Om- The Sound Of Eternity

SIGNIFICANCE OF “OM”—The Ultimate Word

In the path of spiritual development, meditation is one of the basic practices. For a beginner this is generally achieved by directing one’s attention or mind on a symbol which could be in the form of an image of a chosen God or Goddess or the magic syllable ‘OM’, also known as Pranava. OM is the simplest syllable but is regarded as the most powerful, as OM represents the very essence of all the Vedas. It is said that when Lord Brahma, the Creator, was asked to state the essence of all the Vedas briefly, he said the ‘Gayatri Mantra’. On being further requested that this Mantra is also long to help in meditation, Brahma said ‘OM’ since it contains the gist of all the Vedas. In the Kathopanishad, Lord Yama tells Nachiketas “It is THAT which all the Vedas affirm with one voice, that which is implicit in all the austerities, that desiring the attainment of which people practice a life of continence and sacrifice. Briefly it is OM”

There is no sound or sign more powerful than OM in the Indian context. It is neither a word nor a letter and hence there is nothing semantic about it. It represents an esoteric and spiritual character. All religions of Indian origin, including Buddhism and Jainism hold it on the highest esteem. For the Jaina devotees ‘OM” constitutes the most one-lettered Mantra, as is evident from their prayer ‘Om Namo Arihantanam’ etc. It is described in the Upanishads as the ‘One undying sound’ [Ekakshara] and is regarded as holy as the Brahman. It is the picture or symbol of the transcendental reality. In short, OM is the easiest of all Mantras which is suitable for contemplation and concentration.

The traditional notion that it is constituted by three sounds A, U, and M is to be understood in the context of these sound-units. The unit A is traditionally regarded as symbolizing Vishnu, the very first outpouring of the Divine and the rock on which all transactions rest. In other words, it represents Srishti or creation. The second unit U represents flowing forth, emanation, survival, continuation, and preservation, integration of word and meaning, transaction. The final unit M denotes closing up, withdrawal. Comprehension, dissolution. In simple language, the letter A represents beginning, U represents progress and M represents dissolution. Hence OM represents that power which is responsible for Srishti [creation], Sthithi [Preservation] and Pralaya [dissolution] of this universe, that is God Himself.

OM is within every living being, moving all things in the body in a variety of ways It is this fact that Lord Krishna emphasizes in the Bhagavadgitha when he says:
“Ishwarah Sarvabhoothanam Hriddeshe Arjuna Tishthati” which means ‘Oh Arjuna,
Ishwara resides in the spiritual heart of every living being”. The Upanishad asks us to look upon our very self as OM and contemplate on it. We are assured that this will take us beyond the darkness of transactional existence. This point has been beautifully explained in the form of imagery by the Svetasvatara Upanishad. It refers to the ancient custom of lighting the sacrificial fire [Agni] by rubbing one fuel-stick by another fuel- stick placed above it. One’s own body [individual existence] is the fuel stick; one must place on it another fuel stick that OM is and then rub. This rubbing is the meditation; it will bring out the Brahman who is like the fire hidden in the fuel stick, concealed in one’s own existence and brought out by friction. To make the analogy more clear, Brahman is an integral part of every living being just like the oil in Til, [Sesamum seed or Ellu as we call it in Kannada] or the ghee in curds. Just as efforts are required to get oil out of seasamum and the ghee out of butter, efforts like meditation are necessary to realize Brahman residing in one’s own self.
OM is also called ’Pranava’ because it is the most excellent eulogy of Brahman. Omkara is linked up in later tradition with Veda intimately and invariably. There is an injunction by Manu in his Manusmruthi that OM must be uttered before reciting a Mantra and also after the completion of the Mantra. The prior utterance of OM will prevent the leaking away of the potent power of the Mantra and the later utterance will help preserve the Mantra’s power intact. This is technically known as ‘Samputa’. There is also a scriptural revelation that OM and Atha are the very first two sounds which were uttered originally by Brahma. Hence both of them are considered sacred and auspicious. Even the very first sutra of Brahma Sutras starts as “Athato Brahma Jigjnaasa”

In the Belur Math at Calcutta consecrated by Swami Vivekananda more than 100 years ago, there stands a beautiful structure, indicating the spot where the Swamiji’s mortal remains were created. In this room, on the ground level there is a marble statue of the Swamiji and on the room upstairs we find a metallic representation of OM. When alone, Swami Vivekananda often used to come here and chant OM followed by ‘Namah Shivaya’, the Shiva Panchakshari Mantra. This Mantra, it is said, was of immense help to the Swamiji, both while entering into the realm of super-consciousness and also while coming down to the realm of the relative world.

Almost all the great sages, saints, singers and Satpurushas of our country, always and at all times, have held the Omkara in highest reverence. Acharya Shankara in one of his well-known devotional compositions, ‘Navaratna Malika’, a stotra in praise of the Divine Mother, starts the composition with the words ‘Omkara Panjara Shukim’. The great Carnatic music composer Tyagaraja, in his famous song ‘Mokshamu Galata’ refers to Pranava Nada which manifests itself as the Sapta Swaras or the Seven Notes. Another famous music composer,, Muthuswamy Dikshitar, attributes Pranava to divine manifestation and further refers to the Lord in his composition ‘Vatapi Ganapathi’ as ‘Pranava Swarupam’. He praises Shiva as Omkara Roopam Shivam. Also, he refers to the Temple Vimana of Lord Ranganatha in his song ‘Ranganayakam’ as being in the shape of Pranava. Even our great patriot and poet from Tamil Nadu, Subramanya Bharathi, derives his inspiration and power from OM which he regards as Parashakti in his song ‘Om Shakthi’

It is therefore no wonder that the well-known Western scholar in Sanskrit, Sir John Woodroffe, has remarked “The ancient Hindus have an aptitude, much to be appreciated in these verbose days, of saying a great deal in a few words. The Mantra OM is an instance. For, this short syllable contains a whole philosophy which many volumes would not suffice to state. It is for this reason that the Eastern philosophy, I may add, is gaining increased support from Western sciences”

B.M.N.Murthy


ARTICLE NO. 492--THE SIGNIFICANCE of "OM"
Created: Friday, March 6, 2009 8:18 PM