Various hymns in the Rig Veda express desires for peace, harmony, and well-being in the world, often invoking deities like Agni (fire) and Indra (thunder) to bring about positive outcomes. Vedic hymns were traditionally chanted by priests during religious ceremonies, with specific rules regarding pronunciation and intonation. There are hundreds of such hymns in the Vedas, epitomising the wisdom of our ancestors, which, unfortunately we are neglecting and running after petty material gains at the cost of the future of mankind. In Hinduism, the Shanti Mantra is chanted at the beginning and end of religious acts, rites, and yagyas. This is one of the most common hymn that we often used before begining the any special religious events or worship or prayers is :
द्द्योः शान्ति अन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः पृथिवी शान्ति आपः शान्ति औषधय: शान्तिः, वनस्पतयः शान्तिर्विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्तिः सर्वं शान्तिः शान्तिरेव शान्तिः सामा शान्तिरेधि|
Dyooh shaanti antarikshm shaantih prithivi shaanti, aapah shaanti aushadhayah shaanti, Vanaspatayah shaanti-vishwedevaah shaantirbrahma shantih, sarvam shaantih, shaantireva shaanti saamaa shaantiredhi.
The breaking down of the hymn is below :
Ddyoh = Heaven,
Shaanti = peace, tranquility Antariksha = cosmos, atmosphere or sky. Prithivee = Earth
Aap = water.
Aushadhayah = medicinal herbs. Vanaspatayh = plants,vegetation.
Vishwedevaah = various Gods. Brahma = supreme God.
Sarvam = every body.
Shaantireva = real peace.
Saama = like this
Shantiredhi = shaanti + edhi.
Edhi = spread, grow.
Let there be peace in the Heaven, in the cosmos, on the Earth we live, let the medicinal herbs and all vegetation on the Earth be at peace (remain unharmed), various lesser gods and Supreme God (Brahma) bestow peace upon us , and let this real peace grow and spread every where
This "Shanti Mantra" is a Hindu prayer or chant used to invoke peace ("shanti" means peace in Sanskrit), typically recited at the beginning and end of religious rituals to calm the mind of the chanter and the surrounding environment. The main aim is to remove obstacles on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels by repeating the word "shanti" multiple times.
