Did you know these 5 things about Om (ॐ)??
Om or ॐ (pronounced: A-U-aM) is known to be a sacred word which has immense significance in the old religions of the world, like Hinduism (also known as Vendanta) and Buddhism. You will always Om (ॐ) at the start of scriptures, Sutras, and mantra(chants) as the first syllable. All sacred literary works in Hinduism start with Om (ॐ). Even today in India, as a common practice, when people start a new dairy or a financial ledger, Om (ॐ) is written as the first word on the first page. This is considered auspicious.
But why is so? What is the significance of ॐ? Why has it become THE sacred word?
Well, to know read along. We will talk about five aspects about Om or ॐ which will help you understand the mystery behind it.
#1 ॐ is not a word or a syllable. It is Sound!
Om(ॐ) is commonly thought of as a word. However, ॐ is not a word for it has no meaning on its own, indeed it is a sound. This sound has an immense significance in the old religions of the world, like Hinduism (also known as Vendanta) and Buddhism.
The sound “Om(ॐ)” was used even when the script didn’t exist. As the script came into existence, this sound was converted into an Image i.e. “ॐ” which started being used as symbol. This was done in order for people to recognise it easily. Gradually, due to our collective ignorance, we started treating this symbol as a word, which it isn’t. ॐ indeed is a symbol for sound which represents all sounds of the universe.
#2 ॐ is sacred as it is the combination of ALL sounds
ॐ as the pronunciation states is a combination of 3 basic sounds. These are
- A or Aaaa (आ)
- U or “o-u” or “o-o”(ऊ)
- aM or “am” or (अं)
If you observe closely, these individual sounds make up all sounds present in the universe. These are the vowels of the universal sound. Even the English vowels (AEIOU) are derived from these basic sounds.
To simplify, if you think of sound like a language, then ॐ would be the combination of all the alphabets of that language.
But why is it considered sacred? well, here is why
#3 ॐ is sacred as it is the name of God- the universal power
We must see God as the universal power which causes everything. This power pervaded the entire universe and is in everything. It will have all knowledge, for it will know whatever is known and whatever is knowable, and what can’t be known.
So if someone was to name God (read this Universal power), then just any name won’t suffice. The name itself should contain all sounds there can be. Thus ancient Hindus came up with this name ॐ to signify and symbolise the universal power. The word God is English and it came much much later.
Thus ॐ gains immense significance in religion and is thus considered holy and sacred.
#4 ॐ is could also be found in other religions
Hinduism or Vedanta is the oldest thought that exists in the world. We today call it a religion, but religion is nothing but thoughts refined and elaborated in form of rituals and ethics. The dos and don’t for a man.
ॐ is part of Buddhism
Buddhism was born in India as Buddha lived and professed in India till he died 2500 years ago. Whereas the oldest text of Hinduism is said to be “written” around 5500 years ago. I say “Written” as Vedas were passed on orally and only when the script was invented they were written down. This makes Hinduism really really ancient.
Thus it isn’t surprising that ॐ also finds an important place in Buddhism. Though Buddhism started in India, it was gradually phased off but it spread in the adjoining regions like Tibet and South East Asia.
ॐ can also be found in other religions: Judaism, Christanity and Islam
Jesus Christ existed 2000 years ago which marks the start of the modern calendar 📅 . And Prophet Mohammed lived around 600 AD i.e. 1400 years ago. And both these religions have their roots in Judaism which is also an ancient religion around 4000 years old. This makes Judaism, Christianity and Islam relatively younger than Hinduism.
ॐ finds its place in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, but in a disguised form.
ॐ in Christianity
You would have seen Christians make use of the word “Amen” after prayers. “Amen” is nothing by ॐ (OM/AUM) which is Anglicised over a period of time. Still, the use of the word “Amen” is done similar to ॐ and even its characteristics are the same. It doesn’t have any meaning on its own as a word. But still, it carries immense religious significance and is considered Holy.
ॐ in Islam
Muslims used a similar word as Amen and it is called “Ameen”. Look closely and you can easily see that “Ameen” is derived from “Amen”. It too is used after prayers.
ॐ in Judaism
Judaism also uses a word “ShalOM” which is again spoken after prayers. Thus used in a similar manner to “Amen” and “Ameen”. Literally, Shalom contains “OM” into it, and if you look at the meaning Shalom too is used to define divinity.
Thus it can be concluded that ॐ which originated from the oldest religion of the world and was the most sacred of sounds/Symbols that made its way into other religions of the world. It seems logical as religion is nothing but a thought and subsequent thoughts which emerge later will borrow some aspects from the original thought.
#5 ॐ (OM) is also a part of English language
Interestingly ॐ (OM) finds its place in mainstream English as well, in it unadulterated form from a pronunciation and meaning perspective.
Have you ever heard of Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent?? Well, some of us will say no saying that these words sound religious. Well, then let’s see another example. We all have studied animals in primary school about animals, right? There are 3 categories Herbivores- one which eats plants, Carnivores- one that lives on flesh, and Omnivores- who eat both plant and flesh. Man is indeed an Omnivore 😀
For a business person, “Omnichannel” will ring a bell 🔔
So what does the word “OM” mean which is an integral part of all these mainstream English words??
Well, it is the same ॐ (OM) we have been talking all about. Om in all these words listed above means “All or everything” which is derived from the root meaning of ॐ (OM).
Language evolves over time like an organism and transforms with time. Words from old languages are used in newer languages and slowly the old language fades away.
You could find the majority of words used today in English, which has become the Global language, having roots in Latin words, which itself had roots in Sanskrit- which is the oldest language of the world, just like Hinduism is the oldest religion. (Note: Vedas are written in Sanskrit)
For example, the word Fire comes from the Latin word “Ignus” (remember a substance which can be fired up is called Igneous), which in fact is derived from a Sanskrit word “Agni” which means nothing but Fire 🔥 .
The name and pronunciations change but the context and usage of the words remain similar. Thus we see ॐ (OM) being used by so many religions and languages with different pronunciations and spells, but the root meaning remains the same.
ॐ (OM)- the primordial sound which contains everything. ॐ (OM)- the symbol which denotes the universal power which is the cause of everything. ॐ (OM)- so deep in meaning that it was given the name of God. ॐ (OM) the sound which contains all sounds.
If there was a God of words- then it would be ॐ (OM)
Isn’t it fascinating? 🧐 😀 😄
