I am well aware thatthe ekakshara is often written asom and pronounced as ohm. That’s fine, but here I would like to explore the significance in Sanatan Dharma. I hope you will find something of use.Here is a link to a good source:
[link= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum ] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum [/link]
However, IMO, for Hindus there is only one correct spelling to indicate the correct rendition of the pranab. The rendition goes thus:
a - (as in call) - indicating a conscious or waking state - originating near the navel, emerging from the throat, lips open and rounded.
u - (as in put) – indicating a semi-conscious or dreaming state - rolling over the tongue, lips still open, but nearly closed
m - (as in loom) - indicating an unconscious or sleeping state - emerging from the throat, lips closed.
~ - indicating a super-conscious or ‘turiya’ state - a silent pause, between in-breath and out-breath or vice versa.
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."
In fact, when correctly rendered,
the "a" can be felt as a vibration that manifests itself near the navel or abdomen, symbolising Creation.
the "u" can be felt vibrating the chest, represents Preservation (the lungs sustain or preserve the body through breath); and
the "m" vibrates the cranium or the head, representing Destruction, since all that one renounces is first destroyed mentally.
The pause of reflection is silent, because it represents the Absolute, without qualities or form, Indescribable and unutterable. For convenience, I have assigned it the symbol ~.
Hence, the entire cycle of the cosmos and all it contains is said to be symbolised in aum~.
For Hindus, aum~ is the finest mantra there can be. No wonder then that the Gayatri, also called savitri, is double protected by it, at the beginning and the end. It is a wonderful tool for meditation. Even for Buddhists, using om or ohm if you prefer.
But of course, the secret of success in meditation is REGULARITY. As has been said “A diamond is a piece of coal that never gave up.” Or the m
RE: aum~, the pranab, or the udgitA
Hi all,
Given its central importance, there are many references to the pranab in Sanatan Dharma. It might be useful to summarise some of them.
- Mandukya Upanishad (in just 8 verses) and Karika or Agamashastra by Gaudapada
define the pranab most explicitly.
- Mundaka Upanishad 2:2 esp 2:2:4-6
“The Syllable aum~ is the bow: one’s self is the arrow. Brahman is the target. It is to be hit with unerring accuracy.. Thus one becomes united with it as the arrow becomes one with the target.” That faultless aim, aum~ will ensure.
- Prashna Upanishad; Fifth Question:
“Rishi PippalAda said to SatyakAma, son of Shibi:
The intelligent know the world that is attainable by Rk mantras, the intermediate space by Yajur mantras, and that which is reached by the sAma mantras. The enlightened attains that threefold world through aum^ alone. Through aum~ as an aid is reached the Supreme reality that is quiet and beyond old age, death and fear. (Buddhists might recognise aspects of nirvAna here)
- Taittiriya Upanishad Part 1 Chapter 8.
“aum~” is Brahman. “aum~” is all this.
He who utters “aum~” with the intention ‘I shall attain Brahman’ does attain Brahman.”
- Chandogya Upanishad Chapters 1-4, e.g see 1.3-5
“One should meditate on the breath in the mouth as the udgitha, for it is continually sounding “aum~” Since our soul is always breathing “aum~” , by intoning “aum~” in time with the breath we put ourselves in tune with the very wellspring of our existence, linking up with our inmost consciousness.
“the udgitha is the Pranava. What is Pranava is the udgitha. Negative karma is a major concern of those who seek liberation, for it ties us to the wheel of constant birth and death.
- Katha Upanishad 1:2:15-18 - Death said to NaciketA
Though absolute Unity, God is seemingly dual: transcendent and immanent, with form and without form, with qualities and without qualities, “higher” and “lower” Brahman. So the upanishad says: “aum~” , indeed, is the Lower Brahman; this is, indeed, the Higher Brahman. Anyone who, meditating on “aum~” wishes either of the Two [aspects], by him that is attained.” “aum~” is both transcendent and immanent. In whichever plane we wish to abide, “aum~” is the basis, the illuminator, the key to comprehension and mastery. Furthermore, we can meditate on God with Form (Saguna Brahman) and God without Form (Nirguna Brahman), God with attributes and God beyond attributes, with a single mantra: “aum~”
- Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
[size=