Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu:May Peace & Happiness PrevailAmma has chosen some peace mantras for daily chanting by her devotees and disciples.One of those invocations is Om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu. Although this mantradoes not appear in any of the existent Veda sakhas [Vedic branches], it is an expression ofthe universal spirit that we find therein1. Let's take a look at what context it appears in andwhat meaning it carries. The sloka as a whole reads as follows:

svasti prajabhyam paripalayantham nyayeana margena mahim maheesahgobrahmanebhya shubamsthu nityam lokah samastha sukhino bhavanthu

May there be well being to the people;May the kings rule the earth along the right path;May the cattle and the Brahmins have well being forever;May all the beings in all the worlds become happy;Peace, peace and peace be everywhere!

The sloka is an invocation for harmony and blessings for all of creation. In ancient daysthe social structure and form of government differed from ours in many ways, that is whywe need not take the literal meaning of this sloka, but the essence.

For peace and harmony to prevail, the kings--i.e. the politicians and leaders--should have ahealthy approach towards their subjects and govern according to principles of dharma.This, we sadly note, is very rare indeed in today's world where power and wealth seem tobe the prime motivation for the ruling elite. Nevertheless, the ideal remains as it is, and asAmma's teachings are personally influencing countless politicians all over the world, theremight yet be light at the end of the tunnel.

Brahmin is one who has either realised his oneness with Brahman, the Absolute, or onewho has dedicted his life to the pursuit of that realization. Such selfless people are theenlightened thinkers who provide society with a healthy understanding of life. They giveguidance to all sections of society, including the political leadership. A Brahmin can alsomean a brilliant intellectual who is using his talents to selflessly serve society. Thus for astable and bright society, it is essential that these Brahmins are healthy. The sage who gavevoice to this mantra obviously does not assert Brahmin-hood as a hereditary vocation asfound today.

There are many examples in history to demonstrate that Brahmin-hood is an inner qualitynot dependent on the social status that prevails upon one's birth. We need only to look backto the great sage Veda Vyasa, also known as Krishna Dvaipayana because he had a darkcomplexion and was born on an island. He was born to a fisherwoman but possessed oneof the greatest minds of all times and is universally accepted as a great rishi. He codifiedthe Vedas and composed original works that are famed all over the world for theirexquisite spiritual content. Among them are popular works like the Mahabharata andSrimad Bhagavatam, as well as profound treatises on the Ultimate Reality like the BrahmaSutras. In spite of his humble origins, Sage Vyasa is one of the most revered among theplethora of India's spiritual giants.

Amma was born in a community of fisher folk. She was educated only up until the fourthstandard and speaks only her mother tongue. Also, most striking of all, she has neverstudied the scriptures. Yet their wisdom flows from her lips unceasingly, rendering themost abstract truths in simple ways that most anyone can understand. Who would thendeny Amma's Brahmin-hood? Amma is directing the world with her wisdom, speaking to

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large audiences throughout the world, even at the United Nations.

Now, one might wonder about the cattle in this prayer, saying to one's self: "What on earthhave I, a city-dwelling modern person, to do with cattle? Shouldn't I rather be praying thatmy BMW stays in good condition?" We need not be too literal-minded. The ancients didn'tuse language in such a one-dimensional way as we do. If we contemplate deeply on themeaning of any given mantra, it is likely that it will reveal more and more layers ofmeaning. "Cattle" signifies nourishment and abundance in general. In ancient time cattleserved as a sort of bank account. The number of cattle a person had was the measure of hiswealth. Also, the milk was the primary source of livelihood for a large portion of society.Milk and milk products such as ghee comprised the majority of the offerings made into thesacrificial fires used in formal ritual worship. Thus cows are mentioned in many ancienttexts as a symbol of plenty. It can be taken symbolically, like "the daily bread."

In today's society, such a prayer, if taken literally, has also a special irony, for cattleranches around the world have become breeding grounds for diseases like the mad-cowepidemic. When cattle and the rest of the animal kingdom are devoid of well being,humanity will also suffer. Thus harmony between humans and the rest of creation is alsostressed in this prayer. Actually cow can be taken as representative of the entire animalkingdom. The Sanskrit word for cattle is "go," which is a most profound Vedic symbol andhas many subtle spiritual meanings. Two such secondary meanings are "earth" and"mother," and as such the sloka could also be a prayer for the welfare of Mother Earth. Sowe need not be worried that God will send a herd of cattle charging through our livingroom when we pray thus.

The most important aspect of the mantra is that the sage does not pray only for his clan ornation but for the whole world or, more precisely, all the worlds2. This, as Amma tells usand shows us, is the correct way to pray. Instead of asking for something for our self,Amma advises us to pray for the whole creation. Praying for the welfare of all sentientbeings--all humans, all animals, all plants—our mind becomes more expansive. Throughsuch prayer we slowly can go beyond our limited egocentric concepts of self to identifywith the entire creation, recognising its true nature to be none other than our own. And aswe too are part of the world, we also are benefited from the blessings of the prayer.

Amma's whole life is a constant endeavour to bring happiness to as many beings aspossible. Her life verily is this prayer in action. She is showing us the correct attitude bywhich not only to pray but also by which to live.

While chanting Om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu next time, let us try to feel deeplyfor all living beings, and make a resolve to live in this selfless spirit.

May peace and harmony prevail.

—Vedarat

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1 Many of the original 1008 branches of the Vedas have been lost. It is possible that thismantra was in one of those lost branches. If not, it surely took birth from or around aRealized Master.

2 According to the traditional view, there are 14 worlds, or planes of existence--sixfiguratively above us and seven figuratively below. Bhuh is the earthly plane. Above it inascending order are Bhuvah, Svah, Mahar, Jana, Tapa and Satya (also known as Brahma-loka); below in descending order are Atala, Vitala, Satala, Rasaatala, Talaatala, Mahaatalaand Patala. These are generally divided into three zones: heaven (svarga), earth (prithvi)and the netherworld (patala). That is why one frequently comes across the expressions inthe scriptures like "the lord of the three worlds." If one refuses to accept that there are 14

worlds, they can consider the reference to multiple worlds as meaning the infiniteperspectives of this world, as percieved by all the animals, plants and humans.