Thursday, February 19, 2009

poornamadah poornamidam

   poornaat poornamudachyate... so goes a Vedic verse which speaks about something that's complete. I have been reciting this verse all my school life without actually bothering to completely understand it. Today Gowri (my friend) brought up this word "poornamidham" in one of our on conversations over the internet. This one word brought out a whole set of thoughts, ideas, expressions out from all 3 of us (me Pavan and Gowri). Next thing you know ... we are trying to find out answers ... to sayings like "history repeats itself" and in what tone/sense its used.

    This might seem gibberish for a third eye ... but for me, I feel one word is all it takes to ignite some real good thoughts in a persons mind. Next thing you know, you are thinking about things that you think is not so important ... but in reality they are. Well am i sounding philosophical - i'd like to blame Gowri for this ... or should i say thank Gowri.

    Coming back to Poornamidham, the Vedic verse when translated (its impossible to correctly do it) means: "something that is complete and when given away, remains complete and the part that is given away also is complete." I believe in learning with an example ;) and so I start searching for a real life or real time example of any thought or concept. Then its struck me - what is still complete even when you give something away ? Knowledge! of course... its knowledge - 
    If you understand something completely then you are knowledgable. You can transfer the same knowledge to someone else ... but your knowledge will still be the same - complete. And the part of your wisdom that u've impressed on someone is still complete - poornamadah poornamidam. So true!

2 comments:

N M said...

Completeness is that, completeness is this,
From completeness, completeness comes forth.
Completeness from completeness taken away,
Completeness to completeness added,
Completeness alone remains.

N M said...

An amazing concept... something that fascinates me each time I think about this shloka. Nice article!