The Shanti Mantras or "Peace Mantras" are Hindu prayers for Peace (Shanti) found in Upanishads. Generally they are recited at the beginning and end of religious rituals and discourses.
Contents
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 three utterances of word "Shanti" which means "Peace". The Reason for uttering three times is for calming and removing obstacles in three realms which are:
According to the scriptures of Hinduism sources of obstacles and troubles lie in these three realms.
These are called "Tapa-Traya" or three classes of troubles. When Shanti mantras are recited, obstacles fr om these realms are believed to be pacified.
Shanti Mantras
These are the Shanti Mantras from the different Upanishads and other sources.
Taittiriya Upanishad
* Reciter = the one who is currently reciting this mantra. Identifying oneself here as "the reciter", and not as "I", is a sign of self-realization, of transcending beyond self and ego being dissolved.
Vedas
There are various other Shanti Mantras from Vedas. of which some of the most famous are: