AUM or the symbol ॐ represents the Supreme Brahman or the Supreme Self. AUM is a potent word-symbol used during meditation. AUM is also called “Pranava” derived from word Prana which means that which goes through “Prana” or breath or life force! During the Vedic period, Fire was used as idol to invoke the Gods. Today, our temples have stone & metal idols in different forms as the main deity. But the subtlest idol among all of them is SOUND! Only one of our five sense organs (Ear) can experience it. It is because of this subtle nature of sound that Hindu Gods & Goddesses are shown holding instruments that produce SOUND.
Sound is the only property of Space:
Pancha Bhutas or The Five Elements have already been discussed in my previous blog. Space is unique, as it has only one Tanmatra (Object of Perception) which is Sound! Remaining four elements have more than one object of perception. Therefore, Sound is the most subtle sense of perception.
“An individual with a desire to speak encourages the mind. The mind strikes the heat (fire or the purifier) center at the navel, which then pushes the air (wind) which is the carrier of sound. The sound as energy (Naada) then gradually moves up through stomach, heart, throat, mouth (all these are Spaces within our body) as audible sound (Shabda)” – Ganarahasya Prakashini (Courtesy Prof M G Prasad).
Brahma Sutras say Space is “Ākāśastalingat”- meaning Space (ākāśa) is Brahman, for Brahman’s indicatory mark (Linga) is evident. Why is Space understood as Brahman? Because all things originate in space; and they also merge by moving towards space. Upanishads also say all things originate from the supreme Brahman. In Rig Veda 1.164.39 (Pls. refer my blog “Understanding Vedas”) says that Vedas exist in Vyoman (Sky or Brahman) and in That all divine powers of existence subsist.
Please click here for a video by Prof. MG Prasad that shows how Sound plays an important role in the chanting of Sanskrit Mantras. (Use 1.5x speed)
What do the Upanishads say about AUM?
We will look at a few of the Upanishads such as Brhad-aranyaka, Chāndogya & Mandukya that give us insights into AUM.
1. Brhad-Aranyaka Upanishad:
Brhad-Aranyaka (means, of the great forest) Upanishad from Shukla Yajurveda is the longest and most important & revered Upanishad. Reading it is like walking into a forest with different paths leading to areas that give us profound knowledge. Chapter V says “AUM Kham Brahma” which means “Space is Brahman which is a form of AUM” (Kham means Space or Ether). AUM is that Kham (Space) – the eternal Space!
2. Chandogya Upanishad:
Chandogya Upanishad from Sama Veda begins with AUM and says; we should chant AUM as if we are worshipping Brahman as it is the symbol of Brahman! This is called Udgītha which is a loud chant beginning with AUM. (A priest of Sama Veda is called Udgatr, Rig Veda priest is called a Hotr, Yajur Veda Priest is called Adhvaryu & Atharva Veda priest is called Brahman as this Veda is also known as Brahma Veda). When we chant AUM with a devout & pure mind and the right spirit, we can direct our focus towards Brahman. One should meditate on the syllables of Udgitha – ut,gi & tha. Samaveda is ut, Yajurveda is gī & Rig Veda is tha which are known as trayīm vidyām, threefold knowledge or the three Vedas.
Gods, when they were afraid of death took refuge in this threefold knowledge and covered themselves in metres. Hence metres are called Chandas (Chad means to cover and Chandas is one of the six Vedangas). Chandogya Upanishad 1.4.3 says “Just as one would see a fish in water, so did Death observe the Gods in the (rites connected with) Rig, Saman and Yajus. The Gods knowing this, arose from the Rik, Saman and Yajus, and entered the Svaram (the syllable AUM)”. Svaram refers to sound, the syllable AUM. So whoever takes refuge in AUM which is an immortal, fearless sound, having merged in it, becomes immortal just as the Gods became immortal!
3. Mandukya Upanishad:
Mandukya Upanishad is from Atharvaveda, which is shortest of all major Upanishads and it has 12 verses on AUM. Adi Shankara a well Known Vedic scholar who lived in the 8th century, says that if one could only study a single Upanishad, it should be this one! The first verse is given below:
The second verse says “āyam ātma brahma” meaning “Self is Brahman” and is considered as one of the 4 Mahavakyas or “great sayings”. The remaining verses pivot around the 3 States of Consciousness & the Absolute Fourth, which has already been discussed in my previous blog.
Quick Recap: The 3 phases are the Waking, Dreaming & Deep Sleep states. A (अ) is the Waking State where are turn our senses outward with an awareness of the external world (outward moving consciousness), known as “Vaishvanara”. U (उ) is dream state when our senses are tuned inward (inward moving consciousness) where we reflect on past deeds & desires, known as “Taijasa”, M (म) is the deep sleep state where there is nothingness (there no perception of either the external or the internal world but only peace), known as “Prajna”. (‘Nothingness” does not mean emptiness, but it is the “Seed” body)
Together AUM is known as “Turiya or the Fourth” which stands for the super conscious state. Turiya is the essence of knowledge of self, non-dual, cannot be understood using our senses. Turiya is the Supreme Self and is to be known! Guru Gaudapāda says: eka eva tridhā smrtah which means it is the one alone who is known in three states. Thus, the 3 letters AUM are used only when these 3 states of consciousness are described.
Should we chant OM or AUM?
There is confusion whether to chant OM or AUM. Which is correct? The answer is simple. As discussed in the Mandukya Upanishad above, AUM is used only when we describe the 3 states of consciousness, which leads to the Fourth state of Turiya or the super conscious state. Also, the proper way to write OM is AUM. Therefore AUM is used in both of the above occasions.
In Sanskrit grammar, A (अ) and U (उ) when joined together produce the sound O (ओ). This is called Sandhi in Sanskrit which means joining together. The sound “O” covers both A & U. Therefore A, U & M together is pronounced as OM during chanting (Thus, OM consists of three syllables A.U.M). (Example: My name is Surendra, is the Sandhi of Sur + Indra)
“A” is the sound that comes from base of the throat and when it passes through the mouth with slightly open lips it becomes “U” and when the lips close it becomes “M”. There is no sound beyond our throat & lips. This is further clarified beautifully in the video: OM vs AUM – Which is Correct? (<pls. click here for the video)
OM chanted during Meditation
One of the ways of Meditation involves chanting the OM mantra in our mind. (Other mantras can also be used, but OM is said to be the mother of all mantras). Our mind is like wild horses, very difficult to restrain and it keeps on wandering aimlessly. So it has to be continuously trained to keep “still”. This comes only through regular practice. When the mind starts to wander, we use our intellect to bring it back into the single pointed chant of OM.
Between the two chants of OM, there is a brief silence known as Amātra, the soundless form of OM or Supreme Consciousness. As we continue to meditate, our intellect then starts to differentiate between OM & Amātra. During the peak of this meditation, we must stop the chant. We then enter into a state of complete silence where there is nothing to differentiate. Our Mind & Intellect merge into this complete silence. This merger is the “hallowed moment” of self-realization. Therefore, OM is considered the most powerful word symbol used during meditation. (An excerpt on the meditation technique, as explained by Swami Parthasarathy)
Indeed, easy to explain but extremely difficult to achieve!
References: Translations of Upanishads from “The Principal Upanishads” by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Most useful knowledge ..
Thank you Ramesh.