Shanti Mantras

rdf:langString Shanti Mantras

rdf:langString The Shanti Mantras or "Peace Mantras" or Pancha Shanti are Hindu prayers for Peace (Shanti) found in 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 Upanishads. They are supposed to calm the mind of the 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 the sacred syllable Om (Auṃ) and three utterances of the word "Shanti" which means "Peace". The reason for uttering three times is for calming and removing obstacles in the three realms: * Physical or Adhi-Bhautika realm can be source of obstacles coming from external world, such as from wild animals, people, natural calamities etc. * Divine or Adhi-Daivika realm can be source of obstacles coming from extra-sensory world of spirits, ghosts, deities, and demigods. * Internal or Adhyaatmika realm is source of obstacles arising out of one's own body and mind, such as pain, diseases, laziness, and absent-mindedness. These are called "Tapa-Traya" or three classes of obstacles. When Shanti mantras are recited, obstacles from these realms are believed to bepacified. These are the Shanti Mantras from the different Upanishads and other sources.