| |
|
| About OM |
|
This symbol (as seen
in the image on the right) is a sacred syllable representing
Brahman, the impersonal Absolute — omnipotent,
omnipresent, and the source of all manifest existence.
Brahman, in itself, is incomprehensible; so a symbol
becomes mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable.
Om, therefore, represents both the unmanifest (nirguna)
and manifest (saguna) aspects of God. That is why
it is called Pranava, to mean that it pervades life
and runs through our prana or breath. |
Om in Daily
Life
Although Om symbolizes the most profound concepts
of Hindu belief, it is in use daily. The Hindus
begin their day or any work or a journey by uttering
Om. The sacred symbol is often found at the head
of letters, at the beginning of examination papers
and so on. Many Hindus, as an expression of spiritual
perfection, wear the sign of Om as a pendant. This
symbol is enshrined in every Hindu temple premise
or in some form or another on family shrines.
It is interesting to note that a newly born child
is ushered into the world with this holy sign. After
birth, the child is ritually cleansed and the sacred
syllable Om is written on its tongue with honey.
Thus right at the time of birth the syllable Om
is initiated into the life of a Hindu and ever remains
with him as the symbol of piety.
|
The
Eternal Syllable
According to the Mandukya Upanishad "Om is the
one eternal syllable of which all that exists is but
the development. The past, the present, and the future
are all included in this one sound, and all that exists
beyond the three forms of time is also implied in
it".
The three portions of AUM relate
to the states of waking, dream and deep sleep and
the three gunas (rajas, satva, tamas) |
The
Music (Sound) of Om
The most sacred symbol in Hindu dharma. Aum (OM) is
the sound of the infinite.
All the words produced by the human
vocal organ can be represented by AUM. A is produced
by the throat, U & M by the lips.
In the Vedas, AUM is the sound of
the Sun, the sound of Light. It is the sound of assent
(affirmation) and ascent (it has an upwards movement
and uplifts the soul, as the sound of the divine eagle
or falcon.
Om is not a word but rather an intonation,
which, like music, transcends the barriers of age,
race, culture and even species. It is made up of three
Sanskrit letters, aa, au and ma which, when combined
together, make the sound Aum or Om. It is believed
to be the basic sound of the world and to contain
all other sounds. It is a mantra or prayer in itself.
If repeated with the correct intonation, it can resonate
throughout the body so that the sound penetrates to
the centre of one's being, the atman or the soul.
There is harmony, peace and bliss
in this simple but deeply philosophical sound. By
vibrating the sacred syllable Om, the supreme combination
of letters, if one thinks of the Ultimate Personality
of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach
the highest state of "stateless" eternity,
states the Bhagavad Gita. |
The
Vision of Om
Om provides a dualistic viewpoint.
On one hand, it projects the mind beyond the immediate
to what is abstract and inexpressible. On the other
hand, it makes the absolute more tangible and comprehensive.
It encompasses all potentialities and possibilities;
it is everything that was, is, or can yet be. It is
omnipotent and likewise remains undefined. |
 |
The
Power of Om
While meditating, when we chant Om, we create within
ourselves a vibration that attunes sympathy with the
cosmic vibration and we start thinking universally.
The momentary silence between each chant becomes palpable.
Mind moves between the opposites of sound and silence
until, at last, it ceases the sound. In the silence,
the single thought—Om—is quenched; there
is no thought. This is the state of trance, where the
mind and the intellect are transcended as the individual
self merges with the Infinite Self in the pious moment
of realization. It is a moment when the petty worldly
affairs are lost in the desire for the universal. Such
is the immeasurable power of Om. |
The
Importance of AUM
Aum is said to be the essence of all mantras, the
highest of all matras or divine word (shabda), brahman
(ultimate reality) itself. Aum is said to be the essence
of the Vedas.
By sound and form, AUM symbolizes
the infinite Brahman (ultimate reality) and the entire
universe.
The three letters also indicates
three planes of existence, heaven (swarga), earth
(martya) and netherworld (patala) |
| |
| |
|
