Title: OM
Category: Other
Blog Entry: On OMM A N T R A SOne of the forms of prayers is Mantra. It is defined as–"Mananen trayte iti" that which protects us by constant pondering. Mantras need not necessarily have a meaning. Mantras are so designed that they create certain vibrations in our body whether we are listening to them or whether we are reciting them ourselves. Since they are effective with the vibrations, they cannot be translated into any other language. They are like proper nouns, which have to be same irrespective of language. This also gives an open invitation for others to devise their own Mantras if they can. There is no bar. Only condition is that test your Mantra thoroughly for positive effect and early results for your own benefit.Negative effects of vibrations are well known to all. Vibrations caused by noise, aeroplanes, bombs & earthquakes play havoc in our lives. Similarly the soothing vibrations received through patting, rocking, good music, and melodious voices of good speakers, singers, breeze etc, which affect us positively. They comfort us, calm us, put us to sleep and refresh us. They bring even a morose* to life. If simple vibrations can do so much good to us, imagine, what miracles properly designed mantra can do for us!Let us now come to one of the important mantras. The most important is the monosyllable – Aum. Aum is so designed to generate vibrations, which originate at the navel and climb up the spinal cord to reach up to the medulla oblongata and the brain, which controls all functions and actions of our body."Tasya Vachakha Pranavah", so says ‘Patanjali’ in the ‘Yoga-Sutra’. It means ‘Oum’ is the address of God. It actually throws light on God. It is the indicator of place of God, the real self i.e." the Brahman".Interestingly, navel is the main and the first source of energy in the beginning of any mammal’s life. In the mother’s womb, when the embryo comes to life, it is the umbilical cord connected to the navel that gives us the life sustaining juices and the oxygen or the ‘Pran’This chanting really kindles the dormant energy lying at the base of the torso and at the end of the spinal cord. It travels upwards during the vibrations and finally reaches the brain spreading the light everywhere within.To feel the vibrations, one can do a simple exercise during the chanting of "Aum". Close your ears by both the hands, palms blocking the ears and the thumbs touching the rear side of the neck, wherein lies the medulla oblongata, other fingers going upwards closely touching the skull. Close your eyes. Continue the chant. You can feel the vibrations coming up, if Aum is chanted in the bass tone.Similarly, interesting is the pictorial depiction of the ‘Oum’Consider the human head, a side view of the respiratory as well as the food track, which is shown in any science textbook.1. The upper pallet of the mouth2. The throat & the respiratory track, leading to lungs.3. The tongue.4. The lower jaw5. The vibrations depicted thus.The fifth part that denotes vibrations, which follow the nasal, sound that fills the brain cells.These vibrations bring the brain cells to an order like a magnet. Once all the cells are aligned in a particular way, the confusion in the mind/brain melts away. The darkness, which represents the confusion, is done away with and the brain is filled with light – a soothing light. With all the cells aligned in one single order, a tremendous clarity of thoughts is achieved. This enables a balanced view of any event or happening. This balanced view and perspective is called ‘Samadhi’. ‘Sama’ means equal or balanced; ‘Dhi’ means ‘Budhhi’, that is intellect.This is a state that is desirable and retainable throughout the life. It must be clarified here that Samadhi is not the end of life, as generally people believe. This is the state in which we should ideally lead out life. It’s the state of permanent bliss.Closing the senses, listening and seeing inwards, turns the sensory nerves inwards, so that you start seeing within the listening to yourself, which is the most desirable exercise in this ‘Sadhana’ that is the self-study. *‘Tani sarvani sayamya yukta aasit matparah,Vashe hi yasya indriyani tasya pradnya pratisthita ||’--Bhagvadgeeta—" According to Sri VinobA BhAve, the Latin word Omne and the Sanskrit word Aum are both derived from the same root meaning all and both words convey the concepts of omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence. Another word for Aum is pranava, which is derived from the root nu meaning to praise, to which is added the prefix pra denoting superiority. The word , therefore, means the best praise or the best prayer. The symbol AUM is composed of three syllables, namely the letters A, U, M, and when written has a crescent and a dot on its top. A few instances of the various interpretations are given to it may be mentioned here to convey its meaning.The letter A symbolises the conscious or waking state (jAgrata-avasthA) , the letter U the dream state (svapna-avasthA) and the letter M the dreamless sleep state (sushupta-avasthA) of the mind andspirit. The entire symbol, together with the crescent and the dot , stands for the fourth state (turIya-avasthA) , which combines all these states and transcends them. This is the state of samAdhi. The letters A,U and M symbolise respectively speech (vak), the mind (manas) and the breath of life (prAna), while the entire symbol stands for the living spirit, which is but a portion of the divine spirit.The three letters also represent the dimensions of length, breadth and depth, while the entire symbol represents Divinity, which is beyond the limitations of shapes and form.The three letters A, U and M symbolise the absence of desire, fear and anger, while the whole symbol stands for the perfect man (a sthita-prajna) , one whose wisdom is firmly established in the divine.They represent three genders, masculine, feminine and neuter, while the entire symbol represent allcreation together with the Creator.They stand for the three gunAs or qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas, while the whole symbol represents a gunAtIta, one who has transcended and gone beyond the pull of the gunAs.The three letters correspond to the three tenses - past, present and future - while the entire symbol stands for the Creator, who trancends the limitations of time.They also stand for the teaching imparted by the mother, the father and the Guru respectively. The entire symbol represents Brahma VidyA, the knowledge of the Self, the teaching which is imperishable.The A, U and M depict the three stages of yogic discipline, namely Asana, prAnAyAma and pratyAhAra. The entire symbol reprsent samAdhi, the goal for which the three stages are steps.They represent the triad of Divinity, namely, BrahmA - the creator, Vishnu - the Maintainer, and Siva - the Destroyer of the universe. The whole symbol is said to represent Brahman from which the universe emanates, has its growth and fruition and into which it merges in the end. It does not grow or change. Many change and pass, but Brahman is the One that ever remains unchanged.The letters A, U and M also stands for the mantra 'Tat Twam Asi' ('That Thou Art'), the realisationof man's divinity within himself. The entire symbol stands for this realisation, which liberates thehuman spirit from the confines of his body, mind and intellect and ego. "
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