||

radharamana harerameti rajivaksha ghanashyameti ||

garudagamana nandakahasteti khanditadashakandharamasteti ||

akrurapriya chakradhareti hamsaniranjana kamsahareti ||

The name Sri Krishna is received by the ears of the listener with a sense of sweetness which is described as sweet as the heavenly nectar called Amrut . Prahlada, a great devotee of Lord Vishnu described nine ways to worship Vishnu. The acts of  Smaranam (Remembering the Lord by recalling His glorious names from memory),  Kirtanam (Singing the holy names of the Lord), and  Sravanam (Listening or hearing the names of the Lord) could be combined into a single act of worship by simply repeating the various sweet names with which Lord  Krishna is known.The best thing about this prayer is that one need not ask for any grant of wishes and need not express the desires of your heart. Kuchela who had traveled to Dwaraka to meet with Krishna and seek His favors, had actually forgotten to mention the purpose of his visit and was feeling sorry on his way back home for he thought that he had missed a great opportunity to speak his mind to Krishna. Kuchela,when he eventually got back home, he was in for a big surprise. Krishna knew his problems and granted his wishes and much more even without hearing a word about it. The sweetness of the name makes it easier to carry on the burdens of life and comforts you during your journey.The sweet name cheers up your heart, brightens your mood, sooths your aching joints, and gives hope when there is nothing else you can do. Let that sweet name fulfill your unexpressed,unstated and unspoken desires of your heart.

Favorite Prayer of my Uncle Shri. R. K. Rao:

मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं
जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठ ।
वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं
श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये ।
Mano-Javam Maaruta-Tulya-Vegam
Jite[a-I]ndriyam Buddhi-Mataam Varissttha |
Vaata-Atmajam Vaanara-Yuutha-Mukhyam
Shriiraama-Duutam Sharannam Prapadye |

Meaning:
(I take Refuge in Sri Hanuman)
1: Who is Swift as the Mind and Fast as the Wind, 
2: Who is the Master of the Senses, and Honoured for His Excellent Intelligence, Learning and Wisdom, 
3: Who is Son of the Wind God and Chief among the Vanaras (Who were part of the Devas incarnated in the species of the monkeys to serve Sri Rama during His Incarnation),
4: To that Messenger of Sri Rama, I take Refuge (by prostrating before him).

अंजनीगर्भ संभूत कपीन्द्र सचिवोत्तम ।
रामप्रिय नमस्तुभ्यं हनुमन् रक्ष सर्वदा ॥

añjanīgarbha sambhūta kapīndra sacivottama .
rāmapriya namastubhyaṃ hanuman rakṣa sarvadā ..

I take refuge in Hanuman who was born from the womb of mother Anjani, and who was the most excellent minister of the king of monkeys (i.e. Sugriva), who is extremely dear to Sri Rama; I bow to you, O Hanuman, please protect me always.

Favorite prayer of my brother Prof. R. Subbarao:

ōm ॥ 

asya śrī lalitā divya sahasranāma stōtra mahāmantrasya, vaśinyādi vāgdēvatā ṛṣayaḥ, anuṣṭup Chandaḥ, śrī lalitā parābhaṭṭārikā mahā tripura sundarī dēvatā, aiṃ bījaṃ, klīṃ śaktiḥ, sauḥ kīlakaṃ, mama dharmārtha kāma mōkṣa chaturvidha phalapuruṣārtha siddhyarthē lalitā tripurasundarī parābhaṭṭārikā sahasra nāma japē viniyōgaḥ

May we meditate on the divine mother
whose body has the red hue of vermilion,
who has three eyes,
who wears a beautiful crown studded with rubies,
who is adorned with the crescent moon,
whose face sports beautiful smile indicating compassion,
who has beautiful limbs,
whose hands hold a jewel-studded golden vessel filled
with nectar, and in the other a red lotus flower.

Favorite prayers of my pilot Uncle Capt. R. R. Rao:

My prayer in the morning::

Ekadantham mahakayam tapta kanchana sannibham
Lambodaram vishalaksham vandeham Gananayakam (1)

O the one who is with a single tusk and with a mighty body that looks resplendent like that of molten gold
Who is having a huge belly, pleasant and broad eyes, I bow to you Lord Ganesha, the leader of Ganas.

Om Namah Savitre (six times)

” OM GHRINI SURYA ADITYA OM “(eight times)

Vishnu Shakti Samutpanne
Chitra Varne Mahitale
Aneka Ratna Sampanne
Bhoomi Devi Namostute

Before going to bed at night:

श्री राम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।
सहस्रनाम तत् तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥

śrī rāma rāma rāmeti rame rāme manorame .
sahasranāma tat tulyaṃ rāmanāma varānane ..

In chanting his name again and again, ‘śrīrāma rāma rāma,’ I discover joy in Lord Rāma who pleases my heart and whose face is a blessing. His name is equal to the one thousand names of Lord Vişnu.