Significance Of Chanting “Shanti” Thrice…

Shanti, meaning ‘peace’, is a natural state of being.

- Dipti Shah

Disturbances are created either by others or us. Therefore, peace underlies all our agitations. When agitations end, peace is naturally experienced since it was already there. Where there is peace, there is happiness. Therefore, everyone, without exception, desires peace in his/her life.

One could interpret this as meaning peace in body, mind, and spirit or as a wish for peace individually, collectively and universally. All the Shanti Mantras in the Vedas and Upanishads end with, “Shanti, Shanti, Shanti”, chanting Shanti thrice. The question that sometimes arises is – why is Shanti chanted three times? Is there significance to it? Let us explore…

Why Shanti Mantra is chanted thrice?

It is believed that Trivaram Satyam – that which is said thrice comes true. For emphasizing a point we repeat a thing thrice. In the Court of Law also, one who takes the witness stand says, “I shall speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. We chant Shanti thrice to emphasize our intense desire for peace.

Our ancient scriptures tell us that one of the main objectives of life is to remove three kinds of obstacles or to eliminate three kinds of suffering. In Samkhya Philosophy, the very first Sutra states: “Atha Trividhadukhantyanta Nivrittih Atyanta Purusharthah” “Permanent and complete elimination of the three-fold suffering is the supreme purpose of life.”