Shanti Mantra

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The Shanti Mantras or "Peace Mantras" are Hindu prayers for peace (Shanti). Generally they are recited at the beginning and end of religious discourse and ceremonies.

Shanti Mantra's are found in Upanishads, where they are invoked in the beginning of some topics of Upanishads. They are supposed to calm the mind of reciter and environment around him/her. Reciting them is also believed to be removing any obstacles for the task being started.

Shanti Mantra's 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, "Devine" or Adhi-Daivika and "Internal" or Adhyaatmika

According to the scriptures of Hinduism sources of obstacles and troubles are 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.

Devine 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 ones 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.

[edit] List of Shanti Mantras

Following is one of the famous Shanti Mantra's. It is found in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and Ishavasya Upanishad.

 Om Poornamadah Poornamidam Poornat Poornamudachyate,
 Poornasya Poornamaadaya Poornamevavashishyate,
 Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih

Meaning: That is Absolute, This is Absolute, Absolute arises out of Absolute, If Absolute is taken away from Absolute, Absolute remains OM Peace, Peace, Peace.

 Om asato maa sadgamaya,
 Tamaso maa jyotir gamaya,
 Mrityor maa amritam gamaya,
 Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih

Meaning: OM lead me from unreal to real, lead me from darkness to light, lead me from death to immortality OM Peace, Peace, Peace.

Following Shanti Mantra appears in Taittiriya Upanishad

   Om sham no mitra sham varunah sham no bhavatvaryamaa,
   Sham na indro brihaspatih sham no vishnururukramah,
   Namo brahmane namaste vaayo tvameva pratyaksham,
   Brahmaasi tvaameva pratyaksham brahma vadishyaami,
   Rtam vadishyaami satyam vadishyaami, 
   Tanmaamavatu tadvaktaaramavatu Avatu maam avatu vaktaaram,
   Om shantih shantih shantih 

Meaning: OM may Mitra do good to us, may Varuna do good to us, may Aryama do good to us, may Indra do good to us, may Brihaspati do good to us, may Vishu-who has vast coverage-do good to us, (I) Solute O Brahma!, solutes to you O Vayu!, Only you (Vayu) are the visible Brahman. I say Only you (Vayu) are the visible Brahman , I say right, I say truth, may that (truth) protect me, may that (truth) protect teacher, may it protect me, may it protect teacher, OM Peace, Peace, Peace.

Following Shanti Mantra appears in Taittiriya Upanishad , Katha Upanishad and Shvetashvatara Upanishad.

 Om sahanaa vavatu sahanau bhunaktu
 Saha veeryam karavaavahai
 Tejasvi naavadheetamastu maa vidvishaavahai
 Om shantih shantih shantih

OM let both of us protect each other together, may both of us enjoy together, may both of us work together, let our study become radiant, let there be no hatred between us, OM Peace, Peace, Peace.

Following appears in Kena Upanishad and Chandogya Upanishad.

 Om aapyaayantu mamaangaani vaak
 Praanashchakshuh shrotramatho
 Balamindriyaani cha sarvaani sarvam brahmopanishadam
 Maaham brahma niraakuryaam maa maa brahma niraakarod
 Niraakaranamastva niraakaranam me astu
 Tadaatmani nirate ya upanishatsu dharmaaste
 Mayi santu te mayi santu.
 Om shantih, shantih, shantih!

OM may my organs, speech, Prana, eyes and ears be nourished and be well, so should be all (my) senses become strong. Upanishad says all this (world) is Brahman. I dont reject Brahman, may Brahma not reject me. Let there be no rejection, let there be no rejection at all in me, let me be concentrated on Self, all those ways of righteous living told in Upanishads be in me! Be in me, OM Peace, Peace, Peace.

Following appears in Aitareya Upanishad.

 Om vaang me manasi pratishthitaa
 Mano me vaachi pratishthitam
 Aaveeraaveerma edhi vedasya ma aanisthah
 Shrutam me maa prahaaseer anenaadheetena
 Ahoraatraan samdadhaami ritam vadishyaami
 Satyam vadishyaami tanmaamavatu tadvaktaaramavatu
 Avatu maam avatu vaktaaram avatu vaktaaram
 Om shantih, shantih, shantih!

OM let my speech be established in (my) mind, and (my) mind be established in my speech, let Brahman (Supreme Reality) reveal itself to me, may (I) be able to grasp the truths of the Vedas, let not what I have heard (studied) forsake me, let me spend both day and night in study, I say right, I say truth, may that (truth) protect me, may that (truth) protect teacher, may it protect me, may it protect teacher, OM Peace, Peace, Peace.

Following appears in Mundaka Upanishad, Mandukya Upanishad and Prashna Upanishad.

 Om bhadram karnebhih shrunuyaama devaah
 Bhadram pashyemaakshabhiryajatraah
 Sthirairangaistushtuvaamsastanoobhih
 Vyashema devahitam yadaayuh
 Swasti na indro vridhashravaah
 Swasti nah pooshaa vishwavedaah
 Swasti nastaarkshyo arishtanemih
 Swasti no brihaspatir dadhaatu.
 Om shantih, shantih, shantih!

OM O gods! Let us hear good(auspicious) things from (our) ears, O worshipful ones! let us see good (auspicious) things from (our) eyes, let (my) organs and body be stable, healthy and strong, let us do what is pleasurable to gods in the life span alloted, may Indra(who is) extolled in the scriptures do good to us! may Pushan(who is) knower of world do good to us! may Trakshya(who) destroys enemies do good to us! may Brihaspati give good to us! OM Peace, Peace, Peace.