Vedic Shanti Mantra reveals universal Truths of the physical world

Abstract

Proper understanding the Shanti-Mantra, ‘Om Puurnnam-Adah —‘ is linked to the understanding of Brahman and the interactions of background radiation particles in finer domain (below micro domain) with the fine structure of mental faculty which may be interpreted as the Divine consciousness of mind. Similar to the existence of microstructure of a macro body, the microstructure also has micro-microstructure comprising micro-micro particles whose matter value has remained unnoticed due to limitations of science. The exchange of micro-micro-particles from one micro-micro structure (individual mental faculty) with the micro-micro-structure of the universe forms the link between the individual consciousness and the supreme consciousness. Brahman, the basic formless interaction of mass and space discussed elsewhere by this author does not refer to physical mass or physical space or matter (mass-space integral system) but refers only to the Divine instinct of interaction between mass and space. Thus, Brahman, the supreme reality/ultimate truth is non-physical but present in all physical existences of the universe because all physical things are mass-space integral systems. The Shanti-Mantra clarifies the qualities of Brahman through mathematical expression however this mathematics fouls with normal mathematical operation. But the fouling is only apparent and it disappears after proper understanding of the significance of Vedic Mantra. This paper explains why Om is associated in the beginning and at the end of the Shanti Mantra and describes the existing accepted interpretations Vedic Shanti Mantra as well as the author’s scientific interpretation of the Mantra which reveals many laws of nature and helps unification of sciences.

Keywords: Shanti-Mantra, Brahman, Divine consciousness, Micro-micro-domain, Mass-space-interaction, Laws of nature, Unification of science.

Understanding the significance of Om 

In solving the problems of science, the mathematical equations are very useful however; knowing the basis of the equation increases the confidence on its application and renders further new scope of application including upgrading of the equation from local to universal. Likewise, there is difference between chanting of any Mantra with and without understanding the meaning & significance of the Mantra and its action on the body. For proper understanding the significance and the value of Shanti Mantra, it is necessary to realize the significance of Brahman and other important terms used in the mantra. The term Om is used both at starting and ending which shows its importance. Om itself is a mantra uttered as \ˈōm\. In Hinduism and other traditions, it is a sacred syllable considered as the primordial sound of the universe, and chanting it is believed to bring peace, clarity, and unity, promoting calmness, reducing stress, and enhancing spiritual awareness. The vibrations generated during chanting Om have a soothing effect on our nervous system. It is said that regularly chanting Om mantra reduces stress, anxiety, restlessness and promotes being calm. Chanting Om thus is believed to align a person with the Divine, and promotes a sense of connection with the supreme consciousness.

The present author makes a humble attempt to supplement scientific justification on the above faith-based benefits in chanting ‘Om’. Thinking on a specific topic produces specific thought promoting vibrations of the specific functionally linked components of mental faculty which produce stress and strain of the components. Therefore, one would ordinarily expect the stress and strain of mental faculty caused by the thought activity to relax fully soon after the thinking stops. But this does not happen in reality because some residual stress and strain remains in the mental faculty even after completion of any thought activity. Any worry assisted with thought thereby aggravates pain due to fatigue of specific components of mental faculty. For better functioning of the thought activity, the residual stress and strain of mental faculty is required to be normalized before initiating any new thought. Stress removal improves the quality of consciousness of mind. It is more so in contemplating on serious topics such as in linking with God, making devotional prayer to God with concentration, trying to understand the ultimate truth/supreme reality/Brahman etc. Again, any deep contemplation on a specific topic produces directional residual stress & strain of higher degree which has to be normalized soon after the deep thought-activity for improving the efficiency of mental faculty for subsequent thought. While chanting Om, the nerve junction in our belly (Navi) is stretched which influences the nervous system of our body and the vocal cord and results in sound production in multiple frequencies (near continuous spectra). Thus, the sound produced in chanting ‘Om’ has near-continuous spectra which are effective in relieving any directional residual stresses and strains of the mental faculty. Due to the stress relieving nature of Om mantra, it is associated with other mantras in the beginning and at the end. Enchanting Om several times helps to reduce the stress induced diseases. The normalization process is not confined to mental faculty alone. For example: Normalization of steel components is a prerequisite operation in tempering and hardening processes of steel. The eye-stress produced by arc discharge lights and gas discharge tube lights can be reduced by associating an additional light of continuous spectra. Thus, it is advisable to switch on additional incandescent light while seeing the gas discharge TV.

The mental faculty always receives weak signals from the outer world even when our consciousness fails to capture the same. The hair on head serves as a plurality of parallel antennas hence, the capture of radiation from the outer world is more effective for Rishis with longer antennas. The exchange of background radiation from the outer world and the radiation from mental faculties always maintain the natural link between the inner world and the outer world. It is a fact that we are able to think about the outer world because the background radiation of the outer world serves as messenger particles. The ordinary consciousness fails to detect the weak universal links. Deep thinking on Brahman, the supreme reality or trying to realize the significance of Shanti Mantra during chanting require a stress-free calm state of the mental faculty for effectiveness of higher levels of thoughts. This is something like the effective filtering of noise is needed for producing clear sound and clean picture on TV screen.

Existing interpretations of the Shanti Mantra 

The mantra is a profound verse from the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad [1], often recited at the beginning or end of spiritual practices. The mantra is given below. 

ॐपूर्णमदःपूर्णमिदंपूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते।
पूर्णस्यपूर्णमादायपूर्णमेवावशिष्यते॥
ॐशान्तिःशान्तिःशान्तिः॥

Transliteration:Ompūrṇam-adaḥpūrṇam-idaṁpūrṇātpūrṇam-udacyate
pūrṇasyapūrṇam-ādāyapūrṇam-evāvaśiṣyate
Om śhāntiḥśhāntiḥśhāntiḥ

Literal Translation

Om – the sacred sound.

Purnamadah – That (Brahman/the Absolute) is whole (infinite/complete).

Purnamidam – This (the manifested universe) is also whole.

Purnatpurnamudacyate – From that Whole, this Whole arises.

Purnasyapurnamadaya – Even when the Whole is taken out of the Whole,

Purnamevaavashishyate – what remains is still Whole.

Om shanti shanti shanti – Peace, peace, peace (in body, mind, and spirit; or in past, present, and future).

Different Interpretations

1. Non-Dual Vedantic View

In Advaita Vedanta, this mantra beautifully encapsulates the non-dual nature of reality:

“That” refers to Brahman – the unmanifest, eternal reality.

“This” refers to the manifest world.

Even though the world appears to emerge from Brahman, Brahman remains unchanged and complete.

The implication: All is Brahman. The world is not separate from absolute reality. It is only an appearance, and the essence remains full and indivisible.

2. Psychological Interpretation

A teacher when passes on a specific knowledge to an ignorant student, the student gains the full specific knowledge and at the same time the teacher remains full with his knowledge. The knowledge of the teacher – a specific knowledge (transferred to student) = the knowledge of the teacher. This has a simile with Brahman – Universe = Brahman. 

3. Mathematical/Logical Angle

Brahman is infinite and complete whereas the universe is finite and complete. If one removes a full bucket of water from the full-sea the sea remains full. Thus, Shanti mantra may be interpreted as Brahman – Universe = Brahman. 

Scientific interpretation of Brahman and the Shanti Mantra

The universe is a mass-space integral system [2]. The formless basic interaction between mass and space is the unchanging supreme reality present in both homogeneous and non-homogeneous state of mass and space [3]. In homogeneous state mass and space cannot be identified but in non-homogeneous state matter (mass-space integral system) can be identified in the form of distinct objects. A homogeneous portion of the universe characterized in one domain scale is highly non-homogeneous in finer domain scale. The space fluid becomes homogeneous if the space matter particles are not distinguished. However, when the space matter particles are properly perceived by analysis of finer structure then the homogeneous space fluid becomes non-homogeneous. Examining the space fluid of the extra-nuclear space structure of the earth we find the atoms and molecules are the space matter particles of the space fluid. Again, examining the space fluid of the extra-nuclear space structure of a galaxy the stellar bodies become the space matter bodies of the galactic space fluid [4]. Likewise, the light particles and the field forming particles are the space matter particles in the extranuclear space structure of atoms and molecules [4]. The formless Divine-interaction between mass and space corresponds to Brahman [3]. Hence, Brahman is present in all domains of the universe and it is the cause of formation, stability and dissociation of the objects of the universe in any domain. It is also the cause of the universe as a whole. The unchangeable Brahman (the Divine Principle) is present in solid, liquid, gas, plasma or space that gives rise to different form-based properties of objects/systems depending on how mass and space are integrated with different densities of mass and space and the geometry of forms. It may be made clear, though Brahman is present in all physical forms (objects) but no form itself corresponds to Brahman. The visible universe (the observable objects of the universe) was condensed/formed/created from the invisible homogeneous mass-space system of the universe. The universe comprises the visible and the invisible components of the universe, one superimposed over the other. While defining Brahman, it is said, Brahman is the supreme reality of the universe and beyond. Here the world doesn’t mean beyond the dimensions of the universe. It means only within the universe but beyond the reach of physical science. The term beyond refers to the finer domain of the universe whose matter value, at present, is considered zero hence, the spiritual domain. If the physical component of the universe (physical universe) is fully taken away from the universe, the universe also remains full with invisible contents (space with space matter particles of micro-micro domain). To visualize the reality, consider a chamber full with humid air. Now lower the temperature of the chamber. Visible water droplets would be seen to form in the air of the chamber. One may interpret that the visible structure comprising water droplets is created from the invisible content of the chamber. If the chamber represents the universe then the visible universe is created from the invisible universe. The universe remains full with visible and invisible objects which one may consider, the visible and invisible universes coexisting in one frame of geometry. If the visible component of the universe is taken out then also the universe remains full with invisible constituents. Referring to Fig.1, if the condensed water droplets are taken out from the chamber then the space with space matter particles expands to fill the vacancy created by removal of the water droplets thereby the chamber remains full. Because physical space is compressible, can have different space densities (space contains per unit volume) [5] [6] it expands infinitely. The above simple example provides justification in substantiating the scientific value of shanti mantra.