HOMENEW7

*Shanthi Mantras – 1*

There are different types of scriptural texts in Sanatana Dharma which focus on transforming us in different ways. The Puranic scriptures kindle our emotions, tap into our imagination and enable us to build Bhakti. On the other hand, the Itihasas — Mahabharata and Ramayana — encourage us to learn the art of living. Similarly, Upanishads concentrate on imparting intellectual knowledge.

*The Shanthi Mantras*
The learned sages advised the chanting of the Shanthi Mantras or the Prayers for Peace before reading the knowledge-oriented Upanishads or any intellectual information for that matter. They are supposed to calm the mind of the reciter and environment around him/her. Reciting them is also believed to remove any obstacles during the recitation. In ancient times, everyone religiously recited these before studying or performing worldly activities.
Almost all Shanthi Mantras conclude with the phrase Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthihi: the sacred syllable Om has a plethora of meanings. In the current context, it is a reference to the Formless Divine.
The three utterances of the word “Shanti” is a prayer for calming and removing obstacles and reinforcing our efforts to rise above suffering and restlessness caused by three classes of afflictions – Taapa Traya. According to the Shiva Purana 1.18, those are:
*Adhyathmika (Adhi Athmika):* Here, Adhi (आधि) means mental anxiety, and Athmika means from within me. So, Adhyaatmika realm is source of obstacles arising out of one’s own body and mind, such as pain, diseases, laziness, and absent-mindedness.
*Adhi Bhautika:* Bhautika denotes the material world. Hence, this refers to sufferings due to natural calamities in our environment and surroundings. It also includes anxieties caused by people and animals around us.
*Adhi Daivika:* Daivika signifies the Divine. This realm can be source of obstacles coming from extra-sensory world of spirits, ghosts, deities, and demigods.

*The Shanthi Panchakam of the Upanishads*
The texts of the Upanishadic genre contain many beautiful peace chants. Out of those, five are handpicked and collectively known as the Shanthi Panchakam or the Pancha Shanthi. That means the five peace chants literally.
There are 108 traditional Upanishads. Each of those is attached to one of the five key Vedic scriptures — Rig, Sama, Shukla Yajur, Krishna Yajur, and Atharva. Traditionally, each one of these groups has a specific Shanthi Mantra assigned to it.

*1. The Shanthi Mantra of Shukla Yajur Veda
There are nineteen traditional Upanishads attached to the Shukla Yajur Veda. The Shanthi Mantra for these appears in the Ishavasya Upanishad (invocation).

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Puurnnam-Udacyate |
Puurnnasya Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

Meaning:
1: Om, That (Outer World) is Purna (Full with Divine Consciousness); This (Inner World) is also Purna (Full with Divine Consciousness); From Purna is manifested Purna (From the Fullness of Divine Consciousness, the World is manifested),
2: Taking Purna from Purna, Purna indeed remains (Because Divine Consciousness is Non-Dual and Infinite),
3: Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

*2. The Shanthi Mantra of Krishna Yajur Veda*
There are thirty-two traditional Upanishads attached to the Krishna Yajur Veda. The Shanthi Mantra for these is found in the Taitriya Upanishad (2.1).

ॐ सह नाववतु ।
सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Saha Naav[au]-Avatu |
Saha Nau Bhunaktu |
Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai |
Tejasvi Naav[au]-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

Meaning:
1: Om, Together may we two Move (in our Studies, the Teacher and the Student),
2: Together may we two Relish (our Studies, the Teacher and the Student),
3: Together may we perform (our Studies) with Vigour (with deep Concentration),
4: May what has been Studied by us be filled with the Brilliance (of Understanding, leading to Knowledge); May it Not give rise to Hostility (due to lack of Understanding),
5: Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
*3. The Shanthi Mantra of Rig Veda*
There are ten traditional Upanishads attached to the Rig Veda. The Shanthi Mantra for these appears in the Aitareya Upanishad (invocation).

ॐ वाङ् मे मनसि प्रतिष्ठिता
मनो मे वाचि प्रतिष्ठित-मावीरावीर्म एधि ।
वेदस्य म आणिस्थः
श्रुतं मे मा प्रहासीरनेनाधीतेनाहोरात्रान्
संदधाम्यृतम् वदिष्यामि सत्यं वदिष्यामि तन्मामवतु
तद्वक्तारमवत्ववतु मामवतु वक्तारमवतु वक्तारम्॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
oṃ vāṅ me manasi pratiṣṭhitā
mano me vāci pratiṣṭhita-māvīrāvīrma edhi
vedasya ma āṇisthaḥ
śrutaṃ me mā
prahāsīranenādhītenāhorātrān
saṃdadhāmyṛtam vadiṣyāmi
satyaṃ vadiṣyāmi tanmāmavatu
tadvaktāramavatvavatu māmavatu
vaktāramavatu vaktāram
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Om! May my speech be steadfast in my mind,
May my mind be steadfast in my speech.
Manifest! May there be a manifestation
Of the lynchpin [essence] of the Vedas.
May the heard [knowledge] not abandon me
Which This [Me] has studied day and night.
I will Speak about the Divine Law,
Speak about the Truth.
May that [the Truth] protect me.
May that protect the Speaker [Teacher].
May That [the Divine] protect me.
May That protect the Speaker [Teacher].
Om Peace Peace Peace.
*To be continued….*