What Does OM SHANTI Mean?

The Om Shanti mantra originates from ancient Sanskrit scriptures and is composed of two powerful words: “OM” and “SHANTI.” OM is considered the primordial sound of the universe, representing the eternal essence of all creation. It symbolizes the unity of body, mind, and spirit, and serves as a reminder that we are interconnected with everything around us.

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Antyesti (Sanskrit: अन्त्येष्टि) literally means "last sacrifice" or "final auspicious ceremony" and refers to the funeral rites for the dead in Hinduism, which usually involve the cremation of the body. This rite of passage is the last sanskara in a series of traditional life cycle sanskaras that start from conception in Hindu tradition. It is also referred to as Antima Samskara, Antya-kriya, Anvarohanyya, or Vahni Sanskara.

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The details of the Antyesti ceremony depend on the region, social group, gender, and age of the deceased. The Antyesti rite of passage is structured around the premise in ancient literature of Hinduism that the microcosm of all living beings is a reflection of the macrocosm of the universe. The soul (Atman, Brahman) is the essence and is immortal; it is released at the Antyeshti ritual. Both the body and the universe are considered vehicles and transitory in various schools of Hinduism. The human body and the universe consist of five elements in Hindu texts – air, water, fire, earth, and space. The last rite of passage returns the body to these five elements and its origins. The roots of this belief are found in the Vedas.

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Death is a universal truth irrespective of religion, nationality, color, caste, and creed, which cannot be denied. Unfortunately, we are very much involved in this materialistic world, forgetting that we are living in this world temporarily and are headed towards our permanent destiny, which is Paradise. In fact, death is certain, but we often ignore this reality due to our struggles to be successful in our worldly life.