Om Purnamadah Purnamidam
That is whole. This is whole. From wholeness comes wholeness. When wholeness is taken from wholeness, wholeness remains.
Om Purnamadah Purnamidam, Purnat Purnamudachyate, Purnasya Purnamadaya, Purnamevavashishyate
That is whole. This is whole. From wholeness comes wholeness. When wholeness is taken from wholeness, wholeness remains.
About This Mantra
This Shanti Mantra from the Isha Upanishad is one of the most mathematically elegant and spiritually profound verses in the Vedic literature. It describes the nature of Brahman as purna -- fullness, wholeness, completeness -- and asserts that this wholeness cannot be diminished. When the infinite produces the finite, the infinite remains infinite. When the whole gives birth to the whole, nothing is lost. This is not a statement about mathematics but about the nature of consciousness itself.
As a healing mantra, Om Purnamadah addresses the deepest wound that human beings carry: the feeling of being incomplete. Much of human suffering -- psychological, relational, and even physical -- stems from the belief that something is missing, that we are fundamentally deficient, that we need to acquire something to become whole. This mantra declares that wholeness is not something to be achieved but something to be recognized. You are already complete. The universe is already complete. Nothing that happens can diminish this completeness.
Deeper Meaning
'Purnam' means full, complete, whole -- lacking nothing. 'Adah' means 'that' (the transcendent Brahman). 'Idam' means 'this' (the manifest world). The verse declares that both the transcendent source and its manifest expression are equally whole and complete. The creation of the world did not diminish the source, and the source's fullness is completely present in the world. This is the non-dual (advaita) teaching in its most concentrated form.
Pronunciation Guide
Ohm Poor-nah-mah-dah Poor-nah-mee-dahm / Poor-naht Poor-nah-moo-dah-chyah-tay / Poor-nah-syah Poor-nah-mah-dah-yah / Poor-nah-may-vah-vah-shish-yah-tay. The repeated 'Purna' creates a rhythmic, mantra-like quality even in simple recitation.
How to Chant
Chant slowly, allowing the meaning to resonate. This verse is often chanted at the beginning and end of Upanishadic study sessions, framing the teaching within the recognition of inherent wholeness. As a personal practice, chant it when the feeling of incompleteness, inadequacy, or scarcity arises. The rhythmic repetition of 'purna' (whole, whole, whole) gradually reprograms the mind's default orientation from deficiency to abundance.
Benefits
Heals the deep wound of feeling incomplete or deficient. Reduces scarcity mentality and the anxiety that accompanies it. Supports abundance consciousness by recognizing the inherent fullness of existence. Provides philosophical comfort during loss -- if wholeness cannot be diminished, then nothing truly important has been lost. Develops the capacity to give generously, from the recognition that giving from wholeness does not create lack.
Historical & Scriptural Context
This verse opens (and closes) the Isha Upanishad, one of the shortest and most concentrated of the principal Upanishads. It also appears in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (5.1.1). Shankaracharya wrote extensive commentary on it. The verse's mathematical elegance -- infinity minus infinity equals infinity -- has attracted the attention of philosophers, mathematicians, and physicists. It is considered one of the earliest statements of the concept that would later be formalized as 'the infinite set' in mathematics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Om Purnamadah Purnamidam mean?
Om Purnamadah Purnamidam translates to "That is whole. This is whole. From wholeness comes wholeness. When wholeness is taken from wholeness, wholeness remains.." It is a Vedic mantra associated with Universal. 'Purnam' means full, complete, whole -- lacking nothing. 'Adah' means 'that' (the transcendent Brahman). 'Idam' means 'this' (the manifest world). The verse declares that both the transcendent source
How do I chant Om Purnamadah Purnamidam correctly?
Ohm Poor-nah-mah-dah Poor-nah-mee-dahm / Poor-naht Poor-nah-moo-dah-chyah-tay / Poor-nah-syah Poor-nah-mah-dah-yah / Poor-nah-may-vah-vah-shish-yah-ta Chant slowly, allowing the meaning to resonate. This verse is often chanted at the beginning and end of Upanishadic study sessions, framing the teaching within the recognition of inherent wholeness. A
How many times should I repeat Om Purnamadah Purnamidam?
The recommended repetitions for Om Purnamadah Purnamidam are Typically chanted 1 to 3 times as an invocation. For contemplative practice, 7 to 21 repetitions with silent reflection between each one. The mantra's power lies in understanding rather than repetition count.. The best time to chant is at the beginning and end of study or meditation. during periods of scarcity thinking, self-doubt, or the feeling that something fundamental is missing. at transitional moments -- new year, birthday, after a loss -- when the question of wholeness naturally arises.. This mantra is connected to the Sahasrara (Crown) and Anahata (Heart). The recognition of inherent wholeness is a crown-level insight, while the feeling of fullness and completeness resonates in the heart. The mantra integrates these two centers, connecting transcendent truth with felt experience. Chakra and Jupiter (Guru) and Venus (Shukra). Jupiter represents the expansive abundance and wholeness that the mantra describes. Venus represents the experience of fullness, beauty, and satisfaction. The mantra aligns both planets with their highest expression -- abundance without greed, satisfaction without complacency..
What are the benefits of chanting Om Purnamadah Purnamidam?
Heals the deep wound of feeling incomplete or deficient. Reduces scarcity mentality and the anxiety that accompanies it. Supports abundance consciousness by recognizing the inherent fullness of existence. Provides philosophical comfort during loss -- if wholeness cannot be diminished, then nothing t
What is the purpose of Om Purnamadah Purnamidam?
Om Purnamadah Purnamidam is a Vedic mantra used for Wholeness. It is dedicated to Universal. This Shanti Mantra from the Isha Upanishad is one of the most mathematically elegant and spiritually profound verses in the Vedic literature. It describes the nature of Brahman as purna -- fullness, w
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