is a deep desire that so many of us in this world long for and, fortunately, prayers with this in mind are plentiful. In Hinduism, prayers for peace have been recited to help remove obstacles at hand and create a tranquil environment since time immemorial. Shanti mantras, or peace prayers, are revealed in the sacred Hindu Upanishads in the ancient language Sanskrit. But they are not mere words. Their vibrations are filled with divine energy.

“The conscious repetition of mantras liberates the energy that lies within them … A mantra is a very powerful mystical force encapsulated in a sound vibration, composed of one or more syllables in the Sanskrit language, which by being recited repeatedly can grant attainments at an earthly or transcendental level, due to its meaning, structure and rhythm.”

~ Excerpt from Prabhuji’s book Yoga…Union with Reality

Shanti mantras are often recited at both the beginning and end of religious rituals and discourses, but not just for the benefit of humanity and the world. These precious mantras bring a feeling of great calm and help the ritual or lecture to flow. They always end with three repetitions of “shanti”, and this is highly significant. The spiritual world includes realms that cannot be seen by most and this repetition of “shanti” three times calms those who recite and hear it, and removes obstacles for the task at hand in the physical, Divine and internal realms.

“As you observe, you will slowly discover that illusion is noise, while reality is silence; the ego is words, but the soul is silence; the mind is noise and you are silence; what you believe yourself to be is just talk, but what you really are is silence. The mantra is a vessel that can carry us from the world of verbalizing to the paradise of peace.”

~ Prabhuji, Yoga … Union with Reality

   Here is a selection of Shanti Mantras that we would like to share with you from various Upanishads, which are ancient and sacred Vedantic texts that were revealed to the great sages. Sit in a quiet place, chant, feel their vibrations and spread the peace in your corner of the world.

Katha Upanishad

Om Saha Navatu Saha Nau Bhunaktu Saha Viiryam Karavavahai Tejasvinavadhitamastu Maa Vidvisaavahai Om Shantih Shantih Shantih

Om 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, May we not mutually dispute Om let there be peace in me Let there be peace in my environment Let there be peace in the forces that act on me Om peace peace peace.

Ishavasya Upanishad

Om Puurnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Purnnam-Udacyate Puurnasya Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashisshyate Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih

Om, that is infinite and this is infinite The infinite proceeds from the infinite Then taking the infinitude of the infinite It remains as the infinite alone. Om peace peace peace.

Bhihadaranyaka Upanishad

Om asato ma sadgamaya Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya Mrtyorma amrtam gamaya Om shantih shantih shantih

Lead us from the unreal to real Lead us from darkness to light Lead us from death to immortality Om peace peace peace.  

Om shanti shanti shanti