Om Purnamadah Purnamidam — Shanti Mantra with Meaning
This famous peace mantra of the Shukla Yajurveda opens the Isha Upanishad and also appears in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. It says the Divine is whole and this world is whole too — when the whole is taken from the whole, the whole still remains. It is a short mantra with a very deep idea.
Om purnam adah purnam idam purnat purnam udachyate | purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavashishyate || Om shantih shantih shantih ||
Meaning
Mantra
Om purnam adah purnam idam purnat purnam udachyate | purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavashishyate || Om shantih shantih shantih ||
That (the Divine) is whole, this (the world) is whole. From the whole, the whole comes forth. Even when the whole is taken from the whole, the whole remains. Peace, peace, peace.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
Which scripture is Purnamadah from?
It is the peace invocation of the Isha Upanishad and also appears in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (5.1.1). Both belong to the Shukla Yajurveda.
What does 'purna' mean here?
'Purna' means complete, lacking nothing — infinite. Infinity taken from infinity still leaves infinity; the Divine never becomes less.
When and how many times should it be recited?
At the start or end of meditation, puja, Upanishad study or lessons — usually once, with 'shantih' three times.