Symbolism of the syllables of Aum.

Tue, 02/16/2010

At Omved we believe that, the letters A, U and M very simply stand for the mantra 'Tat Twam Asi' - 'That Thou Art' - the realization of man's divinity within himself. The entire symbol stands for this realization, which liberates the human spirit from the confines of his body, mind, intellect and ego.

Om is frequently used to represent three subsumed into one, a common theme in Vedic thought. It implies that our current existence is mithya (slightly lesser reality). In order to know the full truth we must comprehend beyond the body and intellect and intuit the true nature of infinity, of a Divine Ground that is immanent but also transcends all duality, being and non-being. Within this metaphysical symbolism, the three are represented by the lower curve, upper curve and tail of the ॐ subsumed into the ultimate One, represented by the little crescent moon-shape and dot, known as chandrabindu. Essentially, upon moksha, mukti, Samadhi, nirvana, liberation etc. one is able not only to see or know existence for what it is, but also to become it. In attaining truth one simply realizes fundamental unity; it is not the joining together of a prior manifold splitting. When true knowledge is gained, there is no split between knower and known: one becomes knowledge/consciousness itself. In essence, Om is the signifier of the ultimate truth that all is one.

Om (Aum) actually has four syllables - ‘A’ ‘U’, ‘M’ and the silent syllable (the silence after chanting). Some of the various interpretations given to its symbolism are mentioned here to convey its meaning: 
According to the Mandukya Upanishad, the syllables of Aum represent the following realms of experience of the mind and spirit:

A = jagratha-avastha (the conscious waking state)
U = svapna-avstha (the dream, or subconscious state)
M = susupta-avastha (dreamless deep sleep state, the causal, unconscious state)

After chanting Om, there is silence. This symbolizes the spiritually awakened state, the transcendental state called turiya-avastha (turiya -Sanskrit, the fourth). Though not necessarily visible to eyes, the first three states exist in, and are part of, the manifest universe. Turiya includes all of these three states or levels of manifest reality, and yet is beyond them. It encompasses them and yet transcends them. It is the unseen substratum that can only be realized when our mind dissolves into Consciousness. To use an expression attributed to the sage Ramakrishna, the ‘salt doll dissolves in the ocean.’ This is the state of samadhi

The three syllables of Om symbolize the three levels of mind as follows:

A = conscious
U = subconscious
M = unconscious

After chanting, there is silence. This represents the super-consciousness state which transcends the previous three states.

According to Yoga, Tantra, Samkhya and Vedanta, the whole of nature, including the human mind and body, is made up of the three gunas (Sanskrit, ‘guna’, qualities): sattwa (harmony, clarity and light); rajas (passion and dynamism); and tamas (ignorance, darkness and inertia). The three syllables of Om symbolise these three gunas as follows:

A = tamas (dullness, ignorance, darkness)
U = rajas (activity, heat, fire)
M = sattwa (purity, light, serenity/shanti)

After chanting, there is silence. This symbolizes the state of trigunatita (Sanskrit, tri, three; atita, beyond) - that which transcends the three gunas, i.e. Pure Consciousness.

The three syllables of Om symbolize the three principles of existence, the triad of Divinity symbolised by Brahma, the creative; Vishnu, the sustaining; and Shiva, the destructive:

A = Brahma
U = Vishnu
M = Shiva

After chanting, there is silence. This symbolizes underlying reality, which is the substratum behind, and beyond, the 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 three syllables of Om symbolize the three realms of time: past, present and future:

A = Present
U = Past
M = Future

After chanting, there is silence. This symbolizes underlying reality, which underlies and yet is beyond past, present and future. It stands for the Creator, who transcends the limitations of time, the timeless out of which time emerges.

Om (Aum) can be chanted by feeling the resonance of ‘A’ in the abdomen, then allowing the ‘U’ to resonate in the chest and finally feeling the ‘M’ vibration in the head.

A = abdomen
U = chest/throat
M = head

After the sound, there is silence. This symbolizes that which is ‘above’ the head (i.e. beyond thinking), the ineffable: spirit, or consciousness.

The letters A, U and M symbolize respectively

A = speech (vak )
U = the mind (manas )
M = and the breath of life (prana )

After chanting, there is silence. This symbolizes the living spirit, which is but a portion of the divine spirit.

Om depicts the three stages of yogic discipline:

A = asana - posture
U = pranayama - rhythmic control of the breath
M = pratyahara - withdrawal and emancipation of the mind from the domination of the senses and exterior objects


After chanting, there is silence. This symbolizes samadhi, a state of super-consciousness brought about by profound meditation, in which the individual aspirant (sadhaka ) becomes one with the object of his meditation - Paramatma or the universal spirit. This is the ultimate goal of all existence for which the three stages are the steps.

The threefold symbolism of Om is comprehensible to the most ordinary of humans. It is realizable both on the intuitive and objective level. This is responsible for its widespread popularity and acceptance. That this symbolism extends over the entire spectrum of the manifested universe makes it a veritable fount of spirituality. Some of these symbolic equivalents are:

Colors: Red, White, and Black.
Man: Body, Soul, and Spirit.
Time: Past, Present, and Future.
Stages of Existence: Birth, Life, and Death.

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