Shanti Path: Om Dyauh Shantih - The Vedic Mantra for Universal Peace
Shanti Path - Sanskrit Text
ॐ द्यौः शान्तिरन्तरिक्षँ शान्तिः,
पृथ्वी शान्तिरापः शान्तिरोषधयः शान्तिः ।
वनस्पतयः शान्तिर्विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्तिः,
सर्वँ शान्तिः, शान्तिरेव शान्तिः, सा मा शान्तिरेधि ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
oṃ dyauḥ śāntir antarikṣaṃ śāntiḥ,
pṛthvī śāntir āpaḥ śāntir oṣadhayaḥ śāntiḥ ।
vanaspatayaḥ śāntir viśve-devāḥ śāntir brahma śāntiḥ,
sarvaṃ śāntiḥ, śāntir eva śāntiḥ, sā mā śāntir edhi ॥
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥
Meaning
Om. May there be peace in the heavens; may there be peace in the sky and the space between; may there be peace on earth; may the waters be peaceful; may the herbs be peaceful; may the plants and trees be peaceful; may all the gods (Vishvedevas) be peaceful; may Brahman, the Absolute, be peace; may everything everywhere be peace; may peace itself be peace; and may that peace come to me - may it be peace alone. Om, peace, peace, peace.
The mantra moves outward through every realm of creation - celestial, atmospheric, terrestrial, the waters, the herbs and forests, the gods, and the supreme Brahman - invoking peace in each, before drawing that all-pervading peace inward to the one who prays. The threefold "Shanti" at the end is traditionally understood to pacify the three kinds of suffering: those from oneself (adhyatmika), from other beings (adhibhautika), and from cosmic or divine forces (adhidaivika).
About this Mantra
This Shanti Path is found in the Shukla Yajurveda (Vajasaneyi Samhita 36.17) and is among the most beloved of all Vedic peace invocations. It is recited at the conclusion of Vedic recitations, yajnas, pujas, classes and spiritual gatherings, sealing the activity with a prayer for universal harmony. Unlike a petition for personal gain, it is a selfless prayer for the well-being and tranquillity of the entire cosmos, expressing the Vedic vision of an interconnected, sacred universe.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
Reciting the Shanti Path settles the mind, dissolves agitation, and cultivates an inner state of calm and goodwill toward all beings. By repeatedly invoking peace across every domain of existence, it trains the heart in universal compassion and reminds the seeker that true peace is both an outer harmony and an inner realisation. It is believed to purify the atmosphere, neutralise negative energies, and create an auspicious, harmonious environment for worship, study or meditation. The concluding triple "Shanti" is held to free the devotee from the three afflictions of life.
Astrological Relevance
In Vedic astrology, mental peace, emotional balance and the absence of inner disturbance are governed chiefly by the Moon (Chandra), the karaka of the mind (manas), and are disturbed by afflictions from Rahu, Ketu, Shani (Saturn) and Mangal (Mars) - the grahas most associated with anxiety, restlessness, fear and conflict. The Shanti Path is a universal pacifying (shanti) prayer that is traditionally recited to calm such afflictions, soothe a troubled Moon, and reduce the harshness of difficult dashas and transits such as Sade Sati or Rahu-Ketu periods. It is also chanted at the beginning and end of any remedial ritual (graha shanti) to invoke the cooperation of all cosmic forces, making it a fitting companion to any planetary remedy.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Sit in a clean, quiet place in a comfortable, upright posture. Take a few calm breaths, then recite the Shanti Path slowly and clearly, dwelling on the meaning of peace spreading through each realm. It is most often chanted at the close of a puja, havan, scriptural reading or meditation, but may also be recited on its own, three or more times. Pronounce the final "Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti" gently and with full feeling, letting the mind rest in stillness afterward.
Best Day & Time
The Shanti Path may be recited at any time and on any day, as peace is always auspicious. It is especially fitting at dawn and dusk (sandhya), at the conclusion of any worship or havan, and on Mondays (the day of the calming Moon). It is also traditional during graha-shanti pujas and at the start of new ventures, journeys or studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Shanti Path Om Dyauh Shantih come from?
It is a mantra from the Shukla Yajurveda (Vajasaneyi Samhita, chapter 36, verse 17), one of the classic Vedic peace invocations recited at the close of prayers and rituals.
Why is "Shanti" repeated three times at the end?
The threefold repetition invokes peace against the three categories of suffering: adhyatmika (from oneself, body and mind), adhibhautika (from other beings and the environment), and adhidaivika (from cosmic or natural/divine forces).
When should the Shanti Path be recited?
It is traditionally chanted at the conclusion of any puja, havan, Vedic recitation, class or meditation, and may also be recited on its own whenever one seeks inner and outer peace.
Peace that pervades all realms: the cosmic vision of this Vedic invocation
The Shanti Path beginning with Om Dyauh Shantih is among the most expansive of all Vedic prayers - not because it asks for personal benefit, but because it extends its prayer of peace outward to every layer of existence: the celestial vault, the atmosphere, the earth, the waters, herbs, the plant world, and all divine beings, before finally drawing that universal peace inward to rest within the devotee. Drawn from the Shukla Yajurveda, this invocation reflects the Vedic understanding that outer harmony and inner stillness are inseparable. The chant does not command peace to arrive; it acknowledges peace as the true nature of creation and asks that nothing obstruct its expression.
In practice, the Shanti Path is recited at the close of rituals, yajna, Vedic recitation sessions and important life ceremonies - a way of sealing the sacred space and releasing it back into the cosmic order. Scholars of Vedic sound observe that the repetition of shantih three times at the close is traditionally understood to address and dissolve disturbances arising from the three realms: the divine, the natural and the personal. In the Jyotish tradition, peace mantras of this breadth are considered particularly auspicious during graha shanti ceremonies, where the aim is not merely to neutralise an afflicted planet but to restore harmony across the entire web of influences that shape a person's life.