OM: Spiritual Significance and Meaning
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Om Symbol by Charon1 at Dreamstime
The Om symbol and sound is instantly recognizable, even in the West, probably due to the increasing popularity of yoga. You see the symbol on jewelry, clothes, products, and of course you hear it on yoga or meditation recordings, but it is even in some pop songs. Many times a yoga class will start and end with chanting a simple “Om”. There is even a new brand of water called H2Om! Despite the abundance of this symbol and sound, many are still unaware of its deep meaning.
Elemental Sound
Om (Aum) is the basic sound of creation from which the whole universe evolved. It is the primordial sound and consists of three syllables:A (aah) represents Brahma (creation); U (ooo) represents Vishnu (sustenance); and M (mmm) represents Shiva (destruction/rejuvenation). Chanting or saying the sound Om creates a vibration in your mind and energy body system that is very healing because it basically is a manifestation of the entire universe.
“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”. ~ Mandukya Upanishad
This simple sound is a mantra or prayer in and of itself, and can be a useful tool for meditation. If repeated with understanding and awareness, the vibrations can resonate throughout the body and dispel negative thinking, and create a state of peace and bliss.
Sacred Symbol
The ancient sound Om represents the omnipresent existential energy in the universe. This is very hard to understand with our limited minds, so it is helpful to have a symbol to represent the incomprehensible. At its most basic level the Om symbol makes the abstract more concrete and real. It stands for the all-pervading energy that creates, sustains, destroys, and rejuvenates the entire cosmos. It includes all possibilities of everything that was, is, or is yet to be.
Very often the Sahasrara chakra (7th chakra, also known as the thousand petaled lotus) where the ego dissolves into the void and merges with the universal energy is depicted with the Om symbol.
4 States of Consciousness
According to the Mandukya Upanishad (sacred Vedic text) the three syllables AUM represent different states of consciousness. A signifies the waking or conscious state (Jagrat); U signifies the dream state (Swapna), and M signifies the deep sleep or unconscious state (Sushupti). These are the three states that we normally experience throughout our lives.
I will explore these states in more depth in a later article, but basically the waking state is how we normally function in our day to day lives. The dream state can either be the night dreams we remember or day dreams and fantasies during the waking sate. Deep sleep as the name suggests is deep, restorative sleep where we rejuvenate our body and soul. In this state you do not have any thoughts and are without consciousness of the self.
Beyond these three states of consciousness is a fourth, blissful state called Turiya. When one chants the Om mantra, the silent space between each repetition of Om is the fourth (Turiya) state. In this state one is aware, but without the constant inner chatter or thoughts. Most people have already experienced this state of meditation, but it usually only lasts a few seconds.
Cross Cultural Connections
Although Om is associated with Hinduism, it is a cross cultural experience. Some examples include the ancient Egyptians who seem to have recognized the importance of Om. For example Amen-Ra was the supreme Egyptian creation deity. The name of the pharaoh Tutankhamun (Tut-ankh-amun) literally translate as “living image of amun”.
The words of John 1:1 state “In the beginning was the word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. There is a clear connection here between the elemental sound of the universe and the creator.
It is interesting to note that the ancient Celtic language, Ogham (pronounced Ohm, Om, or Aum) used by the druids may have been influenced by the knowledge of Om.
Chanting Om leads us Home
As already stated, this simple sound can be a used as a meditation tool. Even if you are not aware of the meaning of the syllables or the importance of this mantra, it still works. You can chant out loud or just silently in your mind. However, if you repeat it with greater understanding and awareness, the effect of the vibrations will multiply. It melts anger, desire, and negativity, and also infuses positive energy and rejuvenates the body/mind system.
The word “home” includes the “om” seed mantra surrounded by “he” (existential energy). Therefore this mantra can lead us back home to our true self.
Have you ever experimented with chanting Om?
What other examples from other cultures can you think of that reference Om?
Resources:
Website:
The Mantra Om: Symbol of Primordial Vibration
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