It is the mystical sound at the root of all mantras and considered the originator of all other sounds. In Sanskrit Om is called pranava, which literally means ‘humming’. It is regarded as the sound of eternity and the all-connecting sound of the Universe uniting the three forces of creation (Brahma) preservation (Vishnu) and destruction (Shiva).
The origin of the word is unknown. In ancient Vedic scriptures it is said that Brahman (the absolute reality and pure consciousness) revealed itself originally as sound and the first sound was Om. The ancient text the Rig Veda mentions the syllable ‘akshara’ that exists in the supreme space in which all the deities reside. The word akshara is often used as a synonym for Om, and means ‘imperishable’ or ‘immutable’.
It is believed that Om was considered so sacred that it could only be passed on from teacher to student through word of mouth in strictest confidence. Even in the early Upanishads, philosophical texts which date back to the second millennium BC, it is only indirectly referred to as udgitha or ‘up sound’ and pranava (humming). The Chandogya Upanishad says, “So long as your descendants will know this udgitha, their life in this world will be the highest and best.” (1.9.4)
In Hinduism Om is considered the nada brahman or sacred sound symbol, and features frequently in the Upanishads. The Katha Upanishad explains the essence of the supreme mantra saying, “The goal which all the Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which men desire when they lead the life of continuance, I will tell you briefly: It is Om. This syllable Om is indeed Brahman. This syllable is the highest. Whosoever knows this syllable obtains all he desires.” The Mandukya Upanishad explains Om with a metaphor, stating that if the syllable iteself were to be considered as a bow, the arrow it shoots would be the self, and Brahman (absolute reality) is said to be the target into which the self is propelled by this mantra.
Om represents trinity on several different levels. Also written as Aum, it is three letters and sounds in one. (In Sanskrit the vowel ‘o’ is a compound of a and u.) These three parts symbolise specific states of consciousness. ‘A’ represents the waking state, the conscious and the gross realm of the universe (Vaishvanara). When awareness is on the ‘A’ you cultivate and train yourself to have awareness of these three elements. The individual experiences the waking state of consciousness. There are actions, speech and thoughts of which we are consciously aware. The sound ‘A’, when pronounced, is ‘ah’ as in father. It is produced at the back of the open mouth and is regarded as the primal sound. ‘U’ is the dream state (Taijasa), the unconscious processing of the level mind and the subtle realm of the universe. It is the level of consciousness in which dreaming occurs, where the mind works out its unfulfilled desires and attractions. Pronounced as ‘who’, the mouth remains open but the sound moves forward with the lips changing shape. ‘M’ represents deep sleep, the subconscious and the causal realm (Prajna). Prajna means supreme knowledge and is the level of consciousness in which deep sleep is experienced. This is where deep impressions are stored in their latent form. It contains the roots of our habit patterns, which are the driving force behind karma. The desires, attractions and wishes that play themselves out in our dreams have their root in this level of consciousness. It is the state where all are one and nothing. The sound of the third element resonates forward in the mouth humming gently with the lips closed and creating a buzzing throughout the head. The closed lips can be seen as symbolising a lock from the outside world, allowing space to reach down inside us in search of the ultimate truth.
After the ‘A’, the ‘U’ and the ‘M’ of the Om mantra there is a silence that is representative of the consciousness that permeates, observes and is all of the other levels. This is known as Turiya, which literally means ‘the fourth’. From the vantage point of Turiya, you can see the entire panorama of the play of the levels of consciousness. A good analogy is to imagine a three floor building where the first three floors are the waking, dreaming and deep sleep state (gross, subtle and causal levels) and Turiya is the roof, from which you can see the full panoramic view.
The Om mantra is a widely recognised but its most significant use is for yogic meditation and contemplation where it can deepen the yogi’s experience. Many teachers and sages teach that eventually all light, sound and mantras lead to stillness and silence. It might be said that the ultimate aim of yoga is to enter the third dreamless realm while awake, to join our waking consciousness to its source in the world of pure unconsciousness. The vibration and then subsequent silence after sounding Om is stated in the Amrita Bindu Upanishad as it is this silent part of the sound that leads to the invisible abode and the ultimate reality. When we really listen and are aware of the silence that follows the reverberations of the chanting of Om, we can become enveloped in the stillness, the pure and open existence.
In yoga, chanting Om is considered to be an integral part of a class, helping to draw in the concentration and still the mind ready for practice. Chanting Om can be a pleasant experience, calming and balancing, however, if you have knowledge of the deeper meanings of the mantra then this can be even richer and more revealing. Universal chanting in a room can be incredibly powerful and with awareness of the significance of the vibrations created can take you further into your practice and unified as a being.
Yoga Magazine
I want that symbol as a tattoo