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Vedic Voice offers the Bhagavad Gita (all 18 chapters), Upanishads (Isha, Kena, Katha, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka), Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Atma Bodha, Tattva Bodha, and various Vedic mantras.

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Peaceful sunrise over calm water — Shanti Mantras: Where sacred sound meets inner stillness

Shanti Mantras: Sacred Invocations for Peace

Shanti Mantras are peace invocations that traditionally open and close Vedic study sessions. They invoke harmony between teacher and student, and peace at all levels of existence.

What Are Shanti Mantras?

"Shanti" (शान्ति) means peace. These mantras:

Open Vedic study sessions

Create sacred learning space

Remove obstacles to understanding

Invoke blessings on the learning process

End with triple "Om Shanti" for peace at three levels

Om Sahana Vavatu

The most famous Shanti Mantra from the Taittiriya Upanishad:

In Devanagari:

ॐ सह नाववतु।

सह नौ भुनक्तु।

सह वीर्यं करवावहै।

तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

In Transliteration:

Om saha nāvavatu

Saha nau bhunaktu

Saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai

Tejasvi nāvadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahai

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ

Line-by-Line Meaning

सह नाववतु (Saha nāvavatu)

Saha: Together

Nau: Us two (teacher and student)

Avatu: May [the Lord] protect

"May He protect us both."

सह नौ भुनक्तु (Saha nau bhunaktu)

Bhunaktu: May [He] nourish

"May He nourish us both."

सह वीर्यं करवावहै (Saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai)

Vīryam: Energy, vigor

Karavāvahai: May we make together

"May we work together with energy."

तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु (Tejasvi nāvadhītamastu)

Tejasvi: Brilliant, illuminating

Adhītam: Our study

Astu: May it be

"May our study be brilliant/illuminating."

मा विद्विषावहै (Mā vidviṣāvahai)

Mā: May not

Vidviṣāvahai: We hate each other

"May we not hate each other."

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

"Om Peace, Peace, Peace"

The Triple Shanti

The three repetitions of "Shanti" address three sources of obstacles:

Ādhidaivika (आधिदैविक): Divine/cosmic causes

- Natural disasters
- Planetary influences
- Beyond human control

Ādhibhautika (आधिभौतिक): Physical/external causes

- Other beings
- Environment
- Material obstacles

Ādhyātmika (आध्यात्मिक): Internal/psychological causes

- Mental disturbances
- Emotional obstacles
- Self-created problems

Other Important Shanti Mantras

Om Asato Ma Sadgamaya

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय।

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।

मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Meaning:
"Lead me from untruth to truth,
From darkness to light,
From death to immortality.
Om peace, peace, peace."

Om Purnamadah

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Meaning:
"That is whole, this is whole. From wholeness comes wholeness.
When wholeness is taken from wholeness, wholeness remains.
Om peace, peace, peace."

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत्।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Meaning:
"May all be happy, may all be healthy,
May all see auspiciousness, may none suffer.
Om peace, peace, peace."

Pronunciation Guide

Key Sounds

Sahana (सह न):

"Sa" - dental "s"

"Ha" - aspirated

"Na" - dental "n"

Vīryam (वीर्यम्):

Long "ī" - hold it

"Ry" - "r" and "y" together quickly

Final "m" - anusvara resonance

Śāntiḥ (शान्तिः):

"Ś" - palatal "sh" (like "sheen")

Long "ā" - hold it

"Tiḥ" - ends with visarga (soft breath)

When to Use Shanti Mantras

Traditional Uses

Beginning of study: Creates sacred space

End of study: Seals the learning

Opening meditation: Centering practice

Closing ceremonies: Bringing peace to completion

Modern Applications

Before meetings: Creating harmony

Starting work day: Setting intention

Before difficult conversations: Invoking peace

Meditation practice: Opening and closing

Group Settings

Particularly powerful when chanted together:

Yoga classes

Meditation groups

Satsangs

Educational settings

Practice Methods

Simple Daily Practice

Morning or evening:

Sit quietly

Take three deep breaths

Chant Om Sahana Vavatu once

Sit in silence briefly

Begin your day or sleep

Before Learning

When studying spiritual texts or attending teachings:

Chant at the beginning

Study with attention

Chant again at the end

Reflect on what you've learned

Meditation Integration

As part of meditation:

Begin with Shanti mantra

Proceed with your practice

End with Shanti mantra

Rest in silence

The Teacher-Student Relationship

The Om Sahana Vavatu mantra specifically addresses the guru-shishya (teacher-student) relationship:

Traditional Understanding

Learning is a sacred exchange

Both parties must be protected and nourished

Mutual respect prevents conflict

The relationship serves the knowledge

Modern Relevance

Even without formal guru relationships:

Any learning involves teacher/student dynamics

The prayer creates right attitude

Removes ego from the equation

Focuses on the transmission of knowledge

Benefits of Shanti Mantras

Traditional Benefits

Removal of obstacles to learning

Blessings on the study

Protection during spiritual practice

Creation of sacred space

Peace at all levels

Experiential Benefits

Calming effect on mind

Creates transition into learning mode

Builds community in group settings

Provides ritual structure

Connects to ancient tradition

The Philosophy Behind the Words

Om Sahana Vavatu teaches:

Mutuality: Learning is not one-way

Humility: Both parties need divine support

Energy: Learning requires vitality

Illumination: True study enlightens

Harmony: Conflict blocks understanding

The Cosmic View

These mantras acknowledge that:

We don't learn alone

Grace supports understanding

Peace is the foundation

The infinite provides

Practice Shanti Mantras with AI pronunciation feedback at Vedic Voice.

Shanti Mantras: Sacred Invocations for Peace

Shanti Mantras: Sacred Invocations for Peace

What Are Shanti Mantras?

Practice This Mantra

Om Sahana Vavatu

Line-by-Line Meaning

सह नाववतु (Saha nāvavatu)

सह नौ भुनक्तु (Saha nau bhunaktu)

सह वीर्यं करवावहै (Saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai)

तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु (Tejasvi nāvadhītamastu)

मा विद्विषावहै (Mā vidviṣāvahai)

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

The Triple Shanti

Other Important Shanti Mantras

Om Asato Ma Sadgamaya

Om Purnamadah

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah

Pronunciation Guide

Key Sounds

When to Use Shanti Mantras

Traditional Uses

Modern Applications

Group Settings

Practice Methods

Simple Daily Practice

Before Learning

Meditation Integration

The Teacher-Student Relationship

Traditional Understanding

Modern Relevance

Benefits of Shanti Mantras

Traditional Benefits

Experiential Benefits

The Philosophy Behind the Words

Om Sahana Vavatu teaches:

The Cosmic View

Practice What You've Learned