A Peace Invocation
Shānti Mantra
Shānti mantra (peace invocation) is a prayer or chant to invoke peace, harmony, and wellbeing for oneself and those around. For example, the popular invocation “sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ …” means “May all be happy; may all be free from illness; may whatever comes be auspicious for all; may no one suffer.”
Every Upanishad generally begins with a shānti mantra. The invocation of these mantras has the following benefits:
- Brings peace to the body, mind, and intelligence.
- Generates harmony and wellbeing.
- Brings peace in the setting or environment.
- Prepares the mind and intelligence for spiritual pursuit and study.
- Brings peace from various kinds of afflictions.
Mantra for wellbeing and auspiciousness
In this article, we shall discuss a shānti mantra that appears at the beginning of the Mundaka Upanishad, Māndukya Upanishad and Prashna Upanishad. It also appears in the Rig Veda 1.89.
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवा भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ।
स्थिरैरङ्गैः तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिः व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ।
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः ।
स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।
“Om! O Gods, with our ears, may we hear what is auspicious. O Gods, with our eyes, may we see what is auspicious. With bodies endowed with strong and healthy limbs, may we — praising Gods — lead a life of fulfilment. May Indra, of great glories, bestow wellbeing to us. May the all-knowing Pushan, bestow wellbeing to us. May Garuda, who protects from evil and harm, bestow wellbeing unto us. May Brihaspati (the preceptor of Gods) bestow wellbeing unto us. Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!”
Notes on the mantra
In this section, we shall discuss each of the statements in the mantra (numbered 1 to 9 below). We shall also explore the meaning of the individual words in the mantra.
1. Om
It is important to remember that this shānti mantra appears at the beginning of an Upanishad. This suggests that a peace invocation at the beginning of an Upanishad would be a prayer for the success of spiritual pursuit. Thus, the invocation begins with Om, representing the Supreme Reality (Brahman), the spiritual goal.
2. O Gods, with our ears, may we hear what is auspicious.
भद्रं (with the ears) कर्णेभिः (auspicious) शृणुयाम (may we hear) देवाः (O Gods, O deities)
The word bhadra means auspicious, good, blessed, favourable, propitious, benevolent. It is important to note that we are not praying for ‘favourable in the short-term’, but for the ‘good and auspicious in the long-term’ even if it is unfavourable in the short-term.
To begin with, we are praying that we hear what is bhadra (auspicious). If whatever we hear is auspicious, then the mind is constantly in that state of constant association with auspiciousness.
One of the synonyms of the word bhadra is Siva (the Auspicious One). This means we are praying for attaining the state of Siva-hood.
The term ‘deva’ refers to the deities. There are deities associated with forces of nature, the senses, divinities, pursuits, etc. This prayer is addressing all deities.
The mantra says, ‘may we hear…’ Here are some points to ruminate in this context:
- The prayer says ‘we’. If we are praying for ‘hearing the auspicious’, then it is our responsibility to contribute ‘auspicious’ sounds to this world.
- We cannot be sure that we will always hear auspicious sounds. Through this prayer, we are elevating our mind to a state where we become even-minded towards the auspicious and the inauspicious.
- We are also raising the mind to transcend the idea of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness.
- Attuning the mind to the idea of always hearing the auspicious, let us be awakened to the fact that one’s true nature is that of ‘auspiciousness’.
3. O Gods, with our eyes, may we see what is auspicious.
भद्रं (auspicious) पश्येम (may we see) अक्षभिः (with the eyes) यजत्राः (O Deities who are worthy of worship)
The idea is very similar to the above (regarding hearing). While we are praying that we see what is auspicious, here the suggestion is to elevate the mind to perceive or see everything as auspicious. As spiritual seekers, our minds should move towards seeing auspiciousness (Siva) everywhere.
4. With bodies endowed with strong and healthy limbs, may we — praising Gods — lead a life of fulfilment. This life being bestowed by the Gods.
स्थिरैः अङ्गैः (with strong and healthy limbs or organs) तुष्टुवांसः (praising Gods) तनूभिः (by bodies [gross, subtle, causal bodies]) व्यशेम (we obtained) देवहितं यदायुः (this life being bestowed by the Gods)
The body must be in good physical condition, so that the mind is able to function properly and focus on the spiritual goal. Thus, here we are praying for healthy body, so that we are in a position to contribute to ‘wellbeing’ and ‘auspiciousness’ around us. Only if we contribute to the ‘pool’ of auspiciousness around us, will we be able to ‘hear’ and ‘see’ auspiciousness around us.
The body and limbs represent action, karma. The focus is on performing actions that are done as an offering to the ‘divine’. In other words, we want to utilise the life we have attained, for serving others. This is beautiful prayer for the purification of the mind through karma yoga.
5. May Indra, of great glories, bestow wellbeing to us.
स्वस्ति (wellbeing, auspiciousness) न (for us) इन्द्रः (Indra, the deity) वृद्धश्रवाः (he who is of great glories)
Here we are praying to the Lord of the Gods, Indra. Through this we are seeking both inner and outer wellbeing. According to Vedanta, Indra is identified with the Supreme Being.
6. May the all-knowing Pushan, bestow wellbeing to us.
स्वस्ति (wellbeing, auspiciousness) नः (for us) पूषा (Pushan, the One who nourishes, the Sun) विश्ववेदाः (the all-knowing)
Here we are praying to the all-knowing Pushan, the nourisher of the entire world. What can the all-knowing bestow? Only knowledge. We are seeking knowledge; i.e., Self-knowledge. For one who is engaged in spiritual pursuit, Self-knowledge alone bestows liberation from all bondage.
7. May Garuda, who protects from evil and harm, bestow wellbeing unto us.
स्वस्ति (wellbeing, auspiciousness) नः (for us) तार्क्ष्यः (Garuda) अरिष्टनेमिः (one who protects from evil, harm)
Here we are praying for removal of all obstacles, hindrances — external and internal. Like in the case of any pursuit, in the case of the spiritual path too, we pray for freedom from obstacles.
Garuda, the king of birds, is represented as the vehicle of Lord Vishnu (the all-pervading One). Garuda is also said to have brought amrita (nectar that confers immortality) to free his mother from bondage. As a seeker of the goal of attaining the omnipresent Supreme, and liberation, it is no wonder that the seeker is praying to Garuda.
8. May Brihaspati (the Preceptor of Gods) bestow wellbeing unto us.
स्वस्ति (wellbeing, auspiciousness) नः (for us) बृहस्पतिः (Brihaspati, the preceptor of Gods) दधातु (may bestow)
This is a prayer to the guru. Here we are praying to Brihaspati himself who is the guru (preceptor) of the Gods. Through this, we are seeking spiritual knowledge and success in our spiritual pursuit.
9. Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!
ॐ (Om) शान्तिः (peace) शान्तिः (peace) शान्तिः (peace)
The word ‘peace’ is repeated thrice. It is for calming the mind by freeing it from three kinds of afflictions. They are: (1) afflictions relating to the human body, mind, intelligence; (2) afflictions relating to divine or supernatural agencies; and (3) afflictions relating to the five elements, and afflictions from wild animals, man-made disasters, natural disasters.
A Comprehensive mantra
Examining all the various parts of this mantra, we see that it is a beautiful and comprehensive prayer for wellbeing and success in spiritual pursuit. It is important to note that all the statements use the first person plural personal pronouns ‘we, us’.
The mantra addresses the following aspects of spiritual pursuit:
- By invoking the auspicious symbol Om, we remind ourselves of the goal, Brahman (the Supreme Reality).
- Praying for auspiciousness in what we hear and what we see ensures that the sense organs and mind are in control, and through them we only experience the auspicious.
- By seeking blessings for physical wellbeing of the body and limbs we seek to perform all actions as offering to the Gods. This helps us purify the mind, preparing it for Self-knowledge.
- We are seeking overall inner and outer wellbeing by seeking the blessings of the Lord of the Gods.
- By praying to the all-knowing deity Pushan, we are seeking Self-knowledge.
- By seeking the blessings of Garuda, we are seeking freedom from all obstacles in the spiritual path, and also blessings for immortality.
- By seeking the blessings of the preceptor of the Gods, Brihaspati, we seek spiritual guidance, and success in our spiritual pursuit. By invoking the guru principle, we are making ourselves a receptacle for Self-knowledge.
- Finally, we are seeking freedom from the three kinds of afflictions.
