Commonly Chanted Ashram Mantras

Vedic shanti mantra

aum saha naavavatu
saha nau bhunaktu
saha viiryam karavaavahai
tejasvi naavadhiitamastu maa vidvishaavahai
aum shantihi shantihi shantihi

Om. May the Lord protect both teacher and student, and may He cherish us both. May we work with full energy that our study be perfect and give good results May we never feel ill-will toward the other.


Gayatri mantra

aum bhuurbhuvaha swahaha
tatsaviturvarenyam
bhargo devasya dhiimahi
dhiyo yo naha prachodayaat

We meditate on that which is eternal, that light of wisdom and truth which permeates all realms of experience; the creative principal manifesting through the radiance of consciousness.
The light which bestows wisdom, bliss, eternal life is the quintessence of everything and leads us to illumination.


Mahamrityunjaya mantra

aum tryambakam yajaamahe
sugandhim pushtivardhanam
urvaarukamiva bandhanaat
mrityormukshiiya maamritaat

We pay homage to the universal consciousness which nourishes all beings
May we be liberated from the death of ignorance through knowledge of our immortal essence
Just as the cucumber is severed from bondage of the vine


Aum puurnam

aum puurna madaha puurna midam puurnaat puurna mudachyate
puurnasya puurna maadaaya puurna mevaa vashishyate
aum shantihi shantihi shantihi

That is whole, this is whole.
From that whole this becomes manifest.
From that whole, when this whole is removed, what again remains is the whole.


Twa meva

Twa meva mata cha pita twa meva
Twa meva bandush chasaka twa meva
Twa meva vidya dravinam twa meva
Twa meva sarvam mama deva deva

Thou art my mother and my father thou art
Thou art my family and my friend thou art
Thou art my knowledge and my wealth thou art
Thou art my everything Light of all lights


Shanti path – long

asato maa sadgamaya
tamaso maa jyotirgamaya
mrityormaa amritam gamaya
sarveshaam svastirbhavatu
sarveshaam shantirbhavatu
sarveshaam puurnam bhavatu
sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu
lokaaha samastaaha sukhino bhavantu
aum tryambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam
urvaarukamiva bandhanaat mrityormukshiiya maamritaat
aum shantihi shantihi shantihi

From the unreal lead me to the real
From darkness lead me to light
From death lead me to immortality
May all beings dwell in happiness
May all beings dwell in peace
May all beings attain auspiciousness
May all happiness be unto the whole world
We pay homage to the universal consciousness which nourishes all beings
May we be liberated from the death of ignorance through knowledge of our immortal essence
Just as the cucumber is severed from bondage of the vine



Hari Om –

(in the context in which it is used in the ashram) A greeting used to symbolise the recognition of the highest consciousness within the person being greeted.


Om Tat Sat –

Om (the infinite spirit/divine reality/highest consciousness) is what is true or real.