The Significance of Om, the Vedic Pranavam

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatti Group:

 

I will be away on a business trip for two weeks to Europe starting from

tomorrow. I thought that I will post the two notes ,which I referred to in my

previous postings.One of the two notes would focus on the significance of Om,

celebtated in the Vedas and Upanishads . The other would concentrate on the

relationship of Pranava to Sama Veda"s Udgita and the Udgita"s close link to

Nadhopasana, a supremely effective Upasana practised by Nadhopasakas such as

Saint Thygaraja.

 

The Importance of the recitation of and meditation on the meaning of Om:

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A mantra of Yajur Vedam salutes the Sacred syllabale OM and comments on the

significance of Pranavam this way: " O, Men, by me, the resplendent protector,

the matter , the face of the eternal cause is protected. The spirit yonder is

the Sun, the spirit dwelling inside the Sun is ME. I am vast

like the atmosphere,greatest of all in merit,action and nature.OM IS MY NAME."

 

The View of the UPanishads on Pranavam

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A Mantra of the Maha Narayanopanishad echoes the above message of

Yajur Vedam as Follows: " Aditya, the supreme cause of this Universe isa denoted

by the syllable Om.That form of Sun is Brahman. That is the pervading cause of

All. That is water,fire, flavor and ambrosia

(Immortality) . The three Vyahritis (Bhu:, Bhuva:, and Suvaha:) representing the

three worlds and the PRANAVA representing the cause of the universe denote

Brahman." Maha Narayanopanishad states elsewhere that the One syllable Om is

Brahman. It also reveals that the Pranavam is recited and reflected upon to

acheive the union with Brahman, who exists as the manifold universe.

 

The all-encompassing nature of Pranavam is explained by the Mandukya

Upanishad mantra as follows: " OM(AUM) the syllable is the whole world. It is

the past , present and the future. Everything is just the word AUM. " Pranavam

is recognized here as the resonating sound embodiment of the supreme being ,who

pervades Space, Time and Form Completely.

 

Prsana Upanishad points out that AUM is recommended for the meditation on

and the worship of Supreme Reality in its Saguna Brahman Form with attributes

and the Nirguna Brahman Form without attributes . In a Katopanishad Mantra, The

Lord of Death (Yama Raja) reveals to the aspirant Nachiketas that " this word

(Om) is verily Brahman, this word is verily the highest . He ,who knows this

word obtains ,verily, whatever he desires."

 

A passage in the Brugu Valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad explains to us the

benefits accrued from recognizing and worshipping Om as Brahman. It says: " Let

him, the aspirant, meditate on the supreme (Aum) as the support; he becomes well

supported. Let him worship Aum (Brahman) as great; he becomes great. Let him

worship it as Mind; he becomes thoughtful. Let him worship Aum as

Nama(obesiance); to him all desires shall come to pay homage. Let him meditate

upon that as the Supreme; he comes to supermacy in Life."

 

At the conclusion of the Vaiswa Deva Mantra passage of the Narayana Valli

of the same Upanishad, we get another insight into the significance of Om. "

Brahman is the meaning of Omkara. It is the embodiment of All that is

subtle,gross and casual. My salutations to that Brahman!

That Omkaram resides in the caves of the hearts of the human beings. O

Brahman(Pranavam)! You are the sacrificial ritual, You are the Vashatkaram

(Power). You are Indra, Rudra, Vishnu, Brahma, Water, Shining Stars and Ambrosia

(Immortality).It is for these reasons that the Brahadaranyaka Upanishad points

out again that the Pranavam is identical to Brahman and should therefore be

worshipped as Brahaman.In the fourth Anuvakha of Siksha Valli of the Taittiriya

Upanishad, Om is

pointed out as the most sacred Mantra for the aspirant to illuminate all his

faculties including his own intellect(Medha Sakti) . Pranavam is recognized here

as the sheath of Brahman and the invocation of OM is declared as the equivalent

of the invocation of Brahman.

The Etymology of Pranavam(AUM)

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The Syllable AUM arises from the Sanskrit root "AV" , which means to

protect.. AUM is understood therefore to protect the Universe and all of its

inhabitants. This role of Pranavam makes all living beings bow before the

Supreme Lord: " Pranan sarvan Paramatmani Pranamayati iti Pranavam" is thus the

other defenition of Pranavam. AUM Or Om or Pranavam is also known as the Brahma

Vidya Mantram. In this context, it is recognized as the Mantra that leads the

Sadhakas (aspirants) to the other shore (Tara) of the ocean of Samsara(viz) ,

the abode of the Supreme Lord.

Vedic and Taantric Pranavams

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Aum is known as the Vedic Pranavam to distinguish it from the other Pancha

Pranavas known as EYM(Saraswati worship), HREEM ( Sri Vidya Worship) ,SREEM (

Maha Lakshmi Worship), Kreem (Kali Worship), and KLEEM (Kama Kala Worship). The

above Pancha Pranavams are known as Tantric Pranavam; It is generally agreed

that the Tantras are not totally disconnected to the Vedas , since Vedic

Sookthams such as Sri Sooktham, Durga Sooktham , are attached to the powers

behind these Pancha Pranavams. These are meditated upon to get specific boons

such as Knowledge from Saraswati, Worldly wealth from Maha Lakshmi etc. AUM on

the other hand is recited and reflected upon to get the Supreme Brahma Gyanam.

 

Multifold Structure of Pranavam(AUM):

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The syllable AUM has a four fold division according to Vedic Niruktham or

Etymology. Nrsimha Uttara Tapini Upanishad explains how this four fold Vyashti

(Constituents) from the Samashti (Whole). A, U, M and the Ardha Matra (Half

Letter) at the end of the sacred syllable represent the four constituents of

Pranavam. The letter "A" represents the Rg Veda. It represents the terrrestrial

world surrounded by the seven seas according to this Upanishad. The Garhapatya

Agni (Householder"s fire ) is its Agni.

The letter"U" represents the Yajur Veda

and the intermediary world. The second Vedic fire , Dakshinagni is its Agni. The

letter "M" represents the celestial world and the Sama Veda. Its fire is the

Ahavagni. The half letter or the nasalization at the end of the three letters,

"A, U, M " represents the Lunar World and the Atharva Veda. The Ekarshi fire of

the Atharva Ritual is its Agni. In its Samashti form, The Pranavam thus contains

all the 4 Vedas and their immortal hymns from which the Brahman , the truth

symbolized by the sound "Om" arises.

 

The Vishishtadvaita Tradition and the four fold structure of AUM

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The letters A,U, M are accepted here as representing Vishnu, Lakshmi

and the Jeevan or the individual soul. The Jeevan represented by M is recognized

as the Jnata (the Knower), Karta (the Doer), Bhokta (the Enjoyer) and the Sesha

(the subservient being of the Lord Narayana and His Consort) . The Fourth part,

the nasalization is recognized as the eternal, subservient relationship of the

Jeevan to the Divine Couple, who represent Eka Seshitvam.

 

The Narada Parivrajaka Upanishad goes one step

further and explains the 8 fold structure of Pranavam. The 16 fold and the 128

fold divisions of Pranavam are also explained by Brahma to His son , Sage Narada

in the same upanishad. The 16 fold division adds to the above four subdivisions

following additional 12 subdivisions: Bindu,Nada, Kaala(Time), Kaaladita(

Beyond Time), Santi (Tranquility), Santyatita(Beyond tranquility) , Unmani

(the state of absence of Gross Mind),Mnaonmani(State of Absence of Subtle Mind),

Puri,Madhyama, Pasyanti and Para . The last four are associated with the

formation of Speech. Lord Brahma explains to His son that this Pranavam is

Turya-Turya or the Supreme Bliss and identifies it as the Prop of ALL. He points

out that OM should be sought by every one and that It is the beginning of every

thing and the bestower of the final Beautitude.

 

Svetasvatara Upanishad"s explanation of the means of Realizing Brahman

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It says: " Making the Self , the lower kindling stick and the Pranavam , the

upper kindling stick and by the practise of vigorous rubbing (Meditation), the

sage may realize the hidden effulgent being as the Fire hidden in the sticks.

As Oil present in the Sesamum seeds, ghee in curds, water in the underground

springs, and Fire in the kindling sticks, so is the Supreme Being realized in

the individual self by one, who visualizes Him thru Truth and Penance."

 

V.Sadagopan

[Guest guest]

Dear Rangaswamy: Thanks very much for your note, The additional references

on OM would be of defenite interest to the group members. Hence I am

sharing it. Sadagopan

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INTERNET:RANGASWAMY, INTERNET:RANGASWAMY

TO: V. Sadagopan, 75041,3037

DATE: 10/16/95 8:26 AM

 

RE: RE: The Significance of Om, the Vedic Pranavam

 

Sender: rangaswamy

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RE: The Significance of Om, the Vedic Pranavam

 

Hello Sadagopan,

 

Thanks for an excellent posting on the divya-aksharam "AUM". The

Narayanopanishad also contains a reference to "AUM" in two places.

 

"Omithyagrae Vyahararaeth" and "OMithyaekAksharam" . The latter is supposed to

be the only mantram for Sri Vaishnavas.

 

Eka Mantram: OMithyaekAksharam

Eka NAmam: Devaki PutrOnamaha

Eka Seva: Devaki PutrOseva

 

Regards,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy