The Shanti Mantras or "Peace Mantras" are Hindu prayers for Peace (Shanti) from the Vedas. Generally they are recited at the beginning and end of religious rituals and discourses.
Shanti Mantras are found in Upanishads, where they are invoked in the beginning of some topics of Upanishads. They are supposed to calm the mind of the reciter and environment around him/her. Reciting them is also believed to be removing any obstacles for the task being started.
Shanti Mantras always end with three utterances of word "Shanti" which means "Peace". The Reason for uttering three times is for calming and removing obstacles in three realms which are:
- "Physical" or Adhi-Bhautika,
- "Divine" or Adhi-Daivika and
- "Internal" or Adhyaatmika
According to the scriptures of Hinduism sources of obstacles and troubles lie in these three realms.
- Physical or Adhi-Bhautika realm can be source of troubles/obstacles coming from external world, such as from wild animals, people, natural calamities etc.
- Divine or Adhi-Daivika realm can be source of troubles/obstacles coming from extra-sensory world of spirits, ghosts, deities, demigods/angels etc.
- Internal or Adhyaatmika realm is source of troubles/obstacles arising out of one's own body and mind, such as pain, diseases, laziness, absent-mindedness etc.
These are called "Tapa-Traya" or three classes of troubles. When Shanti mantras are recited, obstacles from these realms are believed to be pacified.
§Shanti Mantras
These are the Shanti Mantras from the different Upanishads and other sources.
§Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and Ishavasya Upanishad
ॠपà¥à¤°à¥à¤£à¤®à¤¦à¤ पà¥à¤°à¥à¤£à¤®à¤¿à¤¦à¤®à¥ पà¥à¤°à¥à¤£à¤¾à¤¤à¥ पà¥à¤°à¥à¤£à¤®à¥à¤¦à¤à¥à¤¯à¤¤à¥ | पà¥à¤°à¥à¤£à¤¸à¥à¤¯ पà¥à¤°à¥à¤£à¤®à¤¾à¤¦à¤¾à¤¯ पà¥à¤°à¥à¤£à¤®à¥à¤µà¤¾à¤µà¤¶à¤¿à¤·à¥à¤¯à¤¤à¥ || ॠशानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ ||
Auá¹ pÅ«rá¹amadaḥ pÅ«rá¹amidam pÅ«rá¹Ät pÅ«rá¹amudacyate pÅ«rá¹asya pÅ«rá¹amÄdÄya pÅ«rá¹amevÄvaÅiá¹£yate oá¹ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ
Aum! That is infinite (Brahman), and this (universe) is infinite. The infinite proceeds from the infinite. (Then) taking the infinitude of the infinite (universe), It remains as the infinite (Brahman) alone. Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!
§Taittiriya Upanishad
ॠशठनॠमितà¥à¤°à¤ शठवरà¥à¤£à¤à¥¤ शठनॠà¤à¤µà¤¤à¥à¤µà¤°à¥à¤¯à¤®à¤¾à¥¤ शठन à¤à¤¨à¥à¤¦à¥à¤°à¥ बà¥à¤¹à¤¸à¥à¤ªà¤¤à¤¿à¤à¥¤ शठनॠविषà¥à¤£à¥à¤°à¥à¤°à¥à¤à¥à¤°à¤®à¤à¥¤ नमॠबà¥à¤°à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£à¥à¥¤ नमसà¥à¤¤à¥ वायà¥à¥¤ तà¥à¤µà¤®à¥à¤µ पà¥à¤°à¤¤à¥à¤¯à¤à¥à¤·à¤ बà¥à¤°à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤¾à¤¸à¤¿à¥¤ तà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤®à¥à¤µ पà¥à¤°à¤¤à¥à¤¯à¤à¥à¤·à¤®à¥ बà¥à¤°à¤¹à¥à¤® वदिषà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤®à¤¿à¥¤ ॠतठवदिषà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤®à¤¿à¥¤ सतà¥à¤¯à¤ वदिषà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤®à¤¿à¥¤ तनà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤®à¤µà¤¤à¥à¥¤ तदà¥à¤µà¤à¥à¤¤à¤¾à¤°à¤®à¤µà¤¤à¥à¥¤ ठवतॠमामà¥à¥¤ ठवतॠवà¤à¥à¤¤à¤¾à¤°à¤®à¥à¥¤ ॠशानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤à¥¥
Auá¹ Åaá¹ no mitraḥ Åaá¹ varuá¹aḥ | Åaá¹ no bhavatvaryamÄ | Åaá¹ na indro brihaspatiḥ | Åaá¹ no viá¹£á¹ururukramaḥ | namo brahmaá¹e | namaste vÄyo | tvameva pratyaká¹£aá¹ bhrahmÄsi | tvÄmeva pratyaká¹£am brahma vadiá¹£yÄmi | á¹taá¹ vadiá¹£yÄmi | satyaá¹ vadiá¹£yÄmi | tanmÄmavatu | tadvaktÄramavatu | avatu mÄm | avatu vaktÄram | Auá¹ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ||
Aum May Mitra be blissful to us. May Varuna be blissful to us. May Aryaman be blissful to us. May Indra and Brihaspati be blissful to us. May Vishnu, of long strides, be blissful to us. Salutation to Brahman. Salutation to you, O Vayu. You, indeed, are the immediate Brahman. You alone I shall call the direct Brahman. I shall call you righteousness. I shall call you truth. May He protect me. May He protect the reciter*. May He protect me. May He protect the reciter. Aum, peace, peace, peace!
* Reciter = the one who is currently reciting this mantra. Identifying oneself here as "the reciter", and not as "I", is a sign of self-realization, of transcending beyond self and ego being dissolved.
§Taittiriya Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, Mandukya Upanishad and Shvetashvatara Upanishad
ॠसह नाववतॠ|
सह नॠà¤à¥à¤¨à¤à¥à¤¤à¥ |
सह वà¥à¤°à¥à¤¯à¤ à¤à¤°à¤µà¤¾à¤µà¤¹à¥ |
तà¥à¤à¤¸à¥à¤µà¤¿à¤¨à¤¾à¤µà¤§à¥à¤¤à¤®à¤¸à¥à¤¤à¥ मा विदà¥à¤µà¤¿à¤·à¤¾à¤µà¤¹à¥à¥¥
ॠशानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤à¥¥
Om saha nÄvavatu
saha nau bhunaktu
saha vÄ«ryaá¹ karavÄvahai
tejasvi nÄvadhÄ«tamastu
mÄ vidviá¹£Ävahai |
Om ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ||
Aum! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together; May we work conjointly with great energy, May our study be vigorous and effective; May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any). Aum! Let there be peace in me! Let there be peace in my environment! Let there be peace in the forces that act on me!
§Kena Upanishad and Chandogya Upanishad
ॠà¤à¤ªà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¯à¤¨à¥à¤¤à¥ ममाà¤à¥à¤à¤¾à¤¨à¤¿ वाà¤à¥à¤ªà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤£à¤¶à¥à¤à¤à¥à¤·à¥à¤ शà¥à¤°à¥à¤¤à¥à¤°à¤®à¤¥à¥ बलमिनà¥à¤¦à¥à¤°à¤¿à¤¯à¤¾à¤£à¤¿ ठसरà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤£à¤¿à¥¤ सरà¥à¤µà¤®à¥ बà¥à¤°à¤¹à¥à¤®à¥à¤ªà¤¨à¤¿à¤·à¤¦à¤®à¥ माऽहठबà¥à¤°à¤¹à¥à¤® निराà¤à¥à¤°à¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤ मा मा बà¥à¤°à¤¹à¥à¤® निराà¤à¤°à¥à¤¦à¤¨à¤¿à¤°à¤¾à¤à¤°à¤£à¤®à¤¸à¥à¤¤à¥à¤µà¤¨à¤¿à¤°à¤¾à¤à¤°à¤£à¤®à¥ मà¥à¤½à¤¸à¥à¤¤à¥à¥¤ तदातà¥à¤®à¤¨à¤¿ निरतॠय à¤à¤ªà¤¨à¤¿à¤·à¤¤à¥à¤¸à¥ धरà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤¸à¥à¤¤à¥ मयि सनà¥à¤¤à¥ तॠमयि सनà¥à¤¤à¥à¥¤ ॠशानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤à¥¥
Auá¹ ÄpyÄyantu mamÄá¹ gÄni vÄkprÄá¹aÅcaká¹£uḥ Årotramatho balamindriyÄá¹i ca sarvÄá¹i | sarvam brahmaupaniá¹£adam mÄ'haá¹ brahma nirÄkuryÄá¹ mÄ mÄ brahma nirÄkarodanirÄkaraá¹amastvanirÄkaraá¹am me'stu | tadÄtmani nirate ya upaniá¹£atsu dharmÄste mayi santu te mayi santu | oá¹ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ||
Aum! May my limbs, speech, vital air, eyes, ears, strength, And all the senses be fully developed. All that is revealed by the Upanishads is Brahman. May I never deny Brahman: May Brahman never disown me. Let there be no repudiation (from Brahman); Let there be no infidelity from my side. May all the Dharmas extolled by the Upanishads shine in me Who am intent on knowing the Self. May they shine in me! Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!
§Aitareya Upanishad
ॠवाà¤à¥ मॠमनसि पà¥à¤°à¤¤à¤¿à¤·à¥à¤ िता मनॠमॠवाà¤à¤¿ पà¥à¤°à¤¤à¤¿à¤·à¥à¤ ित-मावà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤µà¥à¤°à¥à¤® à¤à¤§à¤¿à¥¤ वà¥à¤¦à¤¸à¥à¤¯ म à¤à¤£à¤¿à¤¸à¥à¤¥à¤ शà¥à¤°à¥à¤¤à¤ मॠमा पà¥à¤°à¤¹à¤¾à¤¸à¥à¤°à¤¨à¥à¤¨à¤¾à¤§à¥à¤¤à¥à¤¨à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¤à¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¨à¥ सà¤à¤¦à¤§à¤¾à¤®à¥à¤¯à¥à¤¤à¤®à¥ वदिषà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤®à¤¿ सतà¥à¤¯à¤ वदिषà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤®à¤¿ तनà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤®à¤µà¤¤à¥ तदà¥à¤µà¤à¥à¤¤à¤¾à¤°à¤®à¤µà¤¤à¥à¤µà¤µà¤¤à¥ मामवतॠवà¤à¥à¤¤à¤¾à¤°à¤®à¤µà¤¤à¥ वà¤à¥à¤¤à¤¾à¤°à¤®à¥à¥¤ ॠशानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤à¥¥
auá¹ vÄá¹ me manasi pratiá¹£á¹hitÄ mano me vÄci pratiá¹£á¹hita-mÄvÄ«rÄvÄ«rma edhi | vedasya ma Äá¹isthaḥ Årutaá¹ me mÄ prahÄsÄ«ranenÄdhÄ«tenÄhorÄtrÄn saá¹dadhÄmyá¹tam vadiá¹£yÄmi satyaá¹ vadiá¹£yÄmi tanmÄmavatu tadvaktÄramavatvavatu mÄmavatu vaktÄramavatu vaktÄram | auá¹ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ||
Aum! May my speech be based on (i.e. accord with) the mind; May my mind be based on speech. O Self-effulgent One, reveal Thyself to me. May you both (speech and mind) be the carriers of the Veda to me. May not all that I have heard depart from me. I shall join together (i.e. obliterate the difference of) day And night through this study. I shall utter what is verbally true; I shall utter what is mentally true. May that (Brahman) protect me; May That protect the speaker (i.e. the teacher), may That protect me; May that protect the speaker â" may That protect the speaker. Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!
§Mundaka Upanishad, Mandukya Upanishad and Prashna Upanishad
ॠà¤à¤¦à¥à¤°à¤ à¤à¤°à¥à¤£à¥à¤à¤¿à¤ शà¥à¤°à¥à¤£à¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤® दà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤à¥¤ à¤à¤¦à¥à¤°à¤ पशà¥à¤¯à¥à¤®à¤¾à¤à¥à¤·à¤à¤¿à¤°à¥à¤¯à¤à¤¤à¥à¤°à¤¾à¤ सà¥à¤¥à¤¿à¤°à¥à¤°à¤à¥à¤à¥à¤¸à¥à¤¤à¥à¤·à¥à¤à¥à¤µà¤¾à¤à¤¸à¤¸à¥à¤¤à¤¨à¥à¤à¤¿à¤à¥¤ वà¥à¤¯à¤¶à¥à¤® दà¥à¤µà¤¹à¤¿à¤¤à¤®à¥ यदायà¥à¤à¥¤ सà¥à¤µà¤¸à¥à¤¤à¤¿ न à¤à¤¨à¥à¤¦à¥à¤°à¥ वà¥à¤¦à¥à¤§à¤¶à¥à¤°à¤µà¤¾à¤à¥¤ सà¥à¤µà¤¸à¥à¤¤à¤¿ नठपà¥à¤·à¤¾ विशà¥à¤µà¤µà¥à¤¦à¤¾à¤à¥¤ सà¥à¤µà¤¸à¥à¤¤à¤¿ नसà¥à¤¤à¤¾à¤°à¥à¤à¥à¤·à¥à¤¯à¥ ठरिषà¥à¤à¤¨à¥à¤®à¤¿à¤à¥¤ सà¥à¤µà¤¸à¥à¤¤à¤¿ नॠबà¥à¤¹à¤¸à¥à¤ªà¤¤à¤¿à¤°à¥à¤¦à¤§à¤¾à¤¤à¥ ॠशानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤à¥¥
auá¹ bhadraá¹ kará¹ebhiḥ Åruá¹uyÄma devÄḥ | bhadraá¹ paÅyemÄká¹£abhiryajatrÄḥ sthirairaá¹ gaistuá¹£á¹uvÄá¹sastanÅ«bhiḥ | vyaÅema devahitam yadÄyuḥ | svasti na indro vá¹ddhaÅravÄḥ | svasti naḥ pÅ«á¹£Ä viÅvavedÄḥ | svasti nastÄrká¹£yo ariá¹£á¹anemiḥ | svasti no bá¹haspatirdadhÄtu auá¹ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntiḥ ||
Aum! O gods, may we hear auspicious words with the ears; While engaged in yagnas, May we see auspicious things with the eyes; While praising the gods with steady limbs, May we enjoy a life that is beneficial to the gods. May Indra of ancient fame be auspicious to us; May the supremely rich (or all-knowing) Pusa (god of the earth) Be propitious to us; May Garuda, the destroyer of evil, Be well disposed towards us; May Brihaspati ensure our welfare. Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!
§Vedas
There are various other Shanti Mantras from Vedas. of which some of the most famous are: ॠदà¥à¤¯à¥: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿ रनà¥à¤¤à¤°à¤¿à¤à¥à¤·à¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿: पà¥à¤¥à¤¿à¤µà¥ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿ राप: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤°à¥à¤·à¤§à¤¯: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿:। वनसà¥à¤ªà¤¤à¤¯: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿ रà¥à¤µà¤¿à¤¶à¥à¤µà¥ दà¥à¤µà¤¾: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿ रà¥à¤¬à¥à¤°à¤¹à¥à¤® शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿: सरà¥à¤µà¤ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤°à¥à¤µ शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿: सा मा शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤°à¥à¤§à¤¿à¥¥ ॠशानà¥à¤¤à¤¿: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿:॥ =यà¤à¥à¤°à¥à¤µà¥à¤¦ ३६:१ॠAum dyauḥ ÅÄntirantariká¹£aá¹ ÅÄntiḥ pá¹thivÄ« ÅÄntirÄpaḥ ÅÄntiroá¹£adhayaḥ ÅÄntiḥ vanaspatayaḥ ÅÄntirviÅvedevÄḥ ÅÄntirbrahma ÅÄntiḥ sarvaá¹ ÅÄntiḥ ÅÄntireva ÅÄntiḥ sÄ mÄ ÅÄntiredhi Aum ÅÄntiḥ, ÅÄntiḥ, ÅÄntiḥ =Yajurveda 36:17 May peace radiate there in the whole sky as well as in the vast ethereal space everywhere. May peace reign all over this earth, in water and in all herbs, trees and creepers. May peace flow over the whole universe. May peace be in the Supreme Being Brahman. And may there always exist in all peace and peace alone. Aum peace, peace and peace to us and all beings! (Translation by Swami Abhedananda, Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, India)
ॠठसतà¥à¤®à¤¾ सदà¥à¤à¤®à¤¯à¥¤ तमसà¥à¤®à¤¾ à¤à¥à¤¯à¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤°à¥ à¤à¤®à¤¯à¤¾à¥¤ मà¥à¤¤à¥à¤¯à¥à¤°à¥à¤®à¤¾à¤®à¥à¤¤à¤ à¤à¤®à¤¯à¥¥ ॠशानà¥à¤¤à¤¿: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿: शानà¥à¤¤à¤¿:॥ =Upanishad Aum asato mÄ sadgamaya Tamaso mÄ jyotir gamaya Má¹tyormÄâmá¹taá¹ gamaya Aum ÅÄntiḥ, ÅÄntiḥ, ÅÄntiḥ Lead us from the unreal to the real Lead us from darkness to light Lead us from death to immortality Aum peace, peace, peace! =Upanishad
§References
§Books for Additional Reading
- Mantra Pushpam, Text in Sanskrit, compiled by Swami Devarupananda, Published by Ramakrishna Math, Khar, Mumbai, India.
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad with the Commentary of Shankaracharya, Translated by Swami Madhavananda, Published by Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, India. ISBN No : 81-7505-102-7
- Eight Upanishads (Vol. 1) with the Commentary of Shankaracharya, Translated by Swami Gambhirananda, Published by Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, India. ISBN No : 81-7505-016-0
- Eight Upanishads (Vol. 2) with the Commentary of Shankaracharya, Translated by Swami Gambhirananda, Published by Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, India. ISBN No : 81-7505-017-9
- Vedanta Spiritual Library, 108 Upanishads.
- "The Principal Upanishads" by Swami Sivananda, The Divine Life Society Publications, Uttaranchal, Himalayas, INDIA.