Meaning of ’Om’

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193980

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Posted: 18 years ago

http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/oct/25madhur.htm

"When I was a few minutes old, Grandmother welcomed me into the world by writing 'Om,' which means 'I am' in Sanskrit, on my tongue with her little finger dipped in honey."

Does Madhur Jaffery's autobiography begin like that? 'Aham' means 'I am' in Sanskrit. What is the real meaning of Om?

Edited by Maya_M - 18 years ago

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IdeaQueen

@IdeaQueen

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Posted: 18 years ago

Om,this sacred symbol has become emblematic of Brahman just as images are emblematic of material objects. The vibration produced by chanting Om in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose at the time of creation. The sound of Om is also called Pranava, meaning that it sustains life and runs through Prana or breath. Om also represents the four states of the Supreme Being. The three sounds in Om (AUM) represent the waking, dream and deep sleep states and the silence which surrounds Om represents the "Turiya" state(http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/ganesh/ohm.htm)

Om:The ancient syllable "OM" is the shortest of the Mantras and in Indian tradition it is a word suggestive of God.It is said that A represents the waking state. U the dream state and M the state of deep dreamless sleep. the fourth state, sounds in the resonance following M.

Saying "OM" is actually a form of meditation(http://www.earthways.co.uk/om.html)

Om:

The syllable OM (also called pranava), the most sacred symbol in Hinduism, is associated with symbolism as well as mysticism. Volumes have been written in Sanskrit illustrating the significance of this mystic symbol. Although this symbol is mentioned in all the Upanishads and in all Hindu scriptures, it is especially elaborated upon in the Taittiriya, Chandogya, and Mundaka Upanishads.

By its form OM also represents the unmanifest and the manifest, the noumenon (ground of phenomenon) and the phenomenon, and thus OM is an adequate symbol of God, personal and impersonal. This message is brought forth in the following passage of the Katha Upanishad:
"The goal which all the Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which humans desire when they lead the life of continence, I will tell you briefly: it is OM. The syllable OM is indeed Brahman. This syllable is the highest. Whosoever knows this syllable obtains all that he desires. This is the best support; this is the highest support. Whosoever knows this support is adored in the world of Brahman…" (Katha Upanishad I, ii, 15-17)

(http://www.jayarams.com/ompandit.html)

I found a wonderful article on Om as told by Swami Dayananda Saraswathi intrested people can check this link

http://www.avgsatsang.org/hhpsds/pdf/The_Meaning_of_Om.pdf.

Cheers,

Mythili

Maya ji!! Thanks for the post,I will make this as an oppurtunity to learn more about OM.BTW I'm new here and I wonder if religious topics are allowed here😕

Edited by mythili_Kiran - 18 years ago

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realitybites

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Posted: 18 years ago

Maya

'OM'is considered to be all encompassing-the absolute. You can check the links:

http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa022200.htm

http://www.hindubooks.org/sudheer_birodkar/hindu_history/omk ar.html

http://www.omsakthi.org/worship/mantra.html

Religious topics are not allowed because they tend to get instigating or belittling in nature. Maya seems to be seeking knowledge.

Edited by realitybites - 18 years ago

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193980

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Posted: 18 years ago

Originally posted by: mythili_Kiran
I wonder if religious topics are allowed here😕

I understand that religious topics can turn instigating but balanced debates will only help us to know more about the issue. We can always debate without getting personal😊. Having said that I don't think this topic is instigating. I was flabbergasted by the meaning of 'Om' in an autobiography of famous Indian. So I actually want to know if she really wrote that and if she did then is it correct? Because as far as I know 'Aham' or 'Mam' means 'I am' in Sanskrit. Which led me to ask the real meaning of 'Om'. I would like to know everyone's interpretation.

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NEELAM K. SUDHIR

@NKSUDHIR

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Posted: 18 years ago

Nice topic and thanks Mythili for the detail and the references. OM has 108 different meanings which all interrelated and connected to Human life and its connection with GOD.

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Manish

@ChameliKaYaar

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Posted: 18 years ago

Originally posted by: realitybites

Religious topics are not allowed because they tend to get instigating or belittling in nature. Maya seems to be seeking knowledge.

I am not sure if this is a religious topic. This word is chanted by all who prctice yoga and I have several friends of diverse religion and faith who practice yoga and chant this....

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Leena

@Leenasmg

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Posted: 18 years ago

Om has lots of meanings😊

Edited by Leenasmg - 18 years ago

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Morgoth

@Morgoth

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Posted: 18 years ago

If we think about it, OM has no real/concrete definition. It encompasses everything, like realitybites said - it is a symbol of ultimate reality.

However, we all may be completely wrong as well because reading about these things can only take us so far.

IMHO, the real meaning can only be deduced through meditation.

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realitybites

@realitybites

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Posted: 18 years ago

Originally posted by: ChameliKaYaar

I am not sure if this is a religious topic. This word is chanted by all who prctice yoga and I have several friends of diverse religion and faith who practice yoga and chant this....

Precisely what I mentioned that Maya seems to be in search for an answer in other words Seeking knowledge. And the other part is an answer is for why such topics are not appreciated.

[quote=T.] the real meaning can only be deduced through meditation. [/Quote] 😆 , but seriously very true and apt.

Edited by realitybites - 18 years ago

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sowmyaa

@sowmyaa

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Posted: 18 years ago

#10

Below is what I found to explain the story behind it.
Before the beginning, the Brahman (absolute reality) was one and non-dual. It thought, "I am only one -- may I become many." This caused a vibration which eventually became sound, and this sound was Om. Creation itself was set in motion by the vibration of Om. The closest approach to Brahman is that first sound, Om. Thus, this sacred symbol has become emblematic of Brahman just as images are emblematic of material objects.
The vibration produced by chanting Om in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose at the time of creation. The sound of Om is also called Pranava, meaning that it sustains life and runs through Prana or breath. Om also represents the four states of the Supreme Being. The three sounds in Om (AUM) represent the waking, dream and deep sleep states and the silence which surrounds Om represents the "Turiya" state.

Like T. said, the real vibration of OM or meaning could be deduced while meditating while saying OM.

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Meaning of ’Om’

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