Aum: Primal sound and mystic symbol

Dr Satish  K Kapoor

The sacred syllable Aum (Om, Omkara) is unique. It is art, science, philosophy, spirituality and religion, all rolled into one. As art, it has visible symbolic forms that fascinate. As cosmic sound, it is the crux of meta-science or science of spirituality. As philosophy, it crystallizes the meaning of existence. As chant, it belongs to the sphere of religion and spirituality, and is the simplest way to unfold the higher consciousness. 

Aum has several aspects that a seeker should know in order to pursue his spiritual quest. Aum is the primal sound, of which other sounds are just manifestations. The unstuck sound emerged before the formation of the universe, in consequence of the creative desire of the supreme consciousness to unfold itself.  Hence, it is called anadi–eternal and self-illuminating.

To an earnest spiritual aspirant, Aum is the code to open up the  cosmic lock  of Being; it is the nano-way to  meditate  on the Ultimate, Unseen and Omniscient  Reality. Aum finds mention in all the Hindu scriptures, and is sacred to Buddhists, Jainas and others. 

Aum, the awakener of the higher mind, is also called pranava, because through it, the Almighty can be praised, invoked, and accosted in Anahata chakra, the heart region in the subtle human body.  It is udgitha (mantra), for it can be chanted loudly, says the Chhandogya Upanishad (1.1.1). ‘Now, verily, what is the udgitha is the Aum. What is Aum is the udgitha.’( CU, I.5.1)  

Aum is sarva-devamaya – it comprises all divine beings, and  hence  embodies the essence of  their wisdom.  Aum is a-kshara-swarupa — of the nature of the Eternal Word — indissoluble and indestructible. The Katha Upanishad (I. 2.16-17) describes Aum in three ways: the everlasting spirit (evaksharam brahma), the highest end (evaksharam param) of an individual, the best and the highest support of all (alambanam shreshtham; alambanam param). 

A, U, and M, are identified respectively with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and together they represent the Supreme reality. The Amritabindu Upanishad (verses 7,16 ) advices that one should  first concentrate on  Aum, through the means of letters – a,u,m,- and then, without them, to know the imperishable Brahman, and to attain peace. 

(Dr Satish K Kapoor is a noted author, historian and spiritualist)