Slokas combine lines of verses with poetic meter the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are almost entirely composed in sloka form, which helps one to remember and recite extensive lines of verses. Slokas are also used extensively during pujas and rituals and for propitiating cosmic forces in the form of deities. A Sloka to Lord Ganesha is ubiquitous in the start of any new venture, program, or ritual. It is extremely important that the words in a sloka are properly enunciated and pronounced, otherwise the meanings can be completely changed. Many slokas have also been set to music. As the music here is relatively simple in structure, slokas are also an excellent way to introduce students to simple melodies, in addition to the Sanskrit.
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Maragatham has been teaching slokas along with Sanskrit to most of her Sanskrit students, often using slokas as an instrument for her teaching. Since 2012, she has been appointed by the Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam to teach children and adults every year, slokas set to tune by Smt. MS Subbalakshmi, including the Hanuman Chalisa, Nama Ramayana, and Bhaja Govindam. The students number over 100. In addition, she conducts classes for Vishnu Sahasranamam, Lalitha Sahasranamam, Narayaneeyam, and many other slokas, with full explanation of meanings.
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Some knowledge of Sanskrit is desirable but slokas can also be the first steps to learning Sanskrit, as proper sloka recitation will greatly assist in the proper pronunciation of Sanskrit and provide the learning of the language with neural connections."