Shanti Mantra

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 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 inthree 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 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.

Divine or "Adhi-Daivika" realm can be source of troubles/obstacles coming fromextra-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 bepacified.

hanti Mantras

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and Ishavasya Upanishad

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते |

ॐ शान्तिः, शान्तिः, शान्तिः |

Oum poorNamadaH poorNamidam poorNaat poorNamudachyate, poorNasya poorNamaadaaya poorNamevaavaSiShyate, Oum SaantiH, SaantiH, SaantiH.

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

Taittiriya Upanishad

ॐ शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः । शं नो भवत्वर्यमा ।

शं न इन्द्रो ब्रिहस्पतिः । शं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः ।

नमो ब्रह्मणे । नमस्ते वायो । त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं भ्रह्मासि ।

त्वामेव प्रत्यक्षम् ब्रह्म वदिष्यामि ।

ॠतं वदिष्यामि । सत्यं वदिष्यामि ।

तन्मामवतु । तद्वक्तारमवतु । अवतु माम् । अवतु वक्तारम् ।

ॐ शन्तिः शन्तिः शन्तिः ॥

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

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 Vishnu-who has vast coverage-do good to us,(I) Salute O Brahma!, salutes to you O Vayu!, Only you (Vayu) arethe visible Brahman. I say Only you (Vayu) are the visible Brahman,I say rta ( divine law ), 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.

Taittiriya Upanishad, Katha Upanishad and Shvetashvatara Upanishad

ॐ सह नाववतु | सह नौ भुनक्तु |

सह वीर्यं करवावहै

तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै |

ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः |

Om saha naav avatu, saha nau bhunaktu,

Saha veeryam karavaavahai,

Tejasvinaa avadheetam astu maa vidvishaavahai,

Om shaanti shaanti shaantih.

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.

Kena Upanishad and Chandogya Upanishad

ॐ आप्यायन्तु ममाङ्गानि वाक्प्राणश्चक्षुः

श्रोत्रमथो बलमिन्द्रियाणि च सर्वाणि ।

सर्वम् ब्रह्मौपनिषदम् माऽहं ब्रह्म

निराकुर्यां मा मा ब्रह्म

निराकरोदनिराकरणमस्त्वनिराकरणम् मेऽस्तु ।

तदात्मनि निरते य उपनिषत्सु धर्मास्ते मयि सन्तु ते मयि सन्तु । ॐ शन्ति शन्ति शन्तिः ॥

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 shanti shanti 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 don't 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.

Aitareya Upanishad

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 शन्ति शन्ति शन्तिः

Om vaang me manasi pratishthitaa

Mano me vaachi pratishthitam Aaveeraaveerma edhi,

Vedasya ma aanisthah Shrutam me maa prahaaseer anenaadheetena Ahoraatraan samdadhaam ritam vadishyaami Satyam vadishyaami tanmaamavatu tadvaktaaramavatu Avatu maam avatu vaktaaram avatu vaktaaram Om shanti shanti 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 rta ( divine law ), 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.

Mundaka Upanishad, Mandukya Upanishad and Prashna Upanishad

ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः श्रुणुयाम देवाः।

भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः स्थिरैरन्ङ्गैस्तुष्टुवागं सस्तनूभिः। व्यशेम देवहितम् यदायुः। स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः। स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः। स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः। स्वस्ति नो ब्रिहस्पतिर्दधातु ॐ शन्ति शन्ति शन्तिः॥

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 Taarkshya(who) destroys enemies do good to us!may Brihaspati give good to us!
OM Peace, Peace, Peace.