Shanti Mantras - The need & benefits
Shanti Mantras - The need & benefits
1. Shanti means peace, quiet & calm. Shanti mantras are peace invocations which can help us to cultivate such a peaceful state of mind.
2. In moments of crisis, when the mind is overpowered by anxiety, uncertainties, fear and stress, Shanti-mantras(Peace Invocations) serve as powerful means to calm the mind.
3. Shanti- mantras act as pointers to one’s goal of life which is permanent peace & happiness. The beauty of peace i.e. shanti is evident in the fact that Peace is both the goal of life and also the means! In a spiritual seeker’s journey, relative peace leads to absolute peace; peace of mind leads to peace of Self. Shanti-mantras are an end as well as the means; a journey and the destination.
4. Many shanti-mantras are holistic in nature. They help in integrating the Body, Pranas, Mind, Intellect and the Self. The body should be strong, pranas must be conserved, mind should be calm, and intellect should be sharp. By chanting & contemplating on shanti mantras, one can integrate one’s personality layers which is the means and finally transcend them to experience Supreme Peace which is the goal. Thus Shanti-mantras prepare us for higher subtle knowledge of Vedanta which is not an intellectual knowledge but an intuitive science.
5. Shanti-mantras are also a very important source of positive self-affirmations and auto-suggestions. In modern psychology there is a lot of emphasis on affirmations as a means of achieving an outcome. Affirmations are always done in first person. One is asked to sit quietly, focus on the breathing, gently repeat the positive affirmations such as ‘I am happy’, ‘I am healthy’, ‘I have enough in life’, ‘I am lovable’ and ‘I am loving’ etc. while visualising and feeling the same. These affirmations are like auto suggestions to our own body, mind and intellect. What we visualise, that we realise and internalise in life. So whatever we put in a quiet mind deeply transforms the sub-conscious and the unconscious mind. Shanti-mantras also act as affirmations. One difference is that the expressions in shanti-mantras is not in first person. They may be an invocation, prayer to Lord, but inherently the psychological process is the same. While chanting the shanti mantras one can visualise and feel what the mantra is saying and internalise it.
6. When a teacher and student(s) come together to study the subtle knowledge of the Self through the Upanishads, it is important that their minds are tuned. Each mind has a different background, has gone through different experiences and it may be dissipated. It is important that a certain tuning happens between the teacher and the student(s) so that the Knowledge of the Self can be communicated and understood properly. Through the finite words, the teacher has to lift the mind of the student(s) and help the student(s) to go beyond the mind to experience the intuitive happiness of the Self. Swami Chinmayananda said, “Vedanta is not an intellectual philosophy transferred from the head of the teacher to the head of the student(s) or from the lips of the teacher to the ears of the student(s). It is from the heart of the teacher to the heart of the student(s)”. For this, the tuning must be there between them. How will that tuning happen? Tuning happens at a common altar of surrender. When both, the teacher and the student(s) invoke the Divine altar of surrender, their mind get tuned to the Divine and to each other. Then the knowledge is expounded. Shanti-mantras facilitate this tuning of the minds. Hence Shanti-mantras are found at the beginning of every Upanishad.
7. We experience disturbances from the cosmic forces(Adhi-daivika), from beings around us(Adhi-Bhautika) and from subjective agitations of our own mind(Adhyatmika). Shanti-Mantras help us to invoke peace at all these levels. As one learns to chant & contemplate on Shanti-Mantras, one invokes the Divine, integrates one’s personality, tunes up with the Guru-Tattva, experiences peace, happiness and fulfilment. One is also able to radiate this peace to everyone around. In a dynamic and stressful world of constant change and challenges, thorough the shanti mantras, we can maintain our inner peace and also help others around us.
In Vedic tradition, each Upanishad begins and/or ends with a specific Shanti Mantra (Invocation of Peace) determined by the Veda to which it belongs. These mantras set the spiritual vibration for study and remove obstacles (Adhyatmika, Adhibhautika, and Adhidaivika).
The following are the principal Shanti Mantras for the four Vedas:
1. Rig Veda
Mantra: Vangme Manasi Pratisthita... This mantra emphasizes the harmony between speech and the mind, praying that the realization of the Truth remains steady.
- Key Upanishads: Aitareya, Kaushitaki.
- Core Meaning: "May my speech be fixed in my mind, and my mind be fixed in my speech. O self-luminous Brahman, reveal Thyself to me."
2. Sama Veda
Mantra: Apyayantu Mamangani... Since the Sama Veda is the Veda of melodies and chants, this mantra focuses on the strength of the physical senses and the vital breath (Prana) to support spiritual practice.
- Key Upanishads: Chandogya, Kena.
- Core Meaning: "May my limbs, speech, breath, eyes, ears, and all my senses become vigorous. All is the Brahman of the Upanishads."
3. Krishna Yajur Veda
Mantra: Saha Navavatu... This is perhaps the most famous Shanti Mantra, focusing on the relationship between the teacher (Guru) and the student (Shishya).
- Key Upanishads: Taittiriya, Katha, Shvetashvatara.
- Core Meaning: "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."
4. Shukla Yajur Veda
Mantra: Purnamadah Purnamidam... This mantra is a profound philosophical statement on the nature of Infinity.
- Key Upanishads: Isha, Brihadaranyaka.
- Core Meaning: "That is Whole, this is Whole; from the Whole, the Whole becomes manifest. Taking the Whole from the Whole, the Whole alone remains."
5. Atharva Veda
Mantra: Bhadram Karnebhih Shrunuyama Devah... This mantra is for the Atharva Veda. It prays for auspiciousness in everything we perceive through our senses.
- Key Upanishads: Mundaka, Mandukya, Prashna.
- Core Meaning: "O Gods, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious. May we see with our eyes what is auspicious."
Quick Reference Table
Veda | Principal Shanti Mantra | Key Theme |
Rig Veda | Vangme Manasi... | Harmony of Mind & Speech |
Sama Veda | Apyayantu Mamangani... | Vitality of Senses |
Krishna Yajur Veda | Saha Navavatu... | Teacher-Student Unity |
Shukla Yajur Veda | Purnamadah Purnamidam... | Infinite Nature of Brahman |
Atharva Veda | Bhadram Karnebhih... | Auspicious Perception |
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Mantras in Detail
1. Rig Veda Shanti Mantra
Sanskrit Text:
ॐ वाङ् मे मनसि प्रतिष्ठिता । मनो मे वाचि प्रतिष्ठितम् । आविरावीर्म एधि । वेदस्य म आणीस्थः । श्रुतं मे मा प्रहासीरनेनाधीतेनाहोरात्रान्सन्दधामि । ऋतं वदिष्यामि । सत्यं वदिष्यामि । तन्मामवतु । तद्वक्तारमवतु । अवतु माम् । अवतु वक्तारम् । अवतु वक्तारम् ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Transliteration:
oṃ vāṅ me manasi pratiṣṭhitā | mano me vāci pratiṣṭhitam | āvirāvīrma edhi | vedasya ma āṇīsthaḥ | śrutaṃ me mā prahāsīranenādhītenāhorātrānsandadhāmi | ṛtaṃ vadiṣyāmi | satyaṃ vadiṣyāmi | tanmāmavatu | tadvaktāramavatu | avatu mām | avatu vaktāram | avatu vaktāram || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Simple Meaning:
May my speech be established in my mind and my mind be established in my speech. O self-luminous Brahman, reveal Thyself to me. May my mind and speech be the carriers of the Veda to me. May what I have heard not depart from me. I join together day and night through this study. I shall speak the divine Law. I shall speak the Truth. May That protect me. May That protect the teacher.
Word to Word:
· vāṅ (vāk): Speech
· me: My
· manasi: In the mind
· pratiṣṭhitā: Established
· mano (manaḥ): Mind
· me: My
· vāci: In speech
· pratiṣṭhitam: Established
· āviḥ: Manifest / O Self-luminous
· āvīḥ: Manifest
· me: To me
· edhi: Be / Reveal
· vedasya: Of the Veda
· me: To me
· āṇīsthaḥ: The two stay-pins (of speech and mind) / The bringers
· śrutam: What is heard (scripture)
· me: My
· mā: Not
· prahāsīḥ: Leave / Forsake
· anena: By this
· adhītena: By what is studied
· ahorātrān: Day and night
· sandadhāmi: I join / I unite
· ṛtam: Divine Law / Cosmic Truth
· vadiṣyāmi: I shall speak
· satyam: Truth (factual)
· vadiṣyāmi: I shall speak
· tat: That (Brahman)
· mām: Me
· avatu: May protect
· tat: That
· vaktāram: The teacher (speaker)
· avatu: May protect
· avatu mām: May protect me
· avatu vaktāram: May protect the teacher
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2. Sama Veda Shanti Mantra
Sanskrit Text:
ॐ आप्यायन्तु ममाङ्गानि वाक्प्राणश्चक्षुः श्रोत्रमथो बलमिन्द्रियाणि च सर्वाणि । सर्वं ब्रह्मौपनिषदम् । माहं ब्रह्म निराकुर्यां मा मा ब्रह्म निराकरोदनिराकरणमस्त्वनिराकरणं मे अस्तु । तदात्मनि निरते य उपनिषत्सु धर्मास्ते मयि सन्तु ते मयि सन्तु ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Transliteration:
oṃ āpyāyantu mamāṅgāni vākprāṇaścakṣuḥ śrotramatho balamindriyāṇi ca sarvāṇi | sarvaṃ brahmaupaniṣadam | māhaṃ brahma nirākuryāṃ mā mā brahma nirākarodanirākaraṇamastvanirākaraṇaṃ me astu | tadātmani nirate ya upaniṣatsu dharmāste mayi santu te mayi santu || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Simple Meaning:
May my limbs, speech, breath, eyes, ears, and all my senses grow vigorous. All is the Brahman of the Upanishads. May I never deny Brahman, and may Brahman never neglect me. Let there be no denial from my side and no neglect from Brahman. May the virtues described in the Upanishads reside in me, who am devoted to the Atman.
Word to Word:
· āpyāyantu: May grow / Be strengthened
· mama: My
· aṅgāni: Limbs / Body parts
· vāk: Speech
· prāṇaḥ: Life force / Breath
· cakṣuḥ: Eye
· śrotram: Ear
· atho: Also
· balam: Strength
· indriyāṇi: Senses
· ca: And
· sarvāṇi: All
· sarvam: Everything
· brahma: The Supreme Reality
· aupaniṣadam: Described in the Upanishads
· mā: Not
· aham: I
· brahma: Brahman
· nirākuryām: May deny / Reject
· mā: Not
· mā: Me
· brahma: Brahman
· nirākarot: May reject
· anirākaraṇam: Non-denial / No rejection
· astu: Let there be
· me: On my part
· tāt: In That
· ātmani: In the Self
· nirate: To the one devoted
· ye: Which
· upaniṣatsu: In the Upanishads
· dharmāḥ: Virtues / Spiritual laws
· te: They
· mayi: In me
· santu: Let them reside
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3. Krishna Yajur Veda Shanti Mantra
Sanskrit Text:
ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Transliteration:
oṃ saha nāvavatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai | tejasvi nāvadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahai || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Simple Meaning:
May He protect us both (teacher and student) together. May He nourish us both together. May we work together with great energy. May our study be enlightened and effective. May there be no animosity or misunderstanding between us.
Word to Word:
· saha: Together
· nau: Us both (teacher and student)
· avatu: May He protect
· saha: Together
· nau: Us both
· bhunaktu: May He nourish / Protect
· saha: Together
· vīryam: Energy / Valor
· karavāvahai: May we exert / Work
· tejasvi: Radiant / Bright / Enlightened
· nau: Our
· adhītam: Study / What is learned
· astu: Let it be
· mā: Not
· vidviṣāvahai: May we hate / Dispute
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4. Shukla Yajur Veda Shanti Mantra
Sanskrit Text:
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते । पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Transliteration:
oṃ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṃ pūrṇātpūrṇamudacyate | pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Simple Meaning:
That (Brahman) is Whole, and this (Universe) is Whole. From the Whole, the Whole emerges. Even when the Whole is taken from the Whole, the Whole still remains. This describes the infinite and unchanging nature of the Supreme Reality.
Word to Word:
· oṃ: The Sacred Syllable
· pūrṇam: Infinite / Whole
· adaḥ: That (Unmanifest)
· pūrṇam: Infinite / Whole
· idam: This (Manifest)
· pūrṇāt: From the Infinite
· pūrṇam: the Infinite
· udacyate: Arises / Proceeds
· pūrṇasya: Of the Infinite
· pūrṇam: the Infinitude
· ādāya: Having taken away
· pūrṇam: the Infinite
· eva: Alone / Only
· avaśiṣyate: Remains
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5. Atharva Veda Shanti Mantra
Sanskrit Text:
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः । भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः । स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिः । व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ॥ स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः । स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः । स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः । स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Transliteration:
oṃ bhadraṃ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devāḥ | bhadraṃ paśyemākṣabhiryajatrāḥ | sthirairaṅgaistuṣṭuvāṃsastanūbhiḥ | vyaśema devahitaṃ yadāyuḥ || svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ | svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ | svasti nastārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ | svasti no bṛhaspatirdadhātu || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Simple Meaning: O Gods, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious. O worshipful ones, may we see with our eyes what is auspicious. May we live a life of celebration with strong limbs and healthy bodies, singing your praises and using the lifespan allotted by the divine for noble purposes. May Indra of great fame, Pushan the knower of all, Tarksya the remover of evils, and Brihaspati the lord of wisdom, grant us well-being and peace.
Word to Word:
· oṃ: The primordial sound/Brahman
· bhadraṃ: Auspicious/Good/Beneficent
· karṇebhiḥ: With the ears
· śṛṇuyāma: May we hear
· devāḥ: O Gods
· paśyema: May we see
· akṣabhiḥ: With the eyes
· yajatrāḥ: O worshipful ones/performers of Yajna
· sthiraiḥ: Steady/Firm/Strong
· aṅgaiḥ: With limbs
· tuṣṭuvāṃsaḥ: Praising/Singing glories
· tanūbhiḥ: With bodies
· vyaśema: May we enjoy/attain/consume
· devahitam: Allotted by the Gods/Good for the Gods
· yadāyuḥ: That span of life
· svasti: Well-being/Auspiciousness/Prosperity
· naḥ: To us
· indraḥ: Lord Indra
· vṛddhaśravāḥ: Of great fame/Ancient wisdom
· pūṣā: The Sun/Nourisher
· viśvavedāḥ: Knower of all things
· tārkṣyaḥ: Garuda (the celestial bird), Vayu
· ariṣṭanemiḥ: Destroyer of evils/Unbroken wheel
· bṛhaspatiḥ: Lord of wisdom/Guru of Gods
· dadhātu: May he grant/bestow
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