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 Aum
(also Om, ॐ) is the most sacred syllable in
Hinduism, in which
Vedic tradition it originated. The
syllable is sometimes referred to as the "Udgitha" or "pranava mantra"
(primordial mantra); not only because it is considered to be the primal
sound, but also because most mantras begin with it.
As a seed syllable (bija), it is also considered holy in Esoteric
Buddhism.
In Devanagari it is written ॐ (Unicode
U+0950) and in Tibetan script ༀ (Unicode U+0F00).
Origin: 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.
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
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 reminiscent 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 imminent 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
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
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
ༀ 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". |
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