The Mystical, Reverberating Sound
The syllable Om has significance not only in Hinduism but in other religions and cultures as well, including Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, besides Indonesian and Nepalese cultures. Before Creation began, there was an empty void, which was then filled with the vibrations of the sound of Om, believed to be a manifestation of the Supreme God.
Om is a compound of three sounds - a, u and m. The sound a is known as a-kara in Sanskrit, meaning one that has a form, like the earth. The sound u is u-kara or the formless, like air or water, and m or m-kara means one without shape yet not shapeless, like the energy floating in the Universe.
The sacred sound Omkara is best experienced when pronounced loudly or in humming sound that begins with O and ends in m. That is why it is known as praṇava, or from the pran...a sound that comes from deep inside...
Om Namah Shivaya
Om or Aum is said to be a combination of the divine energy or shakti of the Holy Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
The Chandogya Upanishad states: om ity-etad akṣaram udgitham upasita aum iti hy udgayati tasyopavyakhyanam meaning, the chanting of the syllable Om is the best of all essences, deserving the highest place...
The Ultimate Goal
According to the Katha Upanishad, the goal which all the Vedas mention, which all austerities aim at, and which humans desire when they live a life of conscience, is aum, as the word is seen as being synonymous with Brahman or Supreme God.
Krishna Is Om
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says to Arjuna, "I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable Oṃ..." The Gita also says elsewhere: Om tatsatiti nirdesho brahmanstrividhah samratah meaning, Om, tat and sat have been declared as the triple appellation of Brahman - Truth, Consciousness and Bliss.
Om Ganeshaya Namaha
Ganesha is sometimes identified with the symbol Om.
More Than Just A Word
The Mandukya Upanishad explains Om in detail: the syllable a refers to creation of life from Brahma's golden nucleus; u refers to Vishnu preserving all creation by balancing Brahma himself on a lotus that springs from his navel, and m refers to the final part of the cycle of life, with Shiva causing things to disintegrate. . The Mandukya Upanishad further explains: a is Vaishvanara, u is Hiranyagarbha, and m is Ishvara, meaning the beginning, the middle and the end of the universe.
The Root Sound Of All Languages
Om is said to be the original sound that contains all other sounds, words, mantras of all languages.
Meditate on Om
The syllable is mentioned in all the Upanishads as the object of profound religious meditation.
The Beginning Of Everything
Hindus often write the sacred Om symbol at the top of important documents. To type it on your keyboard, simple type backslash sign in a Word document and choose the font Wingdings. Viola, you have an Om written on your computer screen. Then, many Hindus also perform the ritual of writing Om on the tongue of a newborn baby with with honey.
Jain Navkar Mantra
In Jainism, Om is regarded as a condensed form of Panca-Parameṣṭhi. The Dravyasamgraha says: oma ekakṣara panca-parameṣṭhi-nama-dipam tatkabhamiti ceta arihata asarira ayariya taha uvajjhaya muṇiya meaning Om is one syllable made from the initials of the five Parameshthis - Arihant, Ashiri, Acharya, Upajjhaya and Muni. Thus, Oṃ namaḥ is a short form of the Navkar Mantra.
Om Mani Padme Hum
The famous Tibetan Buddhist chant is Om Mani Padme Hum. Its their Vidya-Sadaksari.
Ik Onkar, says the holy book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, meaning God is One.
Did You Know?
There is a hillock known as Om Parvat because the snow deposit on it forms the Om symbol. It is located at 6191 metres near Nabhi Dhang in Darchula district on the India Nepal border. Looks like God has put his signature up there, does it not?
So, Experience The Music Of Om
Om is not a word but a sound, chanting which, fills your body, mind and soul with divine peace. It is believed to be a prayer in itself. Try repeating it and you will soon discover the raga and meaning behind the syllable yourself.