By Bimal Chandra Jha
I have attended more than hundred of conferences on national and international level. I was also fortunate of having attended some religious conferences, but in no conference a prayer was sung for world peace However, conferences organised by Ayurvedists sing the following prayers for world peace. Recently I got an opportunity to witness a ritual organised by the Rathore family of Baraura. On this occasion, scholars from Varanasi sung the following prayer. I find it very difficult to resist myself to quote the same for the benefits of readers:
Salutations to the Cosmic Self, Lord of our hearts, omniscient and omnipresent, in thy divine presence I offer my prayer for peace and well-being of humankind and all living beings.
ASATO MA SAD GAMAYA
TAMASO MA JYOTIR GAMAYA
MRITYOR MA AMRITAM GAMAYA
SARVESHAM SVASTIR BHAVATU
SARVESHAM SHANTIR BHAVATU
SARVESHAM MANGALAM BHAVATU
SARVESHAM PURNAM BHAVATU
LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU
OM TRYAMBAKAM YAJA MAHE
SUGANDHIM PUSHTIVARDHANAM
URVA RUKAMIVA BANDHANAN
MRITYOR MUKSHIYA MA AMRITAT
Lead us from unreality to reality.
Lead us from darkness to light.
Lead us from death to immortality.
May everyone be healthy.
May everyone live in peace.
May the wishes of everyone be fulfilled.
May everyone attain perfection.
May there be happiness and prosperity everywhere.
My adoration to the three-eyed God Shiva
who is omnipresent.
May He bless us and nature with health.
May His blessings free us and lead us to immortality.
OM DHYAUH SHANTIR
ANTARIKSHAM SHANTIH
PRITHVÍ SHANTIR
APAH SHANTIR
OSHADHAYAH SHANTIH
VANASPATAYAH SHANTIR
VISHVE DEVAH SHANTIH
BRAMAH SHANTIH
SARVAM SHANTIH
SHANTIR EVA SHANTIH
SA MA SHANTIR-EDHI
OM Peace be in the universe,
Peace be in the atmosphere,
Peace be on earth,
Peace be in the waters,
Peace be in the herbs,
Peace be in the vegetation,
Peace be in the elements,
Peace of the Supreme,
Peace be everywhere,
Peace, only peace,
Peace be in my mind and heart.
SUBHAM KAROTI KALYANAM
AROGYAM DHAN SAMPADAH
SATRU BUDDHIR VINASAYA
DIPA JYOTIR NAMO’STU TE
Lord, grant us bliss and liberation.
Bless us with good health, wealth and harmony.
Save us from negative influences and bad thoughts. My adoration to Thee, divine Light.
SARVE BHAVANTU SUKHINAH
SARVE SANTU NIRAMAYAH
SARVE BHADRANI PASHYANTU
MA KASCID DUHKHABHAG BHAVET
Merciful Lord, bless all with happiness,
free all from misery, and bestow Thy divine blessing that all may realize eternal Bliss.
NAHAM KARTA PRABHU DIP KARTA MAHAPRABHU DIP KARTA HÍ KEVALAM
OM SHANTIH SHANTIH SHANTIH
I am not the doer, Mahaprabhuji is the doer.
Mahaprabhuji is the only doer.
OM Peace, Peace, Peace.