
Have you ever ever observed how your breath settles after a bodily exercise or at bedtime after an extended, busy day? These quiet moments are sometimes after we actually join with our interior selves.
If you pay shut consideration to your breath, you might really feel delicate sensations transferring by your physique. On the centre of this expertise, there’s a mild vibration- the sound of OM.
In Hindu philosophy, Brahma, the creator of the universe, was the one presence earlier than something existed. From Brahma’s want “to develop into many,” a vibration emerged. This vibration settled into the primordial sound we all know as OM, and from this sound, the universe – the final word actuality got here into existence.
What’s OM?
OM, written because the Sanskrit syllable ॐ, carries an enormous and highly effective resonance. It’s the sound believed to pervade the complete universe. Within the context of mantras, OM is named a bija or seed mantra.
As a seed mantra, OM is commonly used to activate the crown chakra and is positioned at the start of many saguna mantras mantras which have type, that means, and a selected manifestation. As a result of OM offers rise to those saguna mantras, it is usually thought to be nirguna an unmanifest sound that exists past the three gunas.
Some examples of saguna mantras that come up from OM embody:
- Om shanti shanti shanti om
- Om namah shivaya
- Om gan ganapataye namah

In easy phrases, OM is the prana you breathe, the essence behind the whole lot you understand, and the depth of your consciousness itself. It represents the primary vibration from which the complete universe emerged.
OM that means & interpretations
Since OM is nirguna (with out attributes), it doesn’t have a hard and fast, single that means. Nonetheless, for understanding and interpretation, OM has been defined in numerous methods.
The syllable OM comes from the Sanskrit phrase Omkara (ओंकार). It’s also generally known as Pranava, which suggests “to bow to the divine with folded fingers.” Pranava represents the final word actuality of the universe.
In hinduism, OM signifies
- Atman – the soul or the self
- Brahman – the supreme reality, the divine
- The union of the three gods or the three gunas
In Jainism, OM represents
- The 5 supreme beings (Pañca-Parameṣṭhi) — Arihant, Ashiri, Acharya, Upadhyaya, and Muni (A, A, A, U, M → AUM)
In Sikhism, OM refers to
- Ik Onkar – the One God, typically seen because the divine inventive pressure
Origin and Historical past
How can we hint the origin of one thing that’s itself thought of the origin of the whole lot? This query completely displays the character of OM.
Though OM is considered as timeless, its earliest written reference seems within the Upanishads, the traditional Sanskrit texts that type the inspiration of non secular data in Hinduism.
‘The Vayu Purana describes OM as a logo of the Hindu trinity, exhibiting the unity of three cosmic capabilities:
- A for Brahma — the creator
- U for Vishnu — the preserver
- M for Shiva — the destroyer
These three sounds additionally correspond to the three historic Vedas – Rigveda, Samaveda, and Yajurveda additional emphasising OM’s sacred significance.
The Mandukya Upanishad explains OM because the primordial sound that initiated the universe. Earlier than creation, Brahman (absolute actuality) existed alone. The divine intention “to develop into many” produced the primary vibration, which unfolded into sound. This sound grew to become generally known as OM, the seed from which the universe emerged.
Upanishad perspective of OM
Within the Mandukya Upanishad, the sages describe OM as a robust instrument for realising the final word actuality of the self. Based on this textual content, each particular person experiences three dimensions of notion:
- Waking and the waker’s world – the bodily world we understand by the 5 senses
- Dreaming and the dreamer’s world – the interior world we expertise by impressions and digital senses throughout goals
- Deep sleep and darkness – the state the place we encounter silence, stillness, and the expertise of “nothingness”
Past these three states lies a fourth dimension a pure, undisturbed consciousness that witnesses all experiences but stays untouched by them. That is the true Self.
The sound of OM symbolically accommodates these 4 dimensions.
- The sound “Ahhh” (A) represents the waking state.
- The sound “Ouuu” (U) represents the dreaming state.
- The sound “Mmmm” (M) represents the deep sleep state.
However there may be additionally the silence that follows the “M” sound. This silence shouldn’t be empty; it symbolises the fourth state the pure Self that transcends waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. By means of repeated chanting of OM, one turns into extra conscious of this interior actuality.
Because of this, OM is commonly described as Atman (the interior soul), Brahman (the final word actuality), and even the sound of God. In assist of this view, Patanjali refers to OM within the Yoga Sutras:
His phrase is Om.
YSP 1.27
4 Elements of the OM image

The image of OM holds the data of the universe inside its type. Many teachings say that the final word aim of human life is hidden on this sacred image.
When examined carefully, OM has 4 key parts
- Three curved shapes
- One semicircle
- One dot
1. The three curves of OM
- Decrease Curve – Waking State (Jagrati): The decrease, bigger curve represents the waking state. Right here, consciousness flows outward by the senses. Its measurement exhibits that that is the most typical and dominant state for most individuals.
- Center Curve – Dreaming State (Swapna): The center curve represents the dreaming state, which lies between waking and deep sleep. On this state, consciousness strikes inward. With eyes closed, the practitioner enters an interior world to discover the self extra deeply.
- Higher Curve – Deep Sleep (Sushupti): The higher curve symbolises the deep sleep state, the place there are not any needs and no goals. This can be a quiet, undisturbed stage of consciousness.
2. The dot on the prime
The dot represents Turiya, the fourth state of consciousness. On this state, consciousness is neither turned inward nor outward. It’s a state of pure relaxation, peace, and bliss the final word aim of non secular observe. Turiya additionally illuminates and helps the opposite three states.
3. The semicircle between the curves and the dot
The semicircle symbolises Maya, the barrier that forestalls us from realising the best state of bliss. It separates the person from Turiya. Nonetheless, the house between the semicircle and the dot exhibits that the best state stays untouched and unaffected by Maya.
On this means, the OM image fantastically reveals the hidden objective of life and the character of the universe.
Elemental sounds in om
OM is taken into account the unique vibration of the universe. It displays each Atman (the interior self) and Brahman (the supreme reality). When pronounced, OM divides into three sounds, and every carries a selected that means.
1. Ah
The sound “Ah” arises at the start of the mantra. It represents Brahma, the creator. This sound pertains to the waking state and connects our gross consciousness to the decrease a part of the physique.
2. Ooh
The center sound “Ooh” attracts the practitioner deeper inward. It represents Vishnu, the preserver. This sound pertains to the dreaming state and connects our delicate consciousness to the center a part of the physique.
3. Mm
The ultimate sound “Mm” fades gently and leads the practitioner towards the supreme state. It represents Shiva, the destroyer. This sound is linked to the deep sleep state and connects our causal consciousness to the higher a part of the physique.
Why Do We Chant OM?
Most sounds and speech are produced by transferring the tongue. Nonetheless, after we chant OM, the three sounds Aa, Ooh, and Mm — are created clearly with out transferring the tongue. This makes OM essentially the most primary and elementary sound in existence.
Our inside organs are extremely delicate to the vibrations generated by these three sounds. Since OM is taken into account the sound of creation, chanting it turns into a means of expressing gratitude to the supply of all life.
Trendy science additionally means that the whole lot in existence is a type of reverberation. Wherever there may be vibration, there may be sound — and wherever there may be sound, creation follows.
Simply as a tv makes use of three major color webs to create thousands and thousands of shades, the three sounds of OM mix to provide numerous energetic expressions.
- The sound “Aa” is common. It begins deep within the decrease physique, close to the navel, the place the 72,000 nadis (power channels) meet on the Manipura Chakra. Chanting “Aa” creates a vibration that spreads all through the complete system.
- The sound “Ooh” expands the vibration upward by the physique.
- The sound “Mm” creates a mild, soothing vibration within the higher areas, particularly the pinnacle.
Every sound prompts a distinct dimension of the power system. Collectively, they stimulate and harmonise the entire physique. Sound not solely shapes our feelings — it might probably remodel the complete interior state.
For this reason chanting OM is taken into account a science: it helps life unfold inside you in its highest depth and deepest magnificence.
Advantages of Chanting OM

OM is a sound whose vibrations are believed to pervade the complete universe. Chanting OM in meditation provides numerous advantages on bodily, psychological, and emotional ranges. With common observe, this sacred syllable can deliver highly effective modifications to at least one’s life.
1. OM Cleanses the Surrounding
Chanting OM advantages not solely the practitioner but additionally the surroundings. The sacred vibrations produced through the chant assist dispel adverse energies and keep a constructive environment. For this reason many conventional areas use OM chanting to purify and energise the environment.
2. Reduces stress and nervousness
Based on analysis, common OM chanting throughout meditation helps scale back stress and nervousness.
The vibrations activate particular centres and vagus nerve pathways, that are recognized to calm the nervous system. OM chanting additionally influences the endocrine system, serving to regulate the chemical substances that contribute to emphasize and nervousness.
3. Strengthens the spinal twine
Chanting OM in a seated posture with a straight backbone has a constructive impact on the spinal twine.
The sound “Aa” originates close to the navel—near the spinal area—and its vibrations journey upward. These vibrations stimulate the nerves alongside the spinal twine, supporting higher operate and total energy.
4. Improves the digestive system
The digestive system is carefully related to the vagus nerve, which begins within the medulla of the brainstem.
OM chanting stimulates this nerve, serving to regulate digestive exercise. Many practitioners report higher digestion and lowered digestive discomfort with constant chanting.
5. Maintains the thythmic exercise of the center
Chanting OM has a naturally calming impact on the center.
The sound “Ooh” rises from the navel in direction of the higher physique and spreads by the chest area. This vibration helps the center’s pure rhythm and promotes a balanced cardiac cycle.
6. Reduces fatigue by growing oxygen ranges within the blood
A 14-year-old Indian scholar found by her analysis that chanting OM can assist scale back fatigue.
Her examine was impressed by seeing clergymen in Uttarakhand stroll lengthy distances whereas chanting OM repeatedly. She noticed that the rhythmic chanting improved oxygen ranges within the blood, which helped scale back tiredness and assist bodily endurance.
OM Chanting FAQ’S
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What number of instances ought to I chant the OM mantra?
You received’t be harmed by over uttering or repeating this mantra. Nonetheless, 108 time OM chanting is taken into account as the best one. But when time is the problem, then one can chant 11 or 21 instances for the comfort.
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What if I chant the OM mantra in being pregnant?
Garbha sanskar is an historic Indian ayurvedic observe, which is carried out to form the bodily, emotional and non secular points of the unborn youngster. Chanting OM mantra generates the constructive vibrations that calm the mom and the infant as properly. Chanting this sacred syllable helps in constructing the pure surroundings for the infant within the mom’s womb.
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Daybreak or nightfall, what’s the greatest time to chant the OM mantra?
Usually one can observe the OM mantra at any time, however some mounted timing by the traditional sages is good in method. Brahmamahurta (4 a.m), transition interval or when the night time is popping into the dawn (daybreak and nightfall or dawn), when the day is popping into night time. These among the timing when you’ll be able to observe OM mantra chanting.
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Can I chant OM mantra whereas touring or whereas sitting in an workplace?
Sure, you’ll be able to! There isn’t a downside in chanting the OM mantra whereas touring or whereas sitting within the workplace. Nonetheless, OM chanting improves your temper and makes you are feeling extra alive at given locations. This helps in a contented journey and a productive day on the workplace.
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What needs to be the place of my physique whereas chanting OM mantra?
Based on the traditional yogis, a sitting place with an erect backbone is taken into account as the best place for the mantra chanting. This may be achieved by the Yogic poses, for instance, Padmasana (lotus pose).
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My child needs to chant the OM mantra. What ought to I do?
You need to be glad that he/she needs to observe the sacred syllable, which goes to form his/her within the numerous points of life. There isn’t a age restriction in practising OM mantra chanting. Any age particular person can observe OM chanting.
