Sahana Vavatu takes its name from the first words, saha nau avatu, meaning ‘may he protect us both’. It is a shanti mantra, a peace invocation, and it opens the Brahmanandavalli, one section of the Taittiriya Upanishad, which belongs to the Krishna Yajurveda.
The ‘us both’ are the teacher and the student, and the mantra is traditionally recited by them together before study begins. It does not ask for knowledge or for success in an exam. It asks for something quieter: that the shared work of learning be protected and fed, that it be done with strength, that it shine, and that no ill will come between teacher and student.
The page shows the mantra in Devanagari with a simple transliteration, then a word-by-word table and a plain meaning. It closes with the refrain Om shantih shantih shantih, the threefold peace.
The text, transliteration and meaning
The five phrases come first, followed by the closing peace refrain. The table below breaks each phrase into its words.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Om | the sacred sound, used to begin and close |
| saha | together, along with |
| nau | us two (teacher and student) |
| avatu | may he protect |
| bhunaktu | may he nourish, may he sustain |
| viryam | strength, vigour, capacity |
| karavavahai | may we two work, may we two do |
| tejasvi | bright, full of radiance |
| adhitam | what has been studied |
| astu | let it be |
| ma | not |
| vidvishavahai | may we two bear ill will to each other |
| shantih | peace |
ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om saha navavatu, saha nau bhunaktu, saha viryam karavavahai, tejasvi navadhitamastu ma vidvishavahai
Om shantih shantih shantih
MeaningOm. May he protect us both together. May he nourish us both together. May we work together with vigour. May what we study be bright and clear. May we not come to hate one another. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Text: Sanskrit Wikisource, page “तैत्तिरीयोपनिषदत्/ब्रह्मानन्दवल्ली”. Transliteration is simplified; meanings are our own. Verse numbers appear as labels above each verse.
When and how it is traditionally recited
The mantra is chanted at the start of a lesson, by teacher and student together, and in many traditional schools of Vedic study it opens the day. Because the words say ‘us both’, it is meant to be said jointly, in one voice, with the same pace. Many classes today use it at the start of a term or a session of music or yoga.
Some recite it once, and some repeat it in order to settle the group before starting. It is also chanted at the close of study in some traditions, and the threefold shantih is used at the end of many Vedic recitations. Customs differ by region, family and school, so follow the manner of your own teacher.
If you are alone, you can still say it by thinking of your teachers, or of the book or practice that stands in as one. A slow breath between the phrases helps.
What the tradition says it is for
Tradition reads the mantra as a prayer for the conditions in which learning can happen: protection and nourishment of the shared effort, vigour in the work, brightness in what is learned, and freedom from quarrel. Many teachers point out that the last line asks for harmony before anything is studied, which is why it comes first in the Upanishad.
The refrain Om shantih shantih shantih is said three times. Tradition reads the three as peace within oneself, peace from the world around us, and peace from the divine, or from forces beyond our control. Other teachers give other readings, and this is one of the commonly told ones.
The mantra is a devotional and educational prayer, and makes no promises about results. Used before study, it is a calm way of stepping into the work. You can read other prayers used by students in the Saraswati Vandana and the Gayatri Mantra pages. A related peace prayer from the Atharvaveda tradition appears in the Ganapati Atharvashirsha.
Pronunciation notes
The words flow together. Saha nau avatu becomes sahanavavatu, which is why the name has the form Sahana Vavatu. Say it as “sa-ha-na-va-va-tu”, with the long a in each na. In bhunaktu the bh is a breathy b and the ktu is said quickly, “bhu-nak-tu”. Viryam is “vee-ryam” with a soft hum at the end.
Tejasvi is “te-jas-vee”, with the j as in joy. Vidvishavahai is the longest word: say it in parts, “vid-vi-sha-va-hai”, where hai rhymes with high. The visarga in shantih is a light echo of the vowel before it, so the word sounds like “shaan-ti-hi”. Listening to a teacher recite it is the best guide to the rhythm.
Related mantras and pages
- Saraswati Vandana: prayers to the goddess of learning
- Gayatri Mantra: a verse for clear thinking, often chanted by students
- Ganapati Atharvashirsha: an Upanishad with its own opening peace verses
- Purusha Suktam: another well-known Vedic hymn
- All mantras, stotras, chalisas and aartis
Frequently asked questions
↳ What does Sahana Vavatu mean?
It means: may he protect us both, may he nourish us both, may we work with vigour, may our study be bright, and may we not hate each other. It is followed by Om, peace, peace, peace.
↳ Where is Sahana Vavatu from?
It opens the Brahmanandavalli of the Taittiriya Upanishad, which belongs to the Krishna Yajurveda. It is used as a peace invocation before study.
↳ Who recites the Sahana Vavatu mantra?
Traditionally the teacher and the student recite it together before study. Today it is also chanted by classes, schools and groups of practitioners at the start of a session.
↳ Why is shanti said three times?
Tradition reads the three as peace within oneself, peace from the surroundings and peace from the divine. Teachers give other readings too, so this is one common explanation.
↳ When should I chant it?
Before study, a lesson or any shared work is the usual moment. Some also chant it at the close. Practice differs by region and school, so there is no single required time.
↳ Is it only for students?
No. It suits any shared effort, such as a class, a rehearsal or a team working together. The words say 'us both', so it fits best where two or more people join in the same work.