पूर्णम् एव अवशिष्यते

We continue our discussion on शान्तिमन्त्राः / Shanti Mantras today. A quick recap – Shanti Mantras appear in the Upanishads and are prayers for peace. If one devotes a fixed time daily within the morning hours of 6-8am to meditate and chant any Shanti Mantra, it gives benefits of calmer disposition, increased focus, and better overall well-being.

In the last blog, we covered the Shanti Mantra that is recited by a Teacher and Student before commencing any studies seeking a conducive peaceful environment and fruitful study session.

There is another Mantra that is found in the Isha and Brihadaranyaka Upanishads that has a much deeper meaning.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

It means –

ॐ पूर्णम् अदः। - Om, “That” (the Brahman that one cannot see but perceive) is Complete.

पूर्णम् इदम्। - “This” (the Universe as one can see and experience) is (also) Complete.

पूर्णात् पूर्णम् उदच्यते। - From Completeness comes Completeness; (Fullness originates from fullness itself)

पूर्णस्य पूर्णम् आदाय… - If one removes Completeness from Completeness,

पूर्णम् एवअवशिष्यते । Completeness only remains!

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥ - Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

In वेदान्त शास्त्र / Vedant Shashtra, “अदः / Adah” and “इदम् / Idam” aren’t simple pronouns “That” and “This” but have very profound meanings. In Hinduism, we believe that the entire Universe creates out of the Unmanifested ‘Brahman’ at the beginning of every Parva and then resolves into it at the end of the Four Yugas, to be created again at the start of the next Parva. It is cyclical, infinite, indestructible and complete.

This shloka highlights that the link between what is visible and not visible to us is Full and Complete.

Whatever is getting originated or created from this Fullness or Completeness is also Complete. For example, a Seed contains the potential of becoming a whole plant, and thus, it is "Full". And the fully grown huge Tree that originates from the Seed is also Full and Complete.

And even if we remove Completeness from the Completeness, it will still remain Complete! When you love someone with all your heart, does your ability to love get completely over? It still remains completely full and brimming, doesn’t it?

The Concept of this “पूर्णत्वम् Purnatvam / Completeness” is a very important concept in Hinduism. Our Ancestors firmly believed that when one is in harmony with the Visible Universe (Nature) and the Invisible Consciousness, one is content and peaceful.

While this shloka is easy to commit to memory, I know it may be difficult to fully understand its meaning, especially when we are very early on in our spiritual journey. But as you grow in life, you will keep understanding it better.

Another Shanti mantra that you may have heard is -

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनःसर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु माकश्चिद्दुःखभाग् भवेत्।।

Though this shloka is not a part of any Upanishad, it has become quite popular over the years. It is an invocation for the happiness and well-being of all around us.

सर्वे भवन्तुसुखिनः । - May all be happy.

सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः। - May all be free of illnesses (healthy).

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु । - May all see (experience) good things.

मा कश्चित् दुःखभाग् भवेत्। - May no one suffer.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥ - Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

One seeks well-being not just for his or her own self but for all – humans, animals, plants and minerals too. The Vedic people had such broad minds, didn’t they?

Well, over the blog last week and this one, I have covered three Shanti Mantras. Hoping that you do try to meditate every morning for a minimum of 15 minutes chanting any one Shanti Mantra loudly.

Signing off,

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥