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Shanti Mantras

The Shanti Mantras, or Pancha Shanti mantras, are Hindu prayers for peace (shanti) found in the Upanishads. Generally, they are recited at the beginning and end of religious rituals and discourses.

Shanti Mantras are invoked in the beginning of some topics of the Upanishads. They are believed to calm the mind and the environment of the reciter.

Shanti Mantras always end with the sacred syllable om (auṃ) and three utterances of the word "shanti", which means "peace". The reason for the three utterances is regarded to be for the removal of obstacles in the following three realms:

  • The physical or ādhibhautika realm can be a source of obstacles coming from the external world, such as from wild animals, people, natural calamities.
  • The divine or ādhidaivika realm can be a source of obstacles coming from the extra-sensory world of spirits, ghosts, deities and demigods.
  • The internal or ādhyātmika realm is a source of obstacles arising out of one's own body and mind, such as pain, diseases, laziness and absent-mindedness.

These are called tāpatraya, or the three classes of obstacles.

These are the Shanti Mantras from the different Upanishads and other sources.

Isha and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

<blockquote><small>The translation and meaning of the Mantra can be understood when the context in which the Mantra is quoted in the Upanishad is known. Prior understanding of Vedanta is essential for translation and explanation of these Mantra. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad explains Consciousness and it in this context that this Shanti Mantra needs to be understood.</small></blockquote>

Taittiriya Upanishad

<nowiki>*</nowiki> 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 and Katha Upanishad

Kena and Chandogya Upanishads

Aitareya Upanishad

Mundaka, Māndukya and Prashna Upanishads

Vedas

There are various other Shanti Mantras from the Vedas, of which some of the notable ones are:

See also

References

Further 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.

External links