Om Peace Peace Peace. Those 4 short words are often spoken at the end of a yoga class but what do they mean and why do we say them?
“Om” is the first mantra most yoga students will hear as many classes start and end with this. It is also chanted at the start of mantras and sacred texts. It is used in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
“Om”represents everything there has been or is – the whole universe -and it is said to have been the first sound ever uttered. It is even referenced in the Bible at John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
My favourite definition of Om however is taken from the Taittirya Upanishad
“Om is the supreme symbol of the Lord
Om is the whole. Om affirms. Om signals
The chanting of the hymms from the Vedas.
The priest begins with Om: spiritual teachers
And their students commence with Om
The student who is established in Om
Becomes united with the Lord of love”
“Shanti” [peace] is a mantra in its own right but is also chanted at the end of other mantras or prayers such as the Ashtanga closing chant.
It is chanted 3 times to wish peace on all 3 dimensions of the universe where there is suffering
- Adhidaivika. The natural realm where suffering arises out of natural events such as flood, fire, storm or pandemic
- Adhibhaihka. The realm where suffering arises out of human connecting with human and social interaction- war, aggression and discrimination such as sexism and racism and finally
- Adhyatmika. The individual realm where suffering arises out of illness, mental distress, anxiety, etc