Shanti Shanti Shanti

Have you ever noticed in a yoga class or a Hindu religious ceremony the Shanti paath goes like this at the end of a shloka: Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. Now why would it be recited thrice? Well, we definitely need more peace in this world, right? Absolutely, but there is a deeper reason behind it than that and just poetic effect.

Ancient scriptures say that we experience three kinds of suffering in life. These have been interpreted like so: •Adhidaivika (of divine origin, like natural calamities which are out of our control) •Adhibhautika (of worldly, living/nonliving beings and situations) •Adhyatmika (of our spirit, self-inflicted, either bodily or in the mind)

According to Samkhya Philosophy sutra, "अथ त्रिविधदुःखात्यन्त निवृत्तिः अत्यन्त पुरुषार्थः" Atha trividhadukhantyanta nivrittiH atyanta purusharthaH

Meaning: Permanent and complete removal of the three-fold causes of misery is the ultimate purpose of life.

All hindrances, evils and disappointments originate from these three sources. Chanting shanti thrice gives emphasis to our hope and aspiration for harmony. So to chant this mantra three times is an intention to aim for peace in all three types of distress in life.

#shantishantishanti #peacepeacepeace