Skip to main content

What is Om? Significance of Om in Hinduism

Are you wondering what is Om and its significance in Hinduism? Consider how every Guru Sampradaya reveres ‘AUM’ as integral to the path of self-realisation.  Almost every mantra has 'Om' in it, doesn't it? It is believed that starting your early morning chanting 'AUM' or listening to the chant can transform your energy. It is important to be aware that the actual sound of the chant is A-U-M though we often write or refer to it as 'Om'.


[Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: https://svara.substack.com/]



Why is Om most powerful?

The sound of 'AUM' is often referred to as 'Pranava'. As Swami Vivekananda once said while describing the splendour of this word as "The only possible symbol wich covers the the whole ground....there is none other like it." And he further referred to 'AUM' as 'Nada Brahaman' which means the 'Sound of the Supreme One'.


Why is Om chanting so powerful?

Swami Chinmayananda, known as one of the greatest exponents of the Bhagawad Gita, explains that the word 'A' represents the waking state, 'U' represents the dream state and 'M' represents the dream state.


Swami Chinmayananda further says:

1. To every mantra, OM is added. Without 'OM', no sacred chant has its power.

2. A mantra has no life in it without the Pranava.




                 

What is the secret of the Om mantra?

Without 'AUM', how do you begin your baby steps in your spiritual journey? Let me put it in a simpler way. Can you score a single mark in any exam without preparing or studying for it over a period of time? Then, why do we ask for short cuts and instant results on our spiritual journey, which is a more impactful journey? You cannot expect successful outcomes without devoting time and putting in sincere, disciplined efforts first. 


Your first step of tuning into your higher awareness begins with 'Om'. If you are sincere on the path of self-realisation, chanting Om is your first step. Your gender, your country, your community and such external factors do not matter at all.


As my beloved and revered Guru, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai says, "The Upanishads praise Pranava as the cause of Creation. It is extolled as quenching grief. Why? He who ruminates on AUM, ever aware of its significance, can steadily move to an Awareness of the Real, behind all this unreal Appearance, of the Paramatatthwa itself."


Benefits of chanting Om
It is not possible to list out all the life-transforming benefits of chanting Om. 

To put it simply, regular chanting is important to cleanse your thoughts and control your mind. It also cleanses your chakras and brings positive energy in your self and your environment.

How to Contemplate on AUM
Different spiritual masters have recommended chanting Om as part of your daily routine. In fact, Sri M shares a highly powerful technique to contemplate on Om every day. He says that you can visualise 'Om' in Devanagari script in golden letters. Begin this practice and while doing so, send out sincere prayers for the well being of the world. This was taught to Sri M by the much revered Mahavatar Babaji.

When you begin this practice, always send out sincere prayers for the well-being of the world. 

As Sri Paramahansa Yogananda ji says, "Do everything with the attitude of Love - Love for God and for God in all."

Comments

Unknown said…
Hello Swapna, I'm wondering how I might contact you about reviewing my book? Here's a little bit about it for your consideration, it's titled: The Light: A Modern-Day Journey for Peace. I'm at, www.judithlambertbooks.com and judithlambertbooks@gmail.com

Understand religion from a fresh perspective? Nourish your soul and be prepared to view God differently? Is global spirituality possible? While many have heard of the Near Death Experience, this book is unique, as it searches for the common thread between us, here, in this world. This is not a book on the afterlife or what happens on the other side. There is another way to view this phenomena. Discovering a global context for the Near Death Experience is exciting. A Modern-Day Journey for Peace, winner of five book awards, moves us to consider if the Light of the Near Death Experience isn’t actually the bedrock of religion and the springboard for a universal connection. This modern-day story melds the innumerable religious experiences into a visual whole. The essence of God becomes globally and tangibly defined. This story uncovers our prevailing spiritual unity despite our world’s seemingly different beliefs. Ultimately, there is a powerful spiritual bond we have with one another. Gods and the names for God have changed in every era, yet one dynamic remains constant—the Light.

Religion’s Common Denominator? . . .The Light
God does not have a religion.
God does not speak a language.
God does not have a culture.
It is we who require these things.

This is a ground breaking memoir on the Near Death Experience that unveils the roots to a global spirituality.

Sincerely,
Judith Lambert
Thanks much Judith, looking forward to reviewing your book on my blog soon.

Most Popular Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences.  [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.  You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this  new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being born

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v

KR Meera's The Gospel of Yudas: A gripping, disturbing portrayal of the Naxalite movement during Emergency in Kerala

Winter mornings are great to read gripping novels that explore the heart's longing for the forbidden , but you need the comfort of a warm sweater, an inviting quilt and a cozy bed to snuggle into.  And lots of chai - piping hot, laced with a dash of cardamom. That is how I read the first sentence of  KR Meera's novel,  The Gospel of  Yudas , translated by Rajesh Rajamohan, and the sentence simply leapt   into my consciousness as I read the words, " A traitor can never sleep. His hunger is eternal; his thirst, insatiable. " I HAVE to say this: This blurb took my breath away - the different shades of green-blue tones and the sinking girl evoked strong emotions even before I touched the first page. And you feel a spark of rebellion stem from within when you read poignant sentences like this, " In our lake, dead bodies raced among themselves daily to find their way to the surface , " and " In our feudal home - our Naalukettu - before I went t

What is the story of Shivaji? The great son of a great mother called Jijabai

Chhatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha warrior whose guerrilla warfare tactics are fleetingly mentioned in Indian history textbooks, is increasingly relevant today. A Hindi movie 'Tanhaji' starring Ajay Devgn and Kajol got many of us curious to know more about this warrior. Sadly, we don't seem to have much information in our history textbooks!   [ READ: Significance of Surya Argya  and How do you Light Deepam? ] Source: Anjali Natarajan on Twitter  Shivaji Maharaj: The Great Son of a Great Mother Jijabai The more I read about Shivaji Maharaj,   the more fascinated I am.   I wondered why we have learned so little about this great warrior and his great mother Jijabai, and why public memory has been totally erased from most history books! As a mother, I have always been fascinated by how some of India's greatest and most revered men and women are individuals who were deeply influenced at an early age by their mothers. Bharat is a country that belongs to great mothers who

Kondal Malayalam Movie Review: Antony Varghese's Action Thriller Falls Flat

Kondal Malayalam Movie Review: As a Malayali movie goer, I didn't enjoy Angamaly Diaries. Still, through this film, Antony Varghese made a definite impression as an actor to watch out for. While he isn't your typical hero, there is a raw energy and authenticity to how he portrays a protagonist that makes him a powerful artist. However, the raw energy fails to hit the right mark as he needs more 'direction' in terms of channelising it. Kondal Movie Review: How Women Protagonists are Shown The depiction of women protagonists in the fisherfolk community remains a huge disappointment. In Chemmeen, Malayalis loved Sheela's brilliant portrayal of a fisherwoman's moral and ethical dilemmas. The characterisation was deeply layered and complex, brought to life by a highly talented artist, Sheela. Such depth is absent in this film's female protagonists. Kondal Movie Story Throughout Kondal movie, Antony Varghese's raw energy and rage stand out as the striking sh