Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 40

 

 

40) OṀ ŚĀNṪI BHŨMYAINAMAH:

      OṀ (AUM) - `SAAN - ṪI - BHOO- MYAI-

                                                   -NA--MA- HA

 

(Śānṫih: means- peace, calmness, repose, tranquility)

 

 

 

There is no Hindu who does not end his worship (pooja) with 'Oṁ śāntih', 'Om śāntih','Om śāntih'. The priests after elaborate rituals to Gods recite 'Sānti mantras' and svasti (praying for auspiciousness). It is a natural tendency for human beings to desire peace. Nobody wants chaos, calamities, famines, wars or now a days, terrorisms with human killings in the name of religion. It is but natural for human beings to react with the fear of the unknown when eerie unnatural incidents take place. Right from the most ancient times they have also tried to forestall such happenings that might follow, with appropriate propitiatory rites (called śāntis by the Hindu scriptures) in advance. Derived from the root 'sam' (means to appease), the word śānti means a rite that can offset or reduce the evil effects prognosticated by bad omens.

Though this word has not been found in the Ṛigveda in this sense, it does find a prominent place in the Atharvaṇaveda, the Taittirīya Saṃhita and the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa. No matter how much wealth, and material possessions one might have, the person without śānti (mental tranquility) experiences hell in his life. In our Sanātana Dharma, only our ancient sages realized the importance of peace among humans as well as to animals. That's why they have incorporated 'Śānti mantras' in our daily prayers, and religious services.

 

We say three times, 'Oṁ Śāntih', 'Oṁ Śāntih', 'Oṁ Śāntih' at the end of our worships. If we look at this deeply and spiritually, we can understand the meaning and purpose behind this. The first time 'Oṁ Śāntih' is in desiring peace to that individual and to his family, friends, relatives, and the community he lives in. The second time when we pray 'Oṁ Śāntih' is wishing for peace to the entire country. The third and last time when we pray 'Oṁ Śāntih' is wishing for peace to the entire world. When we are praying for global peace to the entire humanity including animal kingdom it shows our intense desire for the global peace in contrast to other religions and nations which engage in wars and terrorism. We can also see this in different angle. First time for mental peace, second time peace from nature's calamities like earth-quakes, hurricanes, tornados, famines, and fires, etc and the third time from bad omens, diseases, etc.  Whatever it may be, we pray for world peace and we include everyone irrespective of race, creed, religion or country and we do not exclude even an insect.

 

So, in many ways we pray to God for peace and we can proudly say that our land is the 'Śānti Bhūmi'.