IMPORTANCE OF SANTHI MANTRA

 

 

 

 

At the beginning of SIKSHAVALLI of TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD we find the Santhi Mantra before the start of the other mantras. At the end of the Santi mantra, the word SANTI is repeated thrice!  Why should this word SANTI be repeated three times? What is the significance of this repetition?
  Sanno mitrasyam varunaha    Sanno bhavatyaryama   Sanna Indro Bruhaspatihi  Sanno vishnu  rurukramaha
  Namo  brahmane  Namasthe vayo Twameva Prathyaksham brhma  vadishyami  Rutam  vadishyami
  Satyam Vadishyami  Tanmamavatu  Tad  vaktaramavatu  Avatu mam  Avatu  Vaktaram  Om Santihi Santihi Santihi
   Meaning: O Vayu, My Pranams to you! You are the direct Brahman. I declare you as the direct Brahman. I also declare you as the form of Rita and Satya. Let that all pervading God Vayu protect me , the disciple,and the precertor. Let there be Peace! Let there be Peace! Let there be Peace!
Before starting adhyayana or  Vedic Studies the disciple invokes and prays first to the " adhyatmika Gods" to bestow happiness to him. If these deiies are pleased, concentration and memory of the teacher and the taught will be excellent! Hence it is absolutely essential to invoke and pray for their blessings!
   ADHYATMIKA GODS;   MITRA is the presiding deity for Prana or life sustaining Spirit.
   VARUNA is the presiding deity of the renal system of the body.
    ARYAMA is the presiding deity of the eyes
     INDRA is the deity of strength and stamina
     BRUHASPATI  presides over mind and speech
Three kinds of troubles affect humanity They are (1)  Adhyatmika (2) Adi Bhautika and (3).Adi Daivika. Fever, headache, and others come under the first category. Theft, troubles from wild beasts,like tigers and others belong to Adi Bhautika. Adi Daivika troubles are from spirits, ghosts and demons
  The word SANTHI is repeated THRICE to ward off and protect the student and the teacher from all these three types of troubles! "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of" says Lord Tennyson the famous Victorian poet! Prayer is the food for the soul! The Vedas and the Upanishads always invoke the blessings of Gods for peace and prosperity of every one in the Universe. Statements like 'Lokah Samastas Sukhino Bhavantu' indicate the broadmindedness of the sages and

                                                                 SAGE VYASA
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