असतो मा सद्गमय तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय। ॐ शन्ति शन्ति शन्तिः
This timeless prayer, known as the Pavamana Mantra (also called the Shanti Mantra or Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Prayer), is one of the most cherished invocations in Indian spirituality, Hinduism.
“Pavamana” means “that which purifies” or “that which flows with cleansing grace.”
It is a sacred plea to the Divine to purify the soul and guide it from all that is impermanent toward eternal truth, light, and immortality. Chanted for millennia, it is a gentle yet profound aspiration for inner transformation and universal peace.
Here is the mantra in beautiful Devanagari script, followed by its transliteration and a heartfelt poetic rendering in simple English:
असतो मा सद्गमय
Asato mā sadgamaya
Lead me gently from the unreal to the Eternal Truth —
from the fleeting dreams and illusions of this world,
to the unchanging Reality that abides forever,
the sacred essence glowing softly within every heart.
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय
Tamaso mā jyotirgamaya
Guide me tenderly from darkness into radiant Light —
from the deep shadows of ignorance and sorrow,
where fear lingers and confusion veils the path,
to the golden dawn of pure wisdom,
where divine understanding blossoms like an endless sunrise.
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय
Mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya
Carry me lovingly from mortality to Immortality —
from the fleeting cycles of birth and passing away,
bound by time’s gentle yet relentless flow,
to the sweet nectar of eternal life,
where the soul awakens in boundless freedom, forever whole.
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Om… Peace, peace, perfect peace.
May peace caress the body, quiet the mind, and embrace the spirit.
May peace ripple through the world, dissolving every discord,
and fill every soul with serene, everlasting harmony.
This luminous mantra is a whisper of the ancient sages—a sacred bridge between the human heart and the Divine. It invites us to rise above the transient, to awaken to our true nature, and to rest in the infinite ocean of peace that is our eternal home. May its gentle words touch your soul and light your path with grace.
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