Saha Nau Avatu — the student and teacher's prayer
ॐ सह नाववतु ।सह नौ भुनक्तु ।सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु ।मा विद्विषावहै ।ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
oṃ saha nāv avatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai | tejasvi nāv adhītam astu | mā vidviṣāvahai ||
🔊 om sa-ha naa-va-va-tu · sa-ha nau bhu-nak-tu · sa-ha veer-yam ka-ra-vaa-vahai · tay-jas-vi naa-va-dhee-ta-mas-tu · maa vid-vi-shaa-vahai
📖 What it means
May we two be protected together; may we be nourished together; may we work together with vigour; may our study be full of light; may we never quarrel.
🔍 Word by word
| सह saha | together |
|---|---|
| नौ nau | us two — the teacher and the student |
| अवतु avatu | may it protect |
| भुनक्तु bhunaktu | may it nourish |
| वीर्यम् vīryam | strength, vigour |
| तेजस्वि tejasvi | brilliant, full of light |
| अधीतम् adhītam | what has been studied |
| मा विद्विषावहै mā vidviṣāvahai | may we two not hate each other |
🕰️ When it is used
Before a lesson, chanted by teacher and student together.
💡 Worth knowing
The last line is the remarkable one. A prayer for learning that ends by asking the two people not to come to dislike each other is a prayer written by someone who had actually taught.
🔬 Does it do anything?
A straight answer, with the evidence and its limits — including the claims that are popular and untrue.
More mantras
Om
The syllable taken as the sound of the whole — beginning, middle and end together.
Open →The Gayatri Mantra
We contemplate the glorious light of the sun, the giver of life. May it set our thinking in motion.
Open →Asato Ma Sad Gamaya
From the unreal lead me to the real; from darkness lead me to light; from death lead me to deathlessness.
Open →