Om / AUM
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Aum (also Om, ॐ) is the most sacred
syllable in Hinduism, in which Vedic tradition it originated.
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Aum / Om in Hindu Tradition
Origin of AUM / OM
Found first in the Vedic scriptures of
Hinduism,
Aum has been seen as the first manifestation of the unmanifest
Brahman
(the single Divine Ground of Hinduism) that resulted in the phenomenal
universe. Essentially, all the cosmos stems from the vibration of the
sound 'Aum' in Hindu cosmology. Indeed, so sacred is it that it is
prefixed and suffixed to all Hindu mantras and incantations. It is
undoubtedly the most representative symbol of Hinduism.
Use of this sound in rituals, may have
originally started by imitating a similar territorial call of the male
tiger.
The OM symbol's left part,
which is like a figure 3, is also a component of some Devanagari
letters, where it means "this syllable has no initial consonant".
Philosophy of AUM / OM
Gods and Goddesses
are sometimes referred to as Aumkar, which means Form of Aum, thus
implying that they are limitless, the vibrational whole of the cosmos. Ek
Onkar, meaning 'one god' is a central tenet of Sikh religious
philosophy. In Hindu metaphysics, it is
proposed that the manifested cosmos (from Brahman) has name and form (nama-rupa),
and that the closest approximation to the name and form of the universe is
Aum, since all existence is fundamentally composed of vibration. This is
considered by some to be remniscent of some current physical theories such
as quantum physics and super string theory, which describe the universe in
terms of vibrating fields or strings.
It is frequently used to represent three subsumed into one,
a common theme in Hinduism. It implies that our current existence is
mithya, or 'slightly lesser reality,' that in order to know the full truth
we must comprehend beyond the body and intellect and intuit the true
nature of infinity, of a Divine Ground that is immanent but also
transcends all duality, being and non-being, that cannot be described in
words. Within this metaphysical symbolism, the three are
represented by the lower curve, upper curve and tail of the ॐ
subsumed into the ultimate One, represented by the little crescent
moon-shape and dot, known as chandrabindu. Essentially, upon
moksha,
mukti,
samadhi,
nirvana,
liberation, etc. one is able not only to see or know
existence for what it is, but to become it. In attaining truth one simply
realizes fundamental unity; it is not the joining together of a
prior manifold splitting. When one gains true knowledge, there is no split
between knower and known: one becomes knowledge/consciousness itself. In
essence, Aum is the signifier of the ultimate truth that all is
one.
Examples of Three into One:
 | Creation (Brahma)- Preservation (Vishnu)- Destruction (Shiva) into Brahman |
| Waking- Dreaming- Dreamless Sleep into Turiya (transcendental fourth state of consciousness) |
| Rajas (activity, heat, fire)- Tamas (dullness, ignorance, darkness)- Sattva (purity, light, serenity/shanti) into Brahman |
| Body, Speech and Mind into Oneness |
| Etc. |
The Chandogya Upanishad (1.1.1-10)
states, "The udgitha is the best of all essences, the highest, deserving
the highest place, the eighth."
"Aum" can be seen as
Sri Ganesh,
whose figure is often represented in the shape of Aum. He is thus known as
Aumkar (Shape of Aum). Sri Nataraja, or the Hindu god
'Shiva' dancing his dance of destruction, is seen in that popular
representation mirroring the image of Aum. It is said to be the most
perfect 'approximation' of the cosmic existence within time and space, and
therefore the sound closest to Truth.
"The First Word Om (Aum) It is also called Pranav because its sound emanates from the Prana (vital vibration), which
feels the Universe. The scripture says "Aum Iti Ek Akşara Brahman" (Aum
that one syllable is Brahman).
When you pronounce AUM: A - emerges from
the throat, originating in the region of the navel U - rolls over the
tongue M - ends on the lips A - waking, U - dreaming, M - sleeping It is
the sum and substance of all the words that can emanate from the human
throat. It is the primordial fundamental sound symbolic of the Universal
Absolute." Today, in all Hindu art and all over
India and Nepal, 'Aum' can be seen virtually
everywhere, a standard sign for Hinduism and a vast but economical
storehouse for the deep mythology inherent in the world's oldest religion.
It has been argued that Aum can be
translated, into English, as "Eternal Yea". Notes the Chandogya
Upanishad, "That syllable, is a syllable of permission; for, whenever
we permit anything, we say Aum." However, this is seen by others as a
myopic perspective because the same Hindu scriptures, the Upanishads, that
aver this function also attribute to it the divine property of the source
of the universe. Aum is seen as the source of existence as we know it
within the causal dimensions of time and space, and thus affirmatory
meanings in languages are a natural progression. Aum is not only
affirmation, but negation, and transcends both.
The AUM sound is sometimes called "the
3-syllable Veda". The third syllable arises because in Devanagari and
similar alphabets, a consonant at the end of a word is sometimes written
as a separate consonant letter with the virama "no vowel" sign, and this
combination is treated as a syllable when talking about Devanagari writing
rather than about phonetics.
The Sanskrit word omkāra (from which
came Punjabi onkār, etc), literally "OM-maker", has two families of
meanings:-
- Brahma (god) in his role as creator, and thus a word for "creator".
- Writers' term for the OM sign.
Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM / OM
In the Rig-veda we find the following
information; "One who chants om, which is the closest form of Brahman,
approaches Brahman. This liberates one from the fear of the material
world, therefore it is known as tarak brahman."
"O Vishnu your self-manifest name, om, is
the eternal form of cognizance. Even if my knowledge about the glories of
reciting this name is incomplete, still, by the practice of reciting this
name I will achieve that perfect knowledge. "He who has unmanifested
potencies and is fully independent, manifests the vibration omkara, which
indicates Himself. Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan are the three forms He
manifests."
Aum takes the form of Gayatri, then Veda and
Vedanta
sutra; then it takes the shape of Srimad Bhagavatam and the lila, the
divine pastimes, of the Lord."
Other Traditions, Interpretations and Understandings
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Tibetan "Om" symbol
Tibetan "Om" symbol
With Buddhism's evolution and breaking away
from Vedic/Hindu tradition, Aum and other symbology/cosmology/philosophies
were co-opted from the Hindu tradition. This character often appeared as
"唵" in Buddhist scripts in East Asia.
In Buddhism this syllable is almost never
transliterated as Aum, but instead as Om.
This syllable is also incorporated in the
mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum".
The Beatles reference the symbol in their
Let It Be song "Across the Universe", singing "Jai Guru Deva Aum,"
meaning "Salute Guru Deva, Aum."
