OM is one of the most chanted sounds in India; it has a profound effect on the body and mind of those who chant it as well as the surroundings. Most mantra and vedic prayers start with OM. It is even used as a greeting – OM, Hari OM.
It is repeated as a mantra or meditated upon. Its forms is worshipped, contemplated upon or used as an auspicious sign. So why do we chant OM?
OM is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the letters A (phonetically as in ‘around’), U (phonetically as in ‘put’) and M (phonetically as in ‘mum’). The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as ‘A’. With the coming together of the lips, ‘U’ is formed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in ‘M’.
The three letters symbolise the three states (waking, dreaming and deep sleep), the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) and the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah and Suvah).
The Lord is all these and beyond. The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between two OM chants. OM is also called pranava, which means ‘that (symbol or sound) by which the Lord is praised’. The entire essence of the vedas is enshrined in the word OM.
It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting OM and atha. Hence its sound is considered to create an auspicous beginning for any task that we undertake. The OM chant should have the resounding sound of a bell (aaooommm). It fills the mind with peace, makes it focussed and replete with subtle sound. People meditate on its meaning and attain realisation.
OM is written in different ways in different places. The most common form of OM symbolises Lord Ganesha – the upper curve is the head, the large one the stomach, the side one the trunk and the semi-circular mark with the dot are the sweetmeat ball (modaka) in Lord Ganesha’s hand.
Thus OM symbolises everything – the means and the goal of life, the world and the Truth behind it, the material and the Sacred, and all forms and the formless.