Om Poornamadah Poornamidam Poornaat Poornamudachyate, Poornasya Poornamaadaaya Poornamevaavashishyate!!! Om Shaanthi Shaanthi Shaanthi!!
That is whole; this is whole; From that whole this whole came; From that whole, this whole removed, What still remains is whole.
Tough Adi Shankarachrya wrote the annotations on Vishnu Sahasranamam first; in fact he wanted to write annotations on Lalita Sahasranamam (Goddess Shakti) before Vishnu Sahasranamam. There is an interesting story behind it.
Shankarachrya one day decided to write interpretations/annotations on Lalita Sahasranamam. He asked one of his disciples to bring palm-leaf manuscripts of Lalita Sahasranamam. The disciple went to the room where it was kept and returned with the manuscript. When Shankarachrya opened the manuscript, he found that it was Vishnu Sahasranamam. He again asked the disciple to go back and bring Lalita Sahasranamam. When the disciple returned, Shankarachrya found that it was again Vishnu Sahasranamam. The third time, again Sankaracharya instructed the disciple to bring Lalita Sahasranamam only; and even the third time the disciple returned with Vishnu Sahasranamam.
A little annoyed, Shankaracharya asked the disciple “Didn’t you understand properly, I told you to bring Lalita Sahasranamam.” The disciple replied “Revered Sir, all the three times I went to bring Lalita Sahasranamam only but there is a cute little girl in there who told me to take Vishnu Sahasranamam every time and I followed her instructions she is divine.” Shankarachrya at that time understood that Goddess Shakti (Amba) wanted him to write commentaries on Vishnu Sahasranamam and he completed the divine task; as Lord Vishnu is seen as the preserver of all that is – the Universe. He is described as the omnipresent, essence of all beings, the master of past, present, and beyond future.
Instantaneously, Adi Shankarachrya wrote “Om Poornamadah;” madah means completeness, totality and also Infinity. It is an abstract concept of Universe and the ultimate truth, “Brahman” means God, Almighty is a complete entity. This mantra has a superb meaning – you can take as much as you want from the Universe, you can even take infinity from it, even if you do that nothing can diminish it, it remains unlimited and immensurable!! It means we (each one of us) are connected to the Almighty. Each of us is element of the infinite constituting the infinity. When the eternity is so full, so complete how can one feel incomplete? The fullness here symbolizes accomplishment, realization, integrality, wholeness of our being. These words express the deep aspirations of the human heart, aspirations which cannot be long suppressed. Every bit of our existence, every heart beat, every pulse, each breath of ours is towards life’s fulfillment. Whoever you are, or whatever is it that you do, when you really want something, your desire is originated in the soul of the universe. Therefore, when you want something from the bottom of your heart, the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. So don’t feel you are unaccompanied or unaided in your effort; have a keen/urging desire while continue your hard work to achieve it and see the change. There is no sorrow once we realize we are ever full, we are Bliss.
It can also be construed as – if you give, you will never fall short of things in life. We, the human are so scared to give/impart
thinking that we will fall short after giving. In fact the more we give the more we receive, because the infinite wants us to be inclusive with completeness. The energy you put out will always re-circulate and find its perfect way back to you. Have Trust in Life. The essence of this Shanti (serenity) mantra is indeed profound. OM SHANTI, SHANTI, SHANTI!!!