Shaanti Shaanti Shaanti

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Why do we say Shaanti thrice?

 

Shaanti, meaning 'peace', is a natural state of being. Disturbances

are created either by others or us. For example, peace already exists

in a place until someone male noise. Therefore, peace underlies all

our agitations. When agitations end, peace is naturally experienced

since it is already there. Where there is peace, there is happiness.

Therefore, everyone without exception desires peace in his/her life.

However, peace within or without seems very hard to attain because it

is covered by our own agitations. A rare few manage to remain

peaceful within even in the midst of external agitation and troubles.

To invoke peace, we chant prayers. By chanting prayers, troubles end

and peace is experienced internally, irrespective of the external

disturbances. All such prayers end by the chanting shaanti 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, on who takes the witness stand says, " I shall speak the

truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth " . We chant shaanti

thrice to emphasize our intense desire for peace.

 

All obstacles, problems and sorrows originate three sources:

 

Aadhidaivika: The unseen divine forces over which we have little or

no control like earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions etc.

Aadhibautika: the known factors around us like accidents, human

contacts, pollution, crime etc.

Aadhyaatmika: Problems of our bodies and minds like diseases, anger,

frustrations etc.

 

We sincerely pray to the Lord that at least while we undertake

special tasks or even in our daily lives, there are no problems or

that, problems are minimized from the three sources written about

above. May peace alone prevail. Hence shaanti is chanted thrice.

 

It is chanted aloud the first time, addressing the unseen forces. It

is chanted softer the second time, directed to our immediate

surroundings and those around, and softest the last time as it is

addressed to oneself.