In the vast tapestry of ancient Indian spirituality, the resonant syllable Omkara, encapsulated as "OM" or "AUM," stands as a beacon of divine consciousness and cosmic harmony.
Its profound significance reverberates through the corridors of time, weaving through scriptures such as the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Ayurveda and the Vedas.
Let us embark on an illuminating journey through these sacred texts to uncover the profound essence of Omkara.
Upanishads: Plummeting into the Depths of Omkara's Mystique
Katha Upanishad:
Katha Upanishad suggests that OM is synonymous with Brahman, the absolute and universal principle. OM is seen as the essence of all that exists.
Meditating on OM is said to fulfill one's desires and lead to liberation or moksha.
Verse (Katha Upanishad 1.2.15):
तस्मादोमित्युद्गीथं वायुरन्नम्प्राणश्चेत्युपासीत।
Transliteration: Tasmadomityudgitham vayurannampranascetyupasita ।
Translation: Therefore, one should meditate on OM as the Udgitha (the chanting - symbolising the cosmic sound), for it is the essence of speech, the wind and the vital breath.
For more clarity for the flow of above verse, you can refer to these preceding verses below. Just to have more context if you want😊
Verse (Katha Upanishad 1.2.13):
अभ्यात्तः संप्रत्ययः प्रत्ययानाम् अभ्यां विभक्तं व्यक्तम्।
Transliteration: Abhyatta sampratyayah pratyayanam abhyam vibhaktam vyaktam।
Translation: The seed from which the senses spring forth, that is the immortal, the eternal, the everlasting.
Verse (Katha Upanishad 1.2.14):
इमं हि नित्यजातं नित्यं वा स्तां नित्यं वा स्मरतः।
Transliteration: Imam hi nityajatam nityam va stam nityam va smaratah।
Translation: For, indeed, this eternal that is born eternally, when eternally remembered.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
Verse (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 5.1.1):
ओं इत्येतदक्षरमिदं सर्वं तस्योपव्याख्यानं भूतं भवद्भविष्यदिति सर्वमोंकार एव।
Transliteration:
Om ityetadaksharamidam sarvam tasyopavyakhyanam bhutam bhavadbhavisyaditi sarvam omkara eva.
Translation: OM is indeed this imperishable Brahman. This whole universe is its explanation. The past, the present and the future, everything is just OM.
Prashna Upanishad
The Prashna Upanishad, one of the classical Upanishads, elucidates the significance of the sacred syllable OM.
Sage Pippalada imparts profound wisdom regarding the essence of Om.
Verse (Prashna Upanishad 5.1):
एतद्वै सत्यकाम परं चापरं च ब्रह्म यदोङ्कारः।
तस्माद्विद्वानेतेनैवायतनेनैकतरमन्वेति॥
Transliteration:
etadvai satyakama param caparam ca brahma yadonkarah।
tasmadvidvanetenaivaayatanenaikataramanveti॥
Translation: Verily, this (OM) is both the higher and the lower Brahman. Therefore, knowing this veryOM as the basis, one becomes established in one or the other.
Verse (Prashna Upanishad 5.2):
तदेतद्धृदयं मन्त्रमन्त्रेषु मन्त्रात्मानं जगदात्मानं तेजसाम्तेजस्वी वाचं वाचस्पतिः प्राणो विश्वान्येष सर्वानि भूतान्यशेषान्यदोमित्येतत् परं वर्णम्
Transliteration:
tadetaddhrdayam mantramantrsu mantratmanam jagadatmanam tejasamtejasvi vacam vacaspatih prano visvanyesa sarvani bhutanyasesanyadomityetat param varnam
Translation: That (OM) is the essence of all the mantras, the soul of the mantras, the soul of the universe, the light of lights, the lord of speech, the breath, the all, the other, all beings, the remainder. That is the supreme syllable. (Excerpt from Swami Nikhilānanda's translation)
Mundaka Upanishad
The Mundaka Upanishad emphasizes that AUM represents the entirety of existence, encompassing the past, present and future.
It symbolizes the eternal essence of Brahman, the ultimate reality underlying the universe.
Verse (Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.6):
ओंकार एवेदं सर्वं। यद्भूतं यच्च भव्यम्।
Transliteration: omkara evedam sarvam। yadbhutam yacca bhavyam।
Translation: The syllable AUM, indeed, is all this. What has been, what is to be, all that is OM.
Verse (Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.8):
ओं इत्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म।
Transliteration: om ityekaksharam brahma।
Translation: The syllable AUM, indeed, is the one eternal syllable of Brahman.
Verse (Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.10):
तदेतद्धृदयं मन्त्रमन्तृषु मन्त्रात्मानं जगदात्मानं तेजसंतेजस्वी वाचं वाचस्पतिः प्राणो विश्वान्येष सर्वाणि भूतान्यशेषान्यदोमित्येतत् परं वर्णम्॥
Transliteration: tadetaddhrdayam mantramantrsu mantratmanam jagadatmanam tejasantajasvi vacam vacaspatih prano visvanyesa sarvani bhutanyasesanyadomityetat param varnam
Translation: This is indeed the Upanishad of the revealed scriptures; it is the supreme knowledge, the essence of all mantras. It is the heart of all beings and the eternal abode of all. It is the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate reality.
Maitri Upanishad
Maitri Upanishad highlights the central importance of OM in the Upanishadic tradition as a symbol of Brahman and the ultimate reality.
It suggests that everything in the universe is a manifestation of OM, and that by understanding OM, we can gain a deeper understanding of the nature of reality itself.
Verse (Maitri Upanishad 6.18):
ॐकार एवेदं सर्वम्। यद्भूतं यच्च भव्यम्।
Transliteration:
oṁkāra evedaṁ sarvaṁ। yadbhūtaṁ yacca bhavyam।
Translation: OM is all this, whatever has been and whatever will be. (Excerpt from Swami Nikhilananda's translation)
Mandukya Upanishad
Within the Mandukya Upanishad's sacred verses, Omkara emerges as the primal essence, transcending the three states of consciousness—waking, dreaming and deep sleep.
It introduces the four states of OM—A, U, M, and the silence beyond—as the embodiments of human consciousness's entirety.
Verse (Mandukya Upanishad 1.1):
ॐ इति एकाक्षरं ब्रह्म, व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन्।
यः प्रयात्यत्यन्तं न देवं, यः प्रयात्यत्यन्तं न पुण्यम्।
यः प्रयात्यत्यन्तं न कृत्यं, यः प्रयात्यध्यन्तं न कृतम्।
यस्य प्रयात्यध्यन्तं न विद्या, स ब्रह्मणः पारं स्थितः।।
Transliteration:
Om iti ekaksaram brahma, vyaharan manusmaran.
Yah prayatyatyantam na devam, yah prayatyatyantam na punyam.
Yah prayatyatyantam na krityam, yah prayatyadhyantam na kritam.
Yasya prayatyadhyantam na vidya, sa brahmanah param sthitah I
Translation: Omkara embodies the totality of existence, embracing all facets of time, space and consciousness. Delving into its resonance leads to the revelation of supreme unity and eternal truth.
Chandogya Upanishad
The opening verse of the Chandogya Upanishad highlights the all-encompassing nature of OM as the imperishable word and the essence of the entire universe.
Verse (Chandogya Upanishad 1.1.1):
ओमित्येतदक्षरमिदं सर्वं तस्योपव्याख्यानं भूतं भवद्भविष्यदिति सर्वमोंकार एव ।
Transliteration:
Omityetadaksharamidam sarvam tasyopavyakhyanam
bhutam bhavadbhavishyat iti sarvamOmkaara eva.
Translation: OM is the imperishable word. Om is this entire world. All that is past, present, and future is verily OM.
Taittiriya Upanishad
Celebrated within the Taittiriya Upanishad, Omkara is hailed as the quintessence of all sound, the procreator of creation and the ultimate refuge for the seeker.
It underscores the necessity of comprehending OM's profound significance to attain liberation and unify with the divine.
Verse (Taittiriya Upanishad 1.8):
ॐ कारो ब्रह्म, ज्योतिषामपि तेजस्वी।
यो भूतानां प्रभवश्चेत्ताध्युष्यामिति तस्य वा एतस्मात् यत्र।
आत्मा यत्र च जीवात्मानं जानाति। स विज्ञेयः।
Transliteration:
Om karo Brahma, jyotishamapi tejsvi.
Yo bhutanam prabhavashcettadhyushyamiti tasya va etasmat yatra.
Atma yatra ca jivatmanam janati. Sa vijneyah.
Translation: Omkara is Brahman, luminous even than the sun. He who knows the source of the origin of beings and their end, as well as the source of the luminous Omkara, attains the Supreme Self.
Meaning: Omkara is Brahman. The knower of Omkara obtains the highest.
Aitareya Upanishad
Aitareya Upanishad, AUM signifies the primordial sound from which the universe emanates, representing the essence of existence and the interconnectedness of all creation.
Verse (Aitareya Upanishad 3.1):
ओंकार एवाग्र आसीद् एकमेवाद्वितीयम्।
तद्धैतात्म्यमग्र आसीद् एकस्मिन् महति पुरुषे॥
Transliteration:
omkara evagra asid ekamevadvitiyam।
taddhaitatmyamagra asid ekasmin mahati puruse॥
Translation:
At the outset, there was the syllable AUM, the one undifferentiated reality. That was the whole essence of the world, which is the one Self in the great person.
Shvetashvatara Upanishad
In the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, AUM symbolizes the ultimate reality, and those who meditate on it as the universal self gain a vision of unity, seeing the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self.
Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.1):
ओं प्रथमं पुरुषं ब्रह्मवादिनो वदन्ति।
अग्निं यज्ञं यज्ञापतिं ब्रह्म प्रविशंति॥
Transliteration:
Om prathamam purusham brahmavadino vadanti।
Agnim yajnam yajnapatim brahma pravishanti॥
Translation:
Those who know the First Purusha, the supporters of the Veda, called AUM. They enter into the fire, the oblation, the Lord of the oblation and Brahman.
Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.14):
व्याहृतिं चाभिजानाति प्रणवं चेद्विनिश्चितम्।
अनादिमध्यान्तमात्मा यत्प्रवादोपजीवति॥
Transliteration:
vyahritim cabhijanati pranavam cedvinishcitam।
anadimadhyantamatma yatpravadopajivati॥
Translation:
He who knows the “vyahriti (refers to the cosmic utterances or manifestations of sound)” and that which is indicated by the syllable OM, as also the imperishable source of the universe, the Purusha, lives here.
Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 2.8):
सर्वात्मना यस्तिष्ठन् सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि।
ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः॥
Transliteration:
sarvatmana yastishthan sarvabhutani chatmani।
ikshate yogayuktatma sarvatra samadarshanah॥
Translation:
He who stands firm by meditation on AUM as the universal Self and sees all beings in the self and the Self in all beings.
Brahma Sutras: Omkara's Reverence as the Symbol of Brahman
Nestled within the Brahma Sutras' philosophical expanse, Omkara emerges as the emblem of Brahman, the ultimate reality. The resonating chant of OM becomes a channel for meditation and a gateway to spiritual illumination.
Verse (Brahma Sutra 1.1.27):
तदादेशः सब्दः॥
Transliteration: Tadadesah Sabdah
Translation: The word (Sabdah) denotes (adesh) that (tad)
Meaning: Omkara (the syllable Om) is the designation (of Brahman).
This verse delves into Omkara's essence, extolling its virtues as a symbol of Brahman and a pathway to enlightenment. The verse underscores the significance of the sacred syllable “OM” as a representation of Brahman, the ultimate reality.
Yoga Philosophy the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali highlights the significance of the syllable “OM” as a representation of the supreme Self, indicating its essential role in Yoga philosophy as a symbol of the divine.
Verse (Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 1.27):
तस्य वाचकः प्रणवः॥
Transliteration: Tasya vacakah pranavah.
Translation: For that (the supreme Self) [is signified] by the syllable “OM”.
Bhagavad Gita: Omkara’s Profound Significance in Spiritual Discourse
Bhagavad Gita presents Omkara as a profound symbol representing the essence of the divine and the ultimate reality. Omkara in the Bhagavad Gita encapsulates its significance as a sacred symbol of divine presence, cosmic resonance, spiritual empowerment and universal harmony.
It serves as a timeless reminder of humanity’s innate connection with the divine and the eternal truths of existence.
Verse (Bhagavad Gita 8.13):
ओं तत्र ब्रह्म परमं यत्तदव्यक्तं भनुच्यते।
यत्त्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति
Transliteration:
Om tat brahma paramam yattadavyaktam bhanucyate.
Yattracaivatmanatmanam pashyannatmani tushyati.
Translation: Omkara is the Supreme Brahman. That which is known as the unmanifest and indestructible, it is said and it is the goal (or the source). That in which the embodied beings merge themselves, seeing (and contemplating) It with the Self, contented therein.
Verse (Bhagavad Gita 9.17):
पिताहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः।
वेद्यं पवित्रमोंकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च॥
Transliteration:
Pitahamasya jagato mata dhata pitamahah.
Vedyam pavitram omkara rik sama yajureva cha.
Translation: I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier, OM and also the Rik, the Sama and the Yajur Vedas.
Ayurveda: Embracing Omkara's Healing Harmonies
In the holistic expanse of Ayurveda, while Omkara's direct mention may be scant, the therapeutic potential of sound, including mantra chanting finds prominence.
The "Charaka Samhita" delves into the therapeutic applications of sound vibrations as integral components of holistic healing.
Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana Chapter 30, Verse 26:
शब्द-स्पर्श-रूप-रस-गन्ध-पञ्चाभिः प्रभूत-तत्-कृष्णाभिः।
Transliteration: “Shabda-sparsha-rupa-rasa-gandha-panchabhih prabhuta-tat-krishnabhih”
Translation: This verse mentions the importance of various sensory perceptions, including sound (Shabda), as integral components of holistic health.
Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana Chapter 8, Verse 15:
शब्दो महावात दोषो महाग्नि विषं वातः।
Transliteration: “Shabdho mahavata dosho mahagni visham vatah”
Translation: This verse suggests that sound (Shabda) aggravates Vata Dosha (the bodily energy in ayurveda associated with air and Space element) and can be therapeutic when used appropriately.
Vedas: Invoking Omkara's Divine Presence
The Vedas, the timeless scriptures of Hinduism, echo with the resonant chants of Omkara, marking the beginning and end of Vedic rituals, prayers and hymns. OM's invocation reverberates as a symbol of unity, transcendence and ultimate reality.
Embracing Omkara's Sacred Resonance
Through the labyrinthine passages of ancient Indian scriptures, Omkara (OM or AUM) emerges as a timeless emblem of divine consciousness, eternal truth and the interconnectedness of all existence.
Its resonance guides seekers on the path of Self-discovery, inner transformation and union with the divine.
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