Apyaayantu mamaangaani
Shaanti (invocation) mantra of the Chaandogya Upanishad and Kena Upanishad
आप्यायन्तु ममाङ्गानि वाक् प्राणश्चक्षुः श्रोत्रमथो बलमिन्द्रियाणि च सर्वाणि ।
सर्वं ब्रह्मौपनिषदं माहं ब्रह्म निराकुर्यां मा मा ब्रह्म निराकरोत् ।
अनिराकरणमस्त्वनिराकरणं मेऽस्तु ।
तदात्मनि निरते य उपनिषत्सु धर्मास्ते मयि सन्तु ते मयि सन्तु ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
छान्दोग्योपनिषद्, केन उपनिषद्
Aapyaayantu mamaaṅgaani
vaak praaṇash-chakshuh.
Shrotram-atho balam-indriyaaṇi cha sarvaaṇi.
Sarvam brahman-opaniṣhadam
maa-aham brahma niraa-kuryaam
maa maa brahma niraa-karot
aniraa-karaṇam-astu-aniraakraṇam me-astu.
Tadaatmani nirate ya upaniṣhatsu dharmaaste
mayi santu te mayi santu.
Om shaantih shaantih shaantih.
Chhaandogya Upanishad, Kena Upanishad
May my body and limbs strong
May my speech, vital air, eyes, ears, stamina
And all the senses be fully developed.
All that is revealed by the Upanishads is Brahman.
May I never deny Brahman:
May Brahman never disown me.
Let there be no repudiation (from Brahman);
Let there be no time when I am not realising God.
May the righteousness of the Upanishads shine in me
I am intent on knowing the Self.
May the Upanishads shine in me!
May peace prevail in and around me.
आप्यायन्तु May (they) be nourished, may become strong मम my अङ्गानि limbs वाक् speech प्राणः vital life-force/breath चक्षुः eye श्रोत्रम् ear अथो and also बलम् strength/stamina इन्द्रियाणि senses च and सर्वाणि all सर्वम् all ब्रह्म Brahman औपनिषदम् of the Upanishads मा not अहम् I, me ब्रह्म Brahman, निराकुर्याम् may I deny/reject मा not मा me ब्रह्म Brahman निराकरोत् may (it) deny/reject अनिरारणम् non-rejection अस्तु let there be अनिरारणम् non-rejection मे from me अस्तु let there be तदात्मनि in that Self निरते who is devoted य which उपनिषत्सु in the Upanishads धर्माः virtues/teachings ते they मयि in me सन्तु may they be ते they मयि in me सन्तु may they be शान्तिः peace
Contemplations
This Shanti invocation preceding the study of the Chandogya and Kena Upanishads is a prayer that seeks not material gain, but the fortification of the very instruments of spiritual inquiry. Spiritual Inquiry requires us to prepare our body and mind for the soft but powerful realization that can arise. This mantra is a humble appeal for the physical and mental faculties to be sharp, clear, and fully capable of comprehending the subtle truths of the Upanishads. The prayer underscores a fundamental principle of Vedanta: the journey to self-realization requires a sound mind and body.
Philosophical Context
The invocation is deeply rooted in the Vedantic understanding of the interconnectedness of the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman). The prayer is not merely for physical prowess but for the attunement of the entire being to the pursuit of spiritual knowledge.
The Body as an Instrument:
The prayer begins by seeking strength for the limbs and senses. This is not out of a desire for worldly pleasure, but from the recognition that a weak or distracted body and mind are impediments to concentration and contemplation. The Upanishadic teachings are subtle and require a keen intellect and a disciplined mind to grasp. Therefore, the student prays for their physical and sensory capacities to be at their peak.
The Unity of All in Brahman:
The declaration “Sarvam Brahmam Aupanishadam” (“All is the Brahman of the Upanishads”) is a central tenet of Vedanta. It affirms that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is the substratum of all existence. The knowledge that the Upanishads reveal is this very truth of non-duality.
A Two-Way Relationship with the Divine:
The plea “May I never deny Brahman, nor may Brahman ever deny me” highlights a reciprocal relationship. The seeker’s effort and sincerity are crucial. By dedicating oneself to the path of knowledge, one opens oneself to the grace of that ultimate reality. The denial of Brahman would be to live in ignorance, and for Brahman to deny the seeker would mean that the path to liberation is closed. The prayer seeks to ensure that this connection remains unbroken.
The Indwelling of Righteousness:
The final lines express a deep yearning for the virtues and teachings of the Upanishads to become an integral part of the seeker’s being. It is not enough to intellectually understand the concepts; the prayer is for the transformation of one’s character and consciousness. The repetition of “May they reside in me” emphasizes the intensity of this aspiration.
The Triple Peace: The invocation concludes with “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,” a prayer for peace on three levels:
Adhyatmika: Peace within oneself, free from internal disturbances like anger and anxiety.
Adhibhautika: Peace from external sources, such as other beings.
Adhidaivika: Peace from supernatural forces or the forces of nature.
In essence, this Shanti Mantra encapsulates the entire spiritual journey of a student of Vedanta: the preparation of the self, the affirmation of the ultimate truth, the sincere plea for a steadfast connection to that truth, and the aspiration for a complete inner transformation, all culminating in a state of profound peace.
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