Mangala-shloka

Mangala-shloka

मङ्गल-श्लोक maṅgala-śloka

Mangala is everything that is favorable or conducive to a happy outcome (good omen, prayer, blessing); good old custom; auspicious solemn ceremony.

Mangala-shloka ("auspicious introduction/conclusion") is a small prayer verse addressed to Brahman or the personified Deity. The verse precedes the main text in Vedas, Upanishads, Samhitas, etc., can be repeated at the end of the main text. Each tractate contains its own unique mangala shloka. It can come before, after or instead of dhyana-shloka.

In the mangala-shlokas, the blessing of the Deity is requested for the perception of higher knowledge, and gratitude to the Deity is expressed.

In Vedas and Upanishads, the mangala-shlokas often have the ending "om shanti, shanti, shanti" (oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ), where "shanti" means "peace, serenity, calm, bliss".

Mangala-shlokas free the mind from agitations and fluctuations, direct the mind to the cognition of the Supreme, attune the consciousness of the reader and listener to the perception of spiritual knowledge and energies.

Here are some examples of mangala-shlokas:

"Mandala Brahmana Upanishad", Muni Yajnavalkya (in this tractate mangala-shloka is mentioned twice - at the beginning and at the end of the text):

oṃ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṃ pūrṇātpūrṇamudacyate । pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate ॥
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥

Om! That (Supreme Brahman) is the perfect whole, this (Universe, manifested Brahman) is the perfect whole. That which comes out of the perfect whole is also the perfect whole. If completeness comes from completeness, then one that remains, remains as perfect completeness.
Om, peace, peace, peace!

"Gheranda samhita" (in this tractate mangala-shloka is indicated only at the beginning of the text):

|| śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ||
maṅgalācaraṇam |
ādīśvarāya praṇamāmi tasmai yenopadiṣṭā haṭhayogavidyā |
vibhrājate pronnatarājayogamāroḍhumicchoradhirohiṇīva ||

Bow to Ganesha!
Auspicious greetings:
I bow to the primordial Ishvara, who proclaimed the radiant knowledge of Hatha Yoga, which is like a ladder for those wishing to ascend to the heights of Raja Yoga.