The age old hymns of rig vedas handed over to us by our ancestors, beautifully outlines the vision and compassion not only towards the living beings but the environment and the whole universe. There are hundreds of such hymns in the Vedas. One of the popular and common hymns which we often listen before any religious events like Puja Havan is :
द्द्योः शान्ति अन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः पृथिवी शान्ति आपः शान्ति औषधय: शान्तिः
वनस्पतयः शान्तिर्विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्तिः सर्वं शान्तिः शान्तिरेव शान्तिः
सामा शान्तिरेधि |
The english translation of the hymns is :
Dyooh shaanti antarikshm shaantih prithivi shaanti, aapah shaanti aushadhayah shaanti,
Vanaspatayah shaanti-vishwedevaah shaantirbrahma shantih, sarvam shaantih, shaantireva shaanti
saamaa shaantiredhi.
Ddyoh = Heaven,
Shaanti = peace, tranquility
Antariksha = cosmos, atmosphere or sky. Prithivee = Earth.
Aap = water.
Aushadhayah = medicinal herbs. Vanaspatayh = plants,vegetation.
Vishwedevaah = various Gods.
Brahma = supreme God.
Sarvam = every body.
Shaantireva = real peace.
Saama = like this
Shantiredhi = shaanti + edhi.
Edhi = spread, grow..
The real purpose of chanting this hymns by the sages and priest is to bring peace and parmony before any omportant event. The meaning of this hymns is :
Let there be peace in the Heaven, in the cosmos, on the Earth we live, let the medicinal herbs and all vegetation on the Earth be at peace (remain unharmed), various lesser gods and Supreme God (Brahma) bestow peace upon us, and let this real peace grow and spread every where.
Any worship should be done when there is peace. Without peace nothing could be achieved. So before we start the procession, the prist call for peace to the entire universe, including the mind, goddess, nature, and all vegetation. Such is the beauty of the ancient Vedas and different vedic hymns.