Saareeraka Upanishad — 2
Aim Sri Saaradaa devyai namah
Saareeraka Upanishad~2.
Every Upanishad invariably begins and closes with a peace-invocation or Saanti Mantra. At the end of the peace-invocation or “Saanti Mantra”, the word “Saantih” is repeated thrice as “Saantih, Saantih, Saantih”. The significance of repetition of Saantih for thrice is to ward off or frustrate Aadhyaatmika or person-bound, Aadhibhoutika or nature-generated, Aaadhidaivika or super natural obstacles. Ill-health is a personal obstacle. Problems created by attacks from animals or snakes are of natural or physical phenomena. Earth-quakes, floods, tsunamis are super natural calamities. Any or all of these can stop our learning endeavour. In order to prevent them, we repeat ‘peace’ thrice at the end of every Saanti Mantra.
As we already learnt, S.U. is an extract from the Krishna Yajurveda. Most of the Upanishads derived from this Veda generally have this peace mantra, though some of them are with some other peace mantras. Of course the present peace mantra is very popular one. The mantra is as below:
“Aum Saha naavavatu |
Saha nau bhunaktu |
Saha veeryam karavaavahai |
Tejasvi naavadheetamastu maa vidvishaavahai ||
Aum Saantih Saantih Saantih ||
This is a peace invocation or Saanti Praarthana recited by the teacher and the pupil together. The gist of this mantra is as under:
“May He(the Supreme Reality or the Ultimate Godhead) protect us both together. May He nourish us both together. May we both possess total competence together. May our study be illumined fully well. May we not entertain any disharmony against each other while learning together. Let there be personal peace. Let there be peace in all surroundings. Let there be
peace from super natural sources. ”
We take up the first mantra of S.U. for our discussion in our next. Till then thank you very much.
Swasti ||
(to be contd.).
The relevance of repeating the word ‘Santhi’ for three times has well been said. we simply say’Tapatrayamulu’
many a time in our daily life. now we come to what they are and how to avert them. The meaning of Santhi mantra is presented lucidly.
The essence of Shanti Mantra and its purpose is explained very well. Saha navavatu peace invocation Mantra though known very widely, its real application is understood now. On the whole your excellent and clear presentation of SU, a very special and rare topic makes us wait for the next episode.