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''Om'' (or ''Aum'') (; sa, ॐ, ओम्, Ōṃ, translit-std=IAST) is a sacred sound, syllable, mantra, or an invocation in Hinduism. ''Om'' is the prime symbol of Hinduism.Krishna Sivaraman (2008), ''Hindu Spirituality Vedas Through Vedanta'', Motilal Banarsidass, , page 433 It is variously said to be the essence of the supreme Absolute, consciousness,James Lochtefeld (2002), "Om", ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism'', Vol. 2: N-Z, Rosen Publishing. , page 482Om
. ''Merriam-Webster'' (2013), Pronounced: \ˈōm\ ''Ātman (Hinduism), Ātman,'' ''Brahman,'' or the cosmic world.David Leeming (2005), ''The Oxford Companion to World Mythology'', Oxford University Press, , page 54Hajime Nakamura, ''A History of Early Vedānta Philosophy'', Part 2, Motilal Banarsidass, , page 318Annette Wilke and Oliver Moebus (2011), ''Sound and Communication: An Aesthetic Cultural History of Sanskrit Hinduism'', De Gruyter, , pages 435–456 In Indic traditions, ''Om'' serves as a sonic representation of the divine, a standard of Vedas, Vedic authority and a central aspect of soteriological doctrines and practices. The syllable is often found at the beginning and the end of chapters in the Vedas, the Upanishads, and other Hindu texts. ''Om'' emerged in the Vedic Literature, Vedic corpus and is said to be an encapsulated form of Samaveda, ''Samavedic'' chants or songs. It is a sacred spiritual incantation made before and during the recitation of spiritual texts, during ''Puja (Hinduism), puja'' and private prayers, in ceremonies of rites of passage (''Sanskara (rite of passage), sanskara'') such as weddings, and during meditative and spiritual activities such as Pranava yoga.David White (2011), ''Yoga in Practice'', Princeton University Press, , pp. 104–111Alexander Studholme (2012), ''The Origins of Om Manipadme Hum: A Study of the Karandavyuha Sutra'', State University of New York Press, , pages 1–4 It is part of the iconography found in ancient and medieval era manuscripts, temples, monasteries, and spiritual retreats in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. As a syllable, it is often chanted either independently or before a spiritual recitation and during meditation in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.Jan Gonda (1963), ''The Indian Mantra'', Oriens, Vol. 16, pp. 244–297Julius Lipner (2010), ''Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices'', Routledge, , pp. 66–67 The syllable ''Om'' is also referred to as Onkara (Omkara) and Pranava among #Common names and synonyms, many other names.
Nāgarī script, Nagari or Devanagari representations are found Epigraphy, epigraphically on sculpture dating from Medieval India and on ancient coins in regional scripts throughout South Asia. ''Om'' is represented in Devanagari as , composed of four elements: the Devanagari#Vowels, vowel letter (), the Devanagari#Vowel diacritics, vowel diacritic (), the Devanagari#Consonants, consonant letter (), and the ''virama'' stroke which indicates the absence of an implied final vowel. The syllable is sometimes written , notably by Arya Samaj, where (i.e., the digit "3") explicitly indicates ''Pluti, pluta'' ("three times as long"; see #Pronunciation, above) which is otherwise only implied. For this same reason ''Om'' may also be written in languages such as Hindi, with the () being used to indicate prolonging the vowel sound. (However, this differs from the usage of the in Sanskrit, where it would instead indicate the prodelision of the initial vowel.) ''Om'' may also be written , with an reflecting the pronunciation of in languages such as Hindi. In languages such as Urdu and Sindhi language, Sindhi ''Om'' may be written in Arabic script, although speakers of these languages may also use Devanagari representations.
The commonly seen representation of the syllable ''Om,'' , is a cursive Typographic ligature, ligature in Devanagari, combining () with () and the chandrabindu (ँ,). In Unicode, the symbol is encoded at and at as a "generic symbol independent of Devanagari font".
In some South Asian writing systems, the ''Om'' symbol has been simplified further. In Bengali–Assamese script, Bengali and Assamese ''Om'' is written simply as without an additional curl. In languages such as Bengali language, Bengali differences in pronunciation compared to Sanskrit have made the addition of a curl for redundant. Although the spelling is simpler, the pronunciation remains . Similarly, in Odia script, Odia ''Om'' is written as without an additional diacritic.
In Tamil script, Tamil, ''Om'' is written as , a ligature of (''ō'') and (''m''), while in Kannada script, Kannada, Telugu script, Telugu, and Malayalam script, Malayalam, ''Om'' is written simply as the letter for ''ō'' followed by (, , and , respectively).
There have been proposals that the ''Om'' syllable may already have had written representations in Brahmi script, dating to before the Common Era. A proposal by Deb (1921) held that the ''swastika'' is a monogrammatic representation of the syllable ''Om'', wherein two Brahmi /o/ characters () were superposed crosswise and the 'm' was represented by dot. A commentary in ''Nature (journal), Nature'' (1922) considers this theory questionable and unproven. A. B. Walawalkar (1951) proposed that ''Om'' was represented using the Brahmi symbols for "A", "U", and "M" (), and that this may have influenced the unusual epigraphical features of the symbol for ''Om''. Henry Parker (author), Parker (1909) wrote that an "Aum monogram", distinct from the swastika, is found among Tamil-Brahmi Tamil inscriptions in Sri Lanka, inscriptions in Sri Lanka, including Anuradhapura Kingdom, Anuradhapura era coins, dated from the 1st to 4th centuries CE, which are embossed with ''Om'' along with other symbols.
In Hinduism, ''Om'' is one of the most important spiritual sounds. The syllable is often found at the beginning and the end of chapters in the Vedas, the Upanishads, and other Hindu texts, and is often chanted either independently or before a mantra, as a sacred spiritual incantation made before and during the recitation of spiritual texts, during Puja (Hinduism), puja and private prayers, in ceremonies of rites of passages (Sanskara (rite of passage), sanskara) such as weddings, and during meditative and spiritual activities such as yoga.
It is the most sacred syllable symbol and mantra of Brahman, which is the ultimate reality, consciousness or Atman (Hinduism), Atman (Self within).
It is called the ''Shabda Brahman'' (Brahman as sound) and believed to be the primordial sound (''Pranava'') of the universe.
Chandogya Upanishad
''The Upanishads'', Part I, Oxford University Press, pages 1-3 with footnotes It calls the syllable ''Om'' as ''udgitha'' (; song, chant), and asserts that the significance of the syllable is thus: the essence of all beings is earth, the essence of earth is water, the essence of water are the plants, the essence of plants is man, the essence of man is speech, the essence of speech is the Rigveda, the essence of the Rigveda is the Samaveda, and the essence of Samaveda is the ''udgitha'' (song, ''Om''). () is speech, states the text, and () is breath; they are pairs, and because they have love for each other, speech and breath find themselves together and mate to produce a song. The highest song is ''Om'', asserts section 1.1 of Chandogya Upanishad. It is the symbol of awe, of reverence, of threefold knowledge because ''Adhvaryu'' invokes it, the ''Hotr'' recites it, and ''Udgatr'' sings it.Paul Deussen, ''Sixty Upanishads of the Veda'', Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 68-70Patrick Olivelle (2014), ''The Early Upanishads'', Oxford University Press, , page 171-185 The second volume of the first chapter continues its discussion of syllable ''Om'', explaining its use as a struggle between ''Deva (Hinduism), Devas'' (gods) and ''Asuras'' (demons).Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 70-71 with footnotes Max Muller states that this struggle between gods and demons is considered allegorical by ancient Indian people, Indian scholars, as good and evil inclinations within man, respectively.Max Muller
Chandogya Upanishad
''The Upanishads'', Part I, Oxford University Press, pages 4-6 with footnotes The legend in section 1.2 of Chandogya Upanishad states that gods took the ''Udgitha'' (song of ''Om'') unto themselves, thinking, "with this ''song'' we shall overcome the demons".Robert Hume
Chandogya Upanishad
''The Thirteen Principal Upanishads'', Oxford University Press, pages 178-180 The syllable ''Om'' is thus implied as that which inspires the good inclinations within each person. Chandogya Upanishad's exposition of syllable ''Om'' in its opening chapter combines etymological speculations, symbolism, metric structure and philosophical themes. In the second chapter of the Chandogya Upanishad, the meaning and significance of ''Om'' evolves into a philosophical discourse, such as in section 2.10 where ''Om'' is linked to the Highest Self, and section 2.23 where the text asserts ''Om'' is the essence of three forms of knowledge, ''Om'' is Brahman and "Om is all this [observed world]".
The Maitrayaniya Upanishad in sixth ''Prapathakas'' (lesson) discusses the meaning and significance of ''Om''. The text asserts that ''Om'' represents Brahman-Atman. The three roots of the syllable, states the Maitri Upanishad, are ''A'' + ''U'' + ''M''.
The sound is the body of Self, and it repeatedly manifests in three:
* as gender-endowed body – feminine, masculine, neuter;
* as light-endowed body – Agni, Vayu, and Aditya;
* as deity-endowed body – Brahma, Rudra, and Vishnu;
* as mouth-endowed body – ''garhapatya'', ''dakshinagni'', and ''ahavaniya'';
* as knowledge-endowed body – Rigveda, Rig, Samaveda, Saman, and Yajurveda, Yajur;
* as world-endowed body – , , and ;
* as time-endowed body – past, present, and future;
* as heat-endowed body – Prana, breath, Agni (Ayurveda), fire, and Surya, Sun;
* as growth-endowed body – food, water, and Chandra, Moon;
* as thought-endowed body – Buddhi, intellect, Antahkarana, mind, and Citta, psyche.Maitri Upanishad – Sanskrit Text with English Translation
EB Cowell (Translator), Cambridge University, ''Bibliotheca Indica'', page 258-260 Brahman exists in two forms – the material form, and the immaterial formless. The material form is changing, unreal. The immaterial formless isn't changing, real. The immortal formless is truth, the truth is the Brahman, the Brahman is the light, the light is the Sun which is the syllable ''Om'' as the Self. The world is ''Om'', its light is Sun, and the Sun is also the light of the syllable ''Om'', asserts the Upanishad. Meditating on ''Om'', is acknowledging and meditating on the Brahman-Atman (Self).
The Mundaka Upanishad in the second ''Mundakam'' (part), suggests the means to knowing the Atman and the Brahman are meditation, self-reflection, and introspection and that they can be aided by the symbol ''Om''.
Adi Shankara, in his review of the Mundaka Upanishad, states ''Om'' as a symbolism for Atman (Hinduism), Atman (Self).
The Measures of the Eternal – Mandukya Upanishad
Theosophical Quarterly, October, 1923, pages 158-162 * ''Om'' as all states of Consciousness. *: In verses 3 to 6, the Mandukya Upanishad enumerates four states of consciousness: wakeful, dream, deep sleep, and the state of ''ekatma'' (being one with Self, the oneness of Self). These four are ''A'' + ''U'' + ''M'' + "without an element" respectively. * ''Om'' as all of Vidya (philosophy), Knowledge. *: In verses 9 to 12, the Mandukya Upanishad enumerates fourfold etymological roots of the syllable ''Om''. It states that the first element of ''Om'' is ''A'', which is from ''Apti'' (obtaining, reaching) or from ''Adimatva'' (being first). The second element is ''U'', which is from ''Utkarsa'' (exaltation) or from ''Ubhayatva'' (intermediateness). The third element is ''M'', from ''Miti'' (erecting, constructing) or from ''Mi Minati, or apīti'' (annihilation). The fourth is without an element, without development, beyond the expanse of universe. In this way, states the Upanishad, the syllable Om is indeed the Atman (the self).
The Bhagavad Gita, in the Epic Mahabharata, mentions the meaning and significance of ''Om'' in several verses. According to Jeaneane Fowler, verse 9.17 of the Bhagavad Gita synthesizes the competing dualistic and monist streams of thought in Hinduism, by using "''Om'' which is the symbol for the indescribable, impersonal Brahman".
The significance of the sacred syllable in the Hindu traditions, is similarly highlighted in other verses of the ''Gita'', such as verse 17.24 where the importance of ''Om'' during prayers, charity and meditative practices is explained as follows:
In Shaivism, Shaiva traditions, the ''Shiva Purana'' highlights the relation between deity Shiva and the ''Pranava'' or ''Om''. Shiva is declared to be ''Om'', and that ''Om'' is Shiva.
In Jainism, ''Om'' is considered a condensed form of reference to the Pañca-Parameṣṭhi by their initials ''A+A+A+U+M'' (').
The Dravyasamgraha quotes a Prakrit line:
By extension, the Om symbol is also used in Jainism to represent the first five lines of the Namokar Mantra, Namokar mantra, the most important part of the daily prayer in the Jain religion, which honours the ''Pañca-Parameṣṭhi''. These five lines are (in English): "(1.) veneration to the Arhats, (2.) veneration to the perfect ones, (3.) veneration to the masters, (4.) veneration to the teachers, (5.) veneration to all the monks in the world".
In Tibetan Buddhism, ''Om'' is often placed at the beginning of mantras and dharanis. Probably the most well known mantra is "Om mani padme hum", the six syllable mantra of the Bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteśvara. This mantra is particularly associated with the four-armed form of Avalokiteśvara. Moreover, as a seed syllable (''Bīja mantra''), ''Om'' is considered sacred and holy in Esoteric Buddhism.
Some scholars interpret the first word of the mantra to be , with a meaning similar to Hinduism – the totality of sound, existence, and consciousness.
has been described by the 14th Dalai Lama as "composed of three pure letters, A, U, and M. These symbolize the impure Three Vajras, body, speech, and mind of everyday unenlightened life of a practitioner; they also symbolize the pure exalted body, speech and mind of an enlightened Buddha". According to Simpkins, ''Om'' is a part of many mantras in Tibetan Buddhism and is a symbolism for wholeness, perfection, and the infinite.
''Ik Onkar'' ( pa, ਇੱਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ; iconically represented as ) are the first words of the Mul Mantar, which is the opening verse of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture. Combining the numeral one ("''Ik''") and "''Onkar''", ''Ik Onkar'' literally means "one ''Om ''";Mahinder Gulati (2008), Comparative Religious And Philosophies : Anthropomorphlsm And Divinity, Atlantic, , pages 284-285 these words are a statement that there is "one God", understood to refer to the "absolute Monotheism, monotheistic unity of God" and implying "singularity in spite of the seeming multiplicity of existence".
According to Pashaura Singh, ''Onkar'' is used frequently as invocation in Sikh scripture; it is the foundational word (''Shabda, shabad''), the seed of Sikh scripture, and the basis of the "whole creation of time and space".
''Ik Onkar'' is a significant Names of God#Sikhism, name of God in the Guru Granth Sahib and Gurbani, states Kohli, and occurs as "''Aum''" in the Upanishads and where it is understood as the abstract representation of three worlds (''Trailokya'') of Creationism, creation. According to Wazir Singh, ''Onkar'' is a "variation of ''Om'' (''Aum'') of the ancient Indian scriptures (with a change in its orthography), implying the unifying ''seed-force'' that evolves as the universe". However, in Sikhism, ''Onkar'' is interpreted differently than in other Indian religions; ''Onkar'' refers directly to the creator of ultimate reality and consciousness, and not to the creation. Guru Nanak wrote a poem entitled ''Onkar'' in which, states Doniger, he "attributed the origin and sense of speech to the Divinity, who is thus the Om-maker".
''Om'' (or ''Aum'') (; sa, ॐ, ओम्, Ōṃ, translit-std=IAST) is a sacred sound, syllable, mantra, or an invocation in Hinduism. ''Om'' is the prime symbol of Hinduism.Krishna Sivaraman (2008), ''Hindu Spirituality Vedas Through Vedanta'', Motilal Banarsidass, , page 433 It is variously said to be the essence of the supreme Absolute, consciousness,James Lochtefeld (2002), "Om", ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism'', Vol. 2: N-Z, Rosen Publishing. , page 482Om. ''Merriam-Webster'' (2013), Pronounced: \ˈōm\ ''Ātman (Hinduism), Ātman,'' ''Brahman,'' or the cosmic world.David Leeming (2005), ''The Oxford Companion to World Mythology'', Oxford University Press, , page 54Hajime Nakamura, ''A History of Early Vedānta Philosophy'', Part 2, Motilal Banarsidass, , page 318Annette Wilke and Oliver Moebus (2011), ''Sound and Communication: An Aesthetic Cultural History of Sanskrit Hinduism'', De Gruyter, , pages 435–456 In Indic traditions, ''Om'' serves as a sonic representation of the divine, a standard of Vedas, Vedic authority and a central aspect of soteriological doctrines and practices. The syllable is often found at the beginning and the end of chapters in the Vedas, the Upanishads, and other Hindu texts. ''Om'' emerged in the Vedic Literature, Vedic corpus and is said to be an encapsulated form of Samaveda, ''Samavedic'' chants or songs. It is a sacred spiritual incantation made before and during the recitation of spiritual texts, during ''Puja (Hinduism), puja'' and private prayers, in ceremonies of rites of passage (''Sanskara (rite of passage), sanskara'') such as weddings, and during meditative and spiritual activities such as Pranava yoga.David White (2011), ''Yoga in Practice'', Princeton University Press, , pp. 104–111Alexander Studholme (2012), ''The Origins of Om Manipadme Hum: A Study of the Karandavyuha Sutra'', State University of New York Press, , pages 1–4 It is part of the iconography found in ancient and medieval era manuscripts, temples, monasteries, and spiritual retreats in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. As a syllable, it is often chanted either independently or before a spiritual recitation and during meditation in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.Jan Gonda (1963), ''The Indian Mantra'', Oriens, Vol. 16, pp. 244–297Julius Lipner (2010), ''Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices'', Routledge, , pp. 66–67 The syllable ''Om'' is also referred to as Onkara (Omkara) and Pranava among #Common names and synonyms, many other names.
Common names and synonyms
The syllable ''Om'' is referred to by many names, including: * ' (); literally, "fore-sound", referring to ''Om'' as the primeval sound. * ' () or ' (); literally, "''Om''-maker", denoting the first source of the sound ''Om'' and connoting the Creationism#Hinduism, act of creation. ** ' (); literally, "one ''Om''-maker", and an Names of God#Sikhism, epithet of God in Sikhism. (see #Sikhism, below). * ' (); meaning "song, chant", a word found in Samaveda and ''bhasya'' (commentaries) based on it, which is also used as a name of the syllable. * ' (); literally, "imperishable, immutable", and also "letter of the alphabet" or "syllable". ** '; literally, "one letter of the alphabet", referring to its representation as a single Ligature (writing), ligature. (see #Written representations, below)Origin and spiritual significance
The etymological origins of ''ōm''/''āum'' have long been discussed and disputed, with even the Upanishads having proposed multiple Sanskrit etymologies for ''āum'', including: from "''ām''" (; "yes"), from "''ávam''" (; "that, thus, yes"), and from the Sanskrit roots "''āv-''" (; "to urge") or "''āp-''" (; "to attain"). In 1889, Maurice Blumfield proposed an origin from a Proto-Indo-European language, Proto-Indo-European introductory Grammatical particle, particle "''*au''" with a function similar to the Sanskrit particle "atha" (). However, contemporary Indology, Indologist Asko Parpola proposes a borrowing from Proto-Dravidian language, Dravidian "''*ām''" meaning "'it is so', 'let it be so', 'yes'", a contraction of "''*ākum''", cognate with modern Tamil language, Tamil "''ām''" () meaning "yes". Regardless of its original meaning, the syllable ''Om'' evolves to mean many abstract ideas even in the earliest Upanishads. Max Müller and other scholars state that these philosophical texts recommend ''Om'' as a "tool for meditation", explain various meanings that the syllable may be in the mind of one meditating, ranging from "artificial and senseless" to "highest concepts such as the cause of the Universe, essence of life, Brahman, Ātman (Hinduism), Atman, and Self-knowledge".Paul Deussen, ''Sixty Upanishads of the Veda'', Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 67-85, 227, 284, 308, 318, 361-366, 468, 600-601, 667, 772 The syllable ''Om'' is first mentioned in the Upanishads, the mysticism#Indian religions, mystical texts associated with the Vedanta philosophy. It has variously been associated with concepts of "cosmic sound" or "mystical syllable" or "affirmation to something divine", or as symbolism for abstract spiritual concepts in the Upanishads. In the Aranyaka and the Brahmana layers of Vedic texts, the syllable is so widespread and linked to knowledge, that it stands for the "whole of Veda". The symbolic foundations of ''Om'' are repeatedly discussed in the oldest layers of the early Upanishads. The Aitareya Brahmana of Rig Veda, in section 5.32, for example suggests that the three phonetic components of ''Om'' (''a'' + ''u'' + ''m'') correspond to the three stages of cosmic creation, and when it is read or said, it celebrates the creative powers of the universe. The Brahmana layer of Vedic texts equate ''Om'' with ''bhur-bhuvah-svah'', the latter symbolising "the whole Veda". They offer various shades of meaning to ''Om'', such as it being "the universe beyond the sun", or that which is "mysterious and inexhaustible", or "the infinite language, the infinite knowledge", or "essence of breath, life, everything that exists", or that "with which one is liberated". The Samaveda, the poetical Veda, orthographically maps ''Om'' to the audible, the musical truths in its numerous variations (''Oum'', ''Aum'', ''Ovā Ovā Ovā Um'', etc.) and then attempts to extract Tala (music), musical meters from it.Pronunciation
When occurring within spoken Classical Sanskrit, the syllable is subject to the normal rules of sandhi in Sanskrit grammar, with the additional peculiarity that the initial ''o'' of "''Om''" is the Guṇa#Sanskrit grammar, guṇa Indo-European ablaut, vowel grade of ''u'', not the vṛddhi grade, and is therefore pronounced as a monophthong with a Vowel length, long vowel (), ie. ''ōm'' not ''aum''. Furthermore, the final ''m'' is often Assimilation (phonology), assimilated into the preceding vowel as Nasal vowel, nasalisation (). As a result, ''Om'' is regularly pronounced in the context of Sanskrit. However, this ''o'' reflects the older Vedic Sanskrit diphthong ''au'', which at that stage in the language's history had not yet monophthongised to ''o''. This being so, the syllable ''Om'' is often Archaism, archaically considered as consisting of three phonemes: "a-u-m". Accordingly, some denominations maintain the archaic diphthong ''au'' viewing it to be more authentic and closer to the language of the Vedas. In the context of the Vedas, particularly the Vedic Brahmanas, the vowel is often ''Pluti, pluta'' ("three times as long"), vowel length, indicating a length of three morae (), that is, the time it takes to say three Syllabic weight, light syllables. Additionally, a diphthong becomes with the prolongation of its first vowel. When ''e'' and ''o'' undergo they typically revert to the original diphthongs with the initial ''a'' prolonged, realised as an Overlong vowel, overlong open back unrounded vowel (''ā̄um'' or ''a3um'' ). This extended duration is emphasised by denominations who regard it as more authentically Vedic, such as Arya Samaj. However, ''Om'' is also attested in the Upanishads without ''pluta'', and many languages related to or influenced by Classical Sanskrit, such as Hindustani language, Hindustani, share its pronunciation of ''Om'' ( or ).Written representations
South Asia
Nāgarī script, Nagari or Devanagari representations are found Epigraphy, epigraphically on sculpture dating from Medieval India and on ancient coins in regional scripts throughout South Asia. ''Om'' is represented in Devanagari as , composed of four elements: the Devanagari#Vowels, vowel letter (), the Devanagari#Vowel diacritics, vowel diacritic (), the Devanagari#Consonants, consonant letter (), and the ''virama'' stroke which indicates the absence of an implied final vowel. The syllable is sometimes written , notably by Arya Samaj, where (i.e., the digit "3") explicitly indicates ''Pluti, pluta'' ("three times as long"; see #Pronunciation, above) which is otherwise only implied. For this same reason ''Om'' may also be written in languages such as Hindi, with the () being used to indicate prolonging the vowel sound. (However, this differs from the usage of the in Sanskrit, where it would instead indicate the prodelision of the initial vowel.) ''Om'' may also be written , with an reflecting the pronunciation of in languages such as Hindi. In languages such as Urdu and Sindhi language, Sindhi ''Om'' may be written in Arabic script, although speakers of these languages may also use Devanagari representations.
The commonly seen representation of the syllable ''Om,'' , is a cursive Typographic ligature, ligature in Devanagari, combining () with () and the chandrabindu (ँ,). In Unicode, the symbol is encoded at and at as a "generic symbol independent of Devanagari font".
In some South Asian writing systems, the ''Om'' symbol has been simplified further. In Bengali–Assamese script, Bengali and Assamese ''Om'' is written simply as without an additional curl. In languages such as Bengali language, Bengali differences in pronunciation compared to Sanskrit have made the addition of a curl for redundant. Although the spelling is simpler, the pronunciation remains . Similarly, in Odia script, Odia ''Om'' is written as without an additional diacritic.
In Tamil script, Tamil, ''Om'' is written as , a ligature of (''ō'') and (''m''), while in Kannada script, Kannada, Telugu script, Telugu, and Malayalam script, Malayalam, ''Om'' is written simply as the letter for ''ō'' followed by (, , and , respectively).
There have been proposals that the ''Om'' syllable may already have had written representations in Brahmi script, dating to before the Common Era. A proposal by Deb (1921) held that the ''swastika'' is a monogrammatic representation of the syllable ''Om'', wherein two Brahmi /o/ characters () were superposed crosswise and the 'm' was represented by dot. A commentary in ''Nature (journal), Nature'' (1922) considers this theory questionable and unproven. A. B. Walawalkar (1951) proposed that ''Om'' was represented using the Brahmi symbols for "A", "U", and "M" (), and that this may have influenced the unusual epigraphical features of the symbol for ''Om''. Henry Parker (author), Parker (1909) wrote that an "Aum monogram", distinct from the swastika, is found among Tamil-Brahmi Tamil inscriptions in Sri Lanka, inscriptions in Sri Lanka, including Anuradhapura Kingdom, Anuradhapura era coins, dated from the 1st to 4th centuries CE, which are embossed with ''Om'' along with other symbols.
East and Southeast Asia
The ''Om'' symbol, with epigraphical variations, is also found in many Southeast Asian countries. In Southeast Asia, the ''Om'' symbol is widely conflated with that of the unalome; originally a representation of the Buddha's urna curl and later a symbol of the path to nirvana, it is a popular yantra in Southest Asia, particularly in Cambodia and Thailand. It frequently appears in Yantra tattooing, ''sak yant'' religious tattoos, and has been a part of various flags and official emblems such as in the Royal Standard of Thailand#Fourth reign, Thong Chom Klao of Mongkut, King Rama IV () and the present-day royal arms of Cambodia. The Khmer people, Khmer adopted the symbol since the 1st century during the Funan, Kingdom of Funan, where it is also seen on artefacts from Angkor Borei and Phnom Da, Angkor Borei, once the capital of Funan. The symbol is seen on numerous Khmer statues from Chenla to Khmer Empire periods and still in used until the present day. In Chinese characters, ''Om'' is typically transliteration, transliterated as either :wikt:唵, 唵 () or :wikt:嗡, 嗡 ().Representation in various scripts
Northern Brahmic
Southern Brahmic
East Asian
Other
Hinduism
In Hinduism, ''Om'' is one of the most important spiritual sounds. The syllable is often found at the beginning and the end of chapters in the Vedas, the Upanishads, and other Hindu texts, and is often chanted either independently or before a mantra, as a sacred spiritual incantation made before and during the recitation of spiritual texts, during Puja (Hinduism), puja and private prayers, in ceremonies of rites of passages (Sanskara (rite of passage), sanskara) such as weddings, and during meditative and spiritual activities such as yoga.
It is the most sacred syllable symbol and mantra of Brahman, which is the ultimate reality, consciousness or Atman (Hinduism), Atman (Self within).
It is called the ''Shabda Brahman'' (Brahman as sound) and believed to be the primordial sound (''Pranava'') of the universe.
Vedas
''Om'' came to be used as a standard utterance at the beginning of mantras, chants or citations taken from the Vedas. For example, the Gayatri mantra, which consists of a verse from the Rigveda Samhita (Mandala 3, RV 3.62.10), is prefixed not just by ''Om'' but by ''Om'' followed by the formula ''bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ''.Monier Monier-Williams (1893), ''Indian Wisdom'', Luzac & Co., London, page 17 Such recitations continue to be in use in Hinduism, with many major incantations and ceremonial functions beginning and ending with ''Om''.Brahmanas
= Aitareya Brahmana
= The Aitareya Brahmana (7.18.13) explains ''Om'' as "an acknowledgment, melodic confirmation, something that gives momentum and energy to a hymn".Upanishads
= Chandogya Upanishad
= The Chandogya Upanishad is one of the oldest Upanishads of Hinduism. It opens with the recommendation that "let a man meditate on Om".Max MullerChandogya Upanishad
''The Upanishads'', Part I, Oxford University Press, pages 1-3 with footnotes It calls the syllable ''Om'' as ''udgitha'' (; song, chant), and asserts that the significance of the syllable is thus: the essence of all beings is earth, the essence of earth is water, the essence of water are the plants, the essence of plants is man, the essence of man is speech, the essence of speech is the Rigveda, the essence of the Rigveda is the Samaveda, and the essence of Samaveda is the ''udgitha'' (song, ''Om''). () is speech, states the text, and () is breath; they are pairs, and because they have love for each other, speech and breath find themselves together and mate to produce a song. The highest song is ''Om'', asserts section 1.1 of Chandogya Upanishad. It is the symbol of awe, of reverence, of threefold knowledge because ''Adhvaryu'' invokes it, the ''Hotr'' recites it, and ''Udgatr'' sings it.Paul Deussen, ''Sixty Upanishads of the Veda'', Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 68-70Patrick Olivelle (2014), ''The Early Upanishads'', Oxford University Press, , page 171-185 The second volume of the first chapter continues its discussion of syllable ''Om'', explaining its use as a struggle between ''Deva (Hinduism), Devas'' (gods) and ''Asuras'' (demons).Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 70-71 with footnotes Max Muller states that this struggle between gods and demons is considered allegorical by ancient Indian people, Indian scholars, as good and evil inclinations within man, respectively.Max Muller
Chandogya Upanishad
''The Upanishads'', Part I, Oxford University Press, pages 4-6 with footnotes The legend in section 1.2 of Chandogya Upanishad states that gods took the ''Udgitha'' (song of ''Om'') unto themselves, thinking, "with this ''song'' we shall overcome the demons".Robert Hume
Chandogya Upanishad
''The Thirteen Principal Upanishads'', Oxford University Press, pages 178-180 The syllable ''Om'' is thus implied as that which inspires the good inclinations within each person. Chandogya Upanishad's exposition of syllable ''Om'' in its opening chapter combines etymological speculations, symbolism, metric structure and philosophical themes. In the second chapter of the Chandogya Upanishad, the meaning and significance of ''Om'' evolves into a philosophical discourse, such as in section 2.10 where ''Om'' is linked to the Highest Self, and section 2.23 where the text asserts ''Om'' is the essence of three forms of knowledge, ''Om'' is Brahman and "Om is all this [observed world]".
= Katha Upanishad
= The Katha Upanishad is the legendary story of a little boy, Nachiketa, the son of sage , who meets Yama, the Vedic deity of death. Their conversation evolves to a discussion of the nature of man, knowledge, Ātman (Hinduism), Atman (Self) and moksha (liberation).Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 269-273 In section 1.2, Katha Upanishad characterises knowledge () as the pursuit of the good, and ignorance () as the pursuit of the pleasant.Max Muller (1962), Katha Upanishad, in The Upanishads – Part II, Dover Publications, , page 8 It teaches that the essence of the Veda is to make man liberated and free, look past what has happened and what has not happened, free from the past and the future, beyond good and evil, and one word for this essence is the word ''Om''.Paul Deussen, ''Sixty Upanishads of the Veda'', Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 284-286= Maitri Upanishad
=
The Maitrayaniya Upanishad in sixth ''Prapathakas'' (lesson) discusses the meaning and significance of ''Om''. The text asserts that ''Om'' represents Brahman-Atman. The three roots of the syllable, states the Maitri Upanishad, are ''A'' + ''U'' + ''M''.
The sound is the body of Self, and it repeatedly manifests in three:
* as gender-endowed body – feminine, masculine, neuter;
* as light-endowed body – Agni, Vayu, and Aditya;
* as deity-endowed body – Brahma, Rudra, and Vishnu;
* as mouth-endowed body – ''garhapatya'', ''dakshinagni'', and ''ahavaniya'';
* as knowledge-endowed body – Rigveda, Rig, Samaveda, Saman, and Yajurveda, Yajur;
* as world-endowed body – , , and ;
* as time-endowed body – past, present, and future;
* as heat-endowed body – Prana, breath, Agni (Ayurveda), fire, and Surya, Sun;
* as growth-endowed body – food, water, and Chandra, Moon;
* as thought-endowed body – Buddhi, intellect, Antahkarana, mind, and Citta, psyche.Maitri Upanishad – Sanskrit Text with English TranslationEB Cowell (Translator), Cambridge University, ''Bibliotheca Indica'', page 258-260 Brahman exists in two forms – the material form, and the immaterial formless. The material form is changing, unreal. The immaterial formless isn't changing, real. The immortal formless is truth, the truth is the Brahman, the Brahman is the light, the light is the Sun which is the syllable ''Om'' as the Self. The world is ''Om'', its light is Sun, and the Sun is also the light of the syllable ''Om'', asserts the Upanishad. Meditating on ''Om'', is acknowledging and meditating on the Brahman-Atman (Self).
= Mundaka Upanishad
=
The Mundaka Upanishad in the second ''Mundakam'' (part), suggests the means to knowing the Atman and the Brahman are meditation, self-reflection, and introspection and that they can be aided by the symbol ''Om''.
Adi Shankara, in his review of the Mundaka Upanishad, states ''Om'' as a symbolism for Atman (Hinduism), Atman (Self).
= Mandukya Upanishad
= The Mandukya Upanishad opens by declaring, "''Om''!, this syllable is this whole world". Thereafter, it presents various explanations and theories on what it means and signifies. This discussion is built on a structure of "four fourths" or "fourfold", derived from ''A'' + ''U'' + ''M'' + "silence" (or without an element).Paul Deussen, ''Sixty Upanishads of the Veda'', Volume 2, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 605-637 * ''Om'' as all states of Kāla, Time. *: In verse 1, the Upanishad states that time is threefold: the past, the present and the future, that these three are ''Om''. The four fourth of time is that which transcends time, that too is ''Om'' expressed. * ''Om'' as all states of Ātman (Hinduism), Ātman . *: In verse 2, states the Upanishad, everything is Brahman, but Brahman is Atman (the Self), and that the Atman is fourfold. Johnston summarizes these four states of Self, respectively, as seeking the physical, seeking inner thought, seeking the causes and spiritual consciousness, and the fourth state is realizing oneness with the Self, the Eternal.Charles JohnstonThe Measures of the Eternal – Mandukya Upanishad
Theosophical Quarterly, October, 1923, pages 158-162 * ''Om'' as all states of Consciousness. *: In verses 3 to 6, the Mandukya Upanishad enumerates four states of consciousness: wakeful, dream, deep sleep, and the state of ''ekatma'' (being one with Self, the oneness of Self). These four are ''A'' + ''U'' + ''M'' + "without an element" respectively. * ''Om'' as all of Vidya (philosophy), Knowledge. *: In verses 9 to 12, the Mandukya Upanishad enumerates fourfold etymological roots of the syllable ''Om''. It states that the first element of ''Om'' is ''A'', which is from ''Apti'' (obtaining, reaching) or from ''Adimatva'' (being first). The second element is ''U'', which is from ''Utkarsa'' (exaltation) or from ''Ubhayatva'' (intermediateness). The third element is ''M'', from ''Miti'' (erecting, constructing) or from ''Mi Minati, or apīti'' (annihilation). The fourth is without an element, without development, beyond the expanse of universe. In this way, states the Upanishad, the syllable Om is indeed the Atman (the self).
= Shvetashvatara Upanishad
= The Shvetashvatara Upanishad, in verses 1.14 to 1.16, suggests meditating with the help of syllable ''Om'', where one's perishable body is like one fuel-stick and the syllable ''Om'' is the second fuel-stick, which with discipline and diligent rubbing of the sticks unleashes the concealed fire of thought and awareness within. Such knowledge, asserts the Upanishad, is the goal of Upanishads.Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 308 The text asserts that ''Om'' is a tool of meditation empowering one to know the God within oneself, to realize one's Atman (Self).
= Ganapati Upanishad
= The Ganapati Atharvashirsa, Ganapati Upanishad asserts that Ganesha is same as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, all deities, the universe, and ''Om''.Ramayana
In Valmiki's Ramayana, Rama is identified with ''Om'', with Brahma saying to Rama:Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita, in the Epic Mahabharata, mentions the meaning and significance of ''Om'' in several verses. According to Jeaneane Fowler, verse 9.17 of the Bhagavad Gita synthesizes the competing dualistic and monist streams of thought in Hinduism, by using "''Om'' which is the symbol for the indescribable, impersonal Brahman".
The significance of the sacred syllable in the Hindu traditions, is similarly highlighted in other verses of the ''Gita'', such as verse 17.24 where the importance of ''Om'' during prayers, charity and meditative practices is explained as follows:
Puranas
The medieval era texts of Hinduism, such as the Puranas adopt and expand the concept of ''Om'' in their own ways, and to their own theistic sects.Vaishnava traditions
The Vaishnavism, Vaishnava ''Garuda Purana'' equates the recitation of ''Om'' with obeisance to Vishnu. According to the ''Vayu Purana'', ''Om'' is the representation of the Hindu Trimurti, and represents the union of the three gods, viz. ''A'' for Brahma, ''U'' for Vishnu and ''M'' for Shiva. The ''Bhagavata Purana'' (9.14.46-48) identifies the ''Pranava'' as the root of all Vedic mantras, and describes the combined letters of ''a-u-m'' as an invocation of seminal birth, Religious initiation rites, initiation, and the performance of sacrifice (yajña).Shaiva traditions
In Shaivism, Shaiva traditions, the ''Shiva Purana'' highlights the relation between deity Shiva and the ''Pranava'' or ''Om''. Shiva is declared to be ''Om'', and that ''Om'' is Shiva.
Shakta traditions
In the thealogy of Shaktism, Shakta traditions, ''Om'' connotes the female divine energy, Adi Parashakti, represented in the Tridevi: ''A'' for the creative energy (the Shakti of Brahma), Mahasaraswati, ''U'' for the preservative energy (the Shakti of Vishnu), Mahalakshmi, and ''M'' for the destructive energy (the Shakti of Shiva), Mahakali. The 12th book of the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' describes the Devi, Goddess as the mother of the Vedas, the ''Adya Shakti'' (primal energy, primordial power), and the essence of the Gayatri mantra.Other texts
Yoga Sutra
The aphoristic verse 1.27 of Pantanjali's ''Yogasutra'' links ''Om'' to Yoga practice, as follows: Charles Johnston (Theosophist), Johnston states this verse highlights the importance of ''Om'' in the meditative practice of yoga, where it symbolises the three worlds in the Self; the three times – past, present, and future eternity; the three divine powers – creation, preservation, and transformation in one Being; and three essences in one Spirit – immortality, omniscience, and joy. It is, asserts Johnston, a symbol for the perfected Spiritual Man.Chaitanya Charitamrita
In Krishnaism, Krishnava traditions, Krishna is revered as Svayam Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord himself, and ''Om'' is interpreted in light of this. According to the ''Chaitanya Charitamrita'', ''Om'' is the sound representation of the Supreme Lord. ''A'' is said to represent Bhagavan Krishna (Vishnu), ''U'' represents Srimati Radharani (Mahalakshmi), and ''M'' represents jiva, the Self of the devotee.Jainism
In Jainism, ''Om'' is considered a condensed form of reference to the Pañca-Parameṣṭhi by their initials ''A+A+A+U+M'' (').
The Dravyasamgraha quotes a Prakrit line:
By extension, the Om symbol is also used in Jainism to represent the first five lines of the Namokar Mantra, Namokar mantra, the most important part of the daily prayer in the Jain religion, which honours the ''Pañca-Parameṣṭhi''. These five lines are (in English): "(1.) veneration to the Arhats, (2.) veneration to the perfect ones, (3.) veneration to the masters, (4.) veneration to the teachers, (5.) veneration to all the monks in the world".
Buddhism
''Om'' is often used in some later schools of Buddhism, for example Tibetan Buddhism, which was influenced by Indian Hinduism and Tantra. In East Asian Buddhism, ''Om'' is often Transliteration, transliterated as the Chinese character (pinyin ') or (pinyin ').Tibetan Buddhism and Vajrayana
In Tibetan Buddhism, ''Om'' is often placed at the beginning of mantras and dharanis. Probably the most well known mantra is "Om mani padme hum", the six syllable mantra of the Bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteśvara. This mantra is particularly associated with the four-armed form of Avalokiteśvara. Moreover, as a seed syllable (''Bīja mantra''), ''Om'' is considered sacred and holy in Esoteric Buddhism.
Some scholars interpret the first word of the mantra to be , with a meaning similar to Hinduism – the totality of sound, existence, and consciousness.
has been described by the 14th Dalai Lama as "composed of three pure letters, A, U, and M. These symbolize the impure Three Vajras, body, speech, and mind of everyday unenlightened life of a practitioner; they also symbolize the pure exalted body, speech and mind of an enlightened Buddha". According to Simpkins, ''Om'' is a part of many mantras in Tibetan Buddhism and is a symbolism for wholeness, perfection, and the infinite.
Japanese Buddhism
''A-un''
The term is the transliteration in Japanese of the two syllables "''a''" and "", written in Devanagari as . In Japanese, it is often Conflation, conflated with the syllable ''Om''. The original Sanskrit term is composed of two letters, the first () and the last () letters of the Devanagari abugida, with Devanagari#Vowel diacritics, diacritics (including anusvara) on the latter indicating the "-" of "". Together, they symbolically represent the beginning and the end of all things. In Japanese ''Mikkyō'' Buddhism, the letters represent the beginning and the end of the universe. This is comparable to Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, similarly adopted by Christianity to symbolise Christ as the beginning and end of all. The term ''a-un'' is used figuratively in some Japanese expressions as or , indicating an inherently harmonious relationship or nonverbal communication.''Niō'' guardian kings and ''komainu'' lion-dogs
The term is also used in Japanese Buddhist architecture, Buddhist architecture and Shinto architecture, Shinto to describe the paired statues common in Japanese religious settings, most notably the Niō () and the ''komainu'' (). One (usually on the right) has an open mouth regarded by Buddhists as symbolically speaking the "A" syllable; the other (usually on the left) has a closed mouth, symbolically speaking the "Un" syllable. The two together are regarded as saying "''A-un''". The general name for statues with an open mouth is , that for those with a closed mouth . Niō statues in Japan, and their equivalent in East Asia, appear in pairs in front of Buddhist Torana, temple gates and stupas, in the form of two fierce looking guardian kings (''Vajrapani''). Komainu, also called lion-dogs, found in Japan, Korea and China, also occur in pairs before Buddhist temples and public spaces, and again, one has an open mouth (''Agyō''), the other closed (''Ungyō'').Sikhism
''Ik Onkar'' ( pa, ਇੱਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ; iconically represented as ) are the first words of the Mul Mantar, which is the opening verse of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture. Combining the numeral one ("''Ik''") and "''Onkar''", ''Ik Onkar'' literally means "one ''Om ''";Mahinder Gulati (2008), Comparative Religious And Philosophies : Anthropomorphlsm And Divinity, Atlantic, , pages 284-285 these words are a statement that there is "one God", understood to refer to the "absolute Monotheism, monotheistic unity of God" and implying "singularity in spite of the seeming multiplicity of existence".
According to Pashaura Singh, ''Onkar'' is used frequently as invocation in Sikh scripture; it is the foundational word (''Shabda, shabad''), the seed of Sikh scripture, and the basis of the "whole creation of time and space".
''Ik Onkar'' is a significant Names of God#Sikhism, name of God in the Guru Granth Sahib and Gurbani, states Kohli, and occurs as "''Aum''" in the Upanishads and where it is understood as the abstract representation of three worlds (''Trailokya'') of Creationism, creation. According to Wazir Singh, ''Onkar'' is a "variation of ''Om'' (''Aum'') of the ancient Indian scriptures (with a change in its orthography), implying the unifying ''seed-force'' that evolves as the universe". However, in Sikhism, ''Onkar'' is interpreted differently than in other Indian religions; ''Onkar'' refers directly to the creator of ultimate reality and consciousness, and not to the creation. Guru Nanak wrote a poem entitled ''Onkar'' in which, states Doniger, he "attributed the origin and sense of speech to the Divinity, who is thus the Om-maker".
Thelema
For both symbolic and English Qabalah, numerological reasons, Aleister Crowley adapted ''aum'' into a Thelema, Thelemic magical formula, ''AUMGN'', adding a silent 'g' (as in the word 'gnosis') and a nasal 'n' to the ''m'' to form the Trigraph (orthography), compound letter 'MGN'; the 'g' makes explicit the silence previously only implied by the terminal 'm' while the 'n' indicates nasal vocalisation connoting the breath of life and together they connote knowledge and generation. Together these letters, ''MGN'', have a numerological value of Thelema#93, 93, a number with Polysemy, polysemic significance in Thelema. ''Om'' appears in this extended form throughout Crowley's Ceremonial magic, magical and philosophical writings, notably appearing in the ''Liber XV, The Gnostic Mass, Gnostic Mass''. Crowley discusses its symbolism briefly in section F of ''Liber Samekh'' and in detail in chapter 7 of ''Magick (Book 4)''.Modern reception
The Brahmic script ''Om''-ligature has become widely recognized in Western counterculture since the 1960s, mostly in its standard Devanagari form (), but the Tibetan alphabet ''Om'' () has also gained limited currency in popular culture.In meditation
Meditating and chanting of ''Om'' can be done by first concentrating on a picture of ''Om'' and then effortlessly mentally chanting the mantra. Meditating and mental chanting have been said to improve the physiological state of the person by increasing alertness and sensory sensitivity.See also
* A in Buddhism * Beej Mantra * Religious symbolNotes
References
Bibliography
* * * * * * * * * {{sister bar, auto=yes, wikt=ॐ Brahmic graphemes Hindu philosophical concepts Buddhist symbols Hindu symbols Jain symbols Sikh symbols Buddhist mantras Hindu mantras Jain mantras Thelema Om mantras