Deva's parents are a mystic/artist father and a musically talented mother, she was taught violin, piano and received voice training. By the time she was five years old, she was already chanting the Gayatri Mantra daily, and since that time she continues to integrate meditation into her life.
She has studied Shiatsu, Reflexology, CranioSacral Therapy and Massage, but music remains her first love. The influence of Indian classical music is evident in her singing, although she has never attempted to copy or steal from the tradition. "It just comes naturally," she says, "as if I'd heard it all before, in another life."
Among the numerous letters of appreciation she has received since the release of her albums, many describe how her music has been used to accompany and enhance the sacred passages of birth and death. In fact, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the world famous author of On Death And Dying, requested that Miten and Deva bring their music to accompany her passing. "We have played for many people," says Deva, "but to play personally for Elizabeth was something I will never forget.”
Om Purnam II
Deva Premal Lyrics
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Om purnam-adah purnam-idam
Om purnam-adah purnam-idam
Om purnam-adah purnam-idam
Purnaat purnam-udachyate
Purnasya purnam-aadaaya
Purnam-eva-avashishyate
Avashishyate
This is perfect.
That is perfect.
From the perfect springs the perfect.
Take the perfect from the perfect and
only the perfect remains.
May there be peace, peace, peace.
Deva Premal’s "Om Purnam II" is a spiritual chant that follows the Sanskrit prayer and is a part of the ancient Upanishads. The literal translation of the lyrics suggests the idea of completeness and the concept of oneness. The lyrics symbolize how everything in this universe is already perfect, and reflects on the divinity that prevails in everything that exists in this world.
The repetition of the word ‘purnam’ in the lyrics, which means ‘perfect,’ emphasizes the idea of totality or completeness. It denotes that the entirety of the universe is already complete, and there’s no lacking. The hymn suggests that the lack we perceive in ourselves is a mere illusion as everything is already perfect due to the divine presence within us. One can harness this perfection by uniting themselves with cosmic consciousness, indicated in the phrase "Take the perfect from the perfect and only the perfect remains."
The hymn also suggests the importance of living life in harmony and peace, “May there be peace, peace, peace” - indicating the need for a state of contentment at both an individual and collective global level. The lyrics reflect on the idea that every human is a manifestation of divinity, and the potential it carries to contribute towards creating a more peaceful and harmonious world.
Line by Line Meaning
Om purnam-adah purnam-idam
This is perfect. That is perfect.
Om purnam-adah purnam-idam
This is perfect. That is perfect.
Om purnam-adah purnam-idam
This is perfect. That is perfect.
Om purnam-adah purnam-idam
This is perfect. That is perfect.
Purnaat purnam-udachyate
From the perfect springs the perfect.
Purnasya purnam-aadaaya
Take the perfect from the perfect and
Purnam-eva-avashishyate
only the perfect remains.
Avashishyate
only the perfect remains.
Om shanti shanti shanti
May there be peace, peace, peace.
Writer(s): Ulrich Schroder Copyright: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Bv
Contributed by Katherine D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.