SHANTI MANTRAS – PRAYERS for PEACE

The Shanti Mantras are prayers for peace. They form part of the Upanishads, which provide the basis for the Hindu philosophy. Peace is the inherent nature of everything in this universe. Distractions to peace occur from within and without. To invoke peace and return to the natural state, we chant prayers. All peace mantras end by chanting ‘Shanti’ thrice. This is because the disturbances (aadhi) to peace originate from three sources- Aadhi-Bhautika, the Physical, from known sources such as pollution, accidents, etc, Aadhi-Daivika, the Natural forces over which we have little or no control like earthquakes or floods and Adhyatmika, the Internal sources like anger, depression or other negative feelings. Shanti mantras invoke the positive forces around us and within us. Participants chant five of these Shanti mantras in a lead-follow method. Meanings and explanations of the mantras are offered. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.