Guest guest Posted March 26, 2002 Report Share Posted March 26, 2002 Respected members, There is an interesting discussion on 'AUM' going on here. May I share some thoughts on this subject with the members of this group? Note the divine gayatri mantra on top of the introductory page. It is in devanagari script. But, the very first word is AUM or OM. Om or AUM is the Seed mantra or bija mantra. Everything bgins with OM. The gayatri mantra begins with Om, the Vedas begin with Om, the Upanishads begin with Om, the Vedantabegins with Om, and the SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM begins with OM. In Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna Himself says, "vedyam pavitram omkara,I am the syllable Om." In the same Bhagvat Gita, Shri Krishna says, "among the mantras, i am Gayathri" As you can see, both Om and the Gayathri Mantra are regarded as supreme mantras by Shri Krishna. The question is being asked is OM or AUM a nirguna mantra or a saguna mantra or a bija mantra? The Rig Veda states... om ity etad brahmano nedistam nama yasmad uccaryamana eva samsara-bhayat tarayati tasmad-ucyate tara iti om asya jananto nama cid-viviktan mahaste visno sumatim bhajamahe om tat sat tato 'bhut trird-omkaro yo 'vyakta prabhavah svarat yat tal-lingam bhagavato brahmanah paramatmanah "One who chants om,which is the closest form of Brahman, approaches Brahman.This liberates one from the fear of the material world, therefore it is known as tarak brahman. "O Vishnu your self-manifest name, om, is the eternal form of cognizance. Even if my knowledge about the glories of reciting this name is incomplete, still, by the practice of reciting this name I will acheive that perfect knowledge. "He who has unmanifested potencies and is fully independent, manifests the vibration omkara,which indicates Himself. Brahman, Paramatma,and Bhagavanare the three forms He manifests." When OM is added as a prefix or suffix it becomes a 'saguna'mantra - worshipping god with attributes- God with form or swaroopa- examples.. Hari om! (as a prefix) OM namaha Shivaye! (as a prefix) AUM!!!!! (nirguna mantra - aum as brahman) To a krishna bhaktin, Om may sound like Lord Krishna's flute. To a Jnana yogi. OM may sound like the 'roar' of a ocean. But as is true with all s, AUM saadhna should also be conducted under the guidance of a Guru. This is because 'Aum Saadhana' is very 'potent' and 'powerful' and has the power of awakening the 'Kundalini' fast. Now, we do not want to awaken the 'KUNDALINI' without the guidance of a Guru? Do we? Also, it is believed, a person engazed in 'Aum ' loses interest in worldly affairs and is attracted towards 'renunciation' and ascetism ! so, it is believed that for those still in Ghrihastama, it is better to chant 'om' as a saguna mantra than as a 'nirguna' mantra. This is a facinating subject. to be continued.... Hari OM! OM shantihi!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2002 Report Share Posted March 26, 2002 Interestingly I received the following query by email this evening, and a perfect opportunity to present it here. "How does Aum become a sagun mantra at times and a nirgun mantra at times." Looking for lots of thoughts and responses! Thanks _/\_ Tat twam asi Uma ***************************************** This is a reply to post 3501 parama_rahasya ******************************************* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2002 Report Share Posted March 27, 2002 Many thanks param-rahasya for elaborating AUM sadhna....waiting for 2nd part of your posts so that i can put question to quench my thirst...(or like a ever questioning naughty student )) Hari Aum Tat Sat , parama_rahasya <no_reply> wrote: > Respected members, > > There is an interesting discussion on 'AUM' going on here. May I > share some thoughts on this subject with the members of this group? > > Note the divine gayatri mantra on top of the introductory page. It is > in devanagari script. But, the very first word is AUM or OM. > > Om or AUM is the Seed mantra or bija mantra. > > Everything bgins with OM. > > The gayatri mantra begins with Om, > > the Vedas begin with Om, > > the Upanishads begin with Om, > > the Vedantabegins with Om, > > and the SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM begins with OM. > > > > In Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna Himself says, "vedyam pavitram > omkara,I am the syllable Om." > > In the same Bhagvat Gita, Shri Krishna says, "among the mantras, i am > Gayathri" > > As you can see, both Om and the Gayathri Mantra are regarded as > supreme mantras by Shri Krishna. > > The question is being asked is OM or AUM a nirguna mantra or a saguna > mantra or a bija mantra? > > The Rig Veda states... > > om ity etad brahmano nedistam nama yasmad uccaryamana > eva samsara-bhayat tarayati tasmad-ucyate tara iti > > om asya jananto nama cid-viviktan mahaste visno > sumatim bhajamahe om tat sat > > tato 'bhut trird-omkaro yo 'vyakta prabhavah svarat > yat tal-lingam bhagavato brahmanah paramatmanah > > "One who chants om,which is the closest form of Brahman, approaches > Brahman.This liberates one from the fear of the material world, > therefore it is known as tarak brahman. > > "O Vishnu your self-manifest name, om, is the eternal form of > cognizance. Even if my knowledge about the glories of reciting this > name is incomplete, still, by the practice of reciting this name I > will acheive that perfect knowledge. > > "He who has unmanifested potencies and is fully independent, > manifests the vibration omkara,which indicates Himself. Brahman, > Paramatma,and Bhagavanare the three forms He manifests." > > When OM is added as a prefix or suffix it becomes a 'saguna'mantra - > worshipping god with attributes- God with form or swaroopa- > > examples.. > > Hari om! (as a prefix) > > OM namaha Shivaye! (as a prefix) > > AUM!!!!! (nirguna mantra - aum as brahman) > > To a krishna bhaktin, Om may sound like Lord Krishna's flute. To a > Jnana yogi. OM may sound like the 'roar' of a ocean. > > But as is true with all s, AUM saadhna should also be > conducted under the guidance of a Guru. This is because 'Aum > Saadhana' is very 'potent' and 'powerful' and has the power of > awakening the 'Kundalini' fast. Now, we do not want to awaken > the 'KUNDALINI' without the guidance of a Guru? Do we? > > Also, it is believed, a person engazed in 'Aum ' loses > interest in worldly affairs and is attracted towards 'renunciation' > and ascetism ! so, it is believed that for those still in > Ghrihastama, it is better to chant 'om' as a saguna mantra than as > a 'nirguna' mantra. > > This is a facinating subject. > > to be continued.... > > Hari OM! > > OM shantihi!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2002 Report Share Posted March 27, 2002 mY HUMBLE PRANAAMS TO ONE AND ALL! Here is one correction in my post - regarding 'Hari Om' - here , om is used as a suffix and not prefix- sorry for that error! My post was titled -Aum, th PRANAVA mantra. what does PRANAVA mean? Literally,Pranava in Sanskrit means "humming." The mantra Aum denotes God as the Primal Sound. This sound can be heard as the sound of one's own nerve system, and meditators and mystics hear it daily, like the sound made by an electrical transformer or a swarm of bees, or a thousand vinas playing in the distance. It is a strong,inner experience, one that yogis hold with great reverence. The meditator is taught to inwardly transform this sound into the inner light which lights up ones' thoughts, and to bask in this blissful consciousness of light. Pranava is also known as the sound of the "nadanadi sakti." Hearing it one draws near to God Consciousness. When we are living in the lower chakras, or when the world too strongly dominates our mind, this sound may, for a time, not be heard. But it returns as awareness withdraws, as the mind becomes perfectly quiescent, silent, still. Listen for this sound in your quietest moments and you will learn to recognize it as a daily encounter with the Divine that lives within all men, within all creatures, within all existence. In the inner silence, you will hear the sound of 'om' !! In patanjali's yoga sutras, there is a verse which states "Tasya vaacakah praNavah" , which means The mystic syllable AUM symbolizes the Lord, Ishwara. It is an absolute identity of essence between the symbol and the Symbolized.In the Upanishads, AUM designates Brahman.The rhythmic and uninterrupted repetition, that is japa, of this praNava mantra, AUM,many times is supposed to yield material .as well as supernatural powers to the aspirant. The Mantra-Yoga-Samhitâ also emphasizes this point... When people hear the pranava they hear the Absolute itself. When they utter the pranava they go to the abode of the Absolute. He who perceives the pranava sees the state of the Absolute. He who always has the pranava in his mind has the form of the Absolute. Mundaka Upanishad also states Taking as a bow the great weapon of the Upanishad, One should put upon it an arrow sharpened by meditation. Stretching it with a thought directed to the essence of That, Penetrate that Imperishable as the mark, my friend. The mystic syllable Om is the bow. The arrow is the soul. Brahman is said to be the mark. By the undistracted man is It to be penetrated. One should come to be in It, as the arrow [in the mark]. Now, OM can also be contemplated upon as 'saguna' mantra on one's 'ishtadevata' or chosen deity. in this context. let me share with you all why our lord ganesha is called 'omkara' - lORD ganesh is OMKARANATHA! Ganesha was born when the eternal couple parvati and paraameshwera contemplated on AUM. If you view Lord Ganesha sideways, then you will see the symbol AUM in sanskrit. That's why Ganesha is called AUMkara and worshipped first. AUM is praNava. What is meant by praNava. pra is short for prakriti and navam means excellent boat. That is, AUM is the way to cross the ocean of worldly existence. The following stotra is from the narada purana, and is recited to remove all troubles and get liberation. praNamya shirasaa devaM gaurii putraM vinaayakaM | salutation head god gaurii son vinaayakaM bhaktaa vaasaM smaren.h nityaM aayuH kaama artha siddhaye One should bow the head and offer obeisance before the son of Gauri, Vinayaka, whose abode is the devotees, and remember Him always for the purpose of obtaining longevity, desired powers and prosperity. om shri ganeshaya namaha! TO BE CONTINUED........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2002 Report Share Posted March 27, 2002 Please answer this for me...is OM pronounced OUM or ONM or other? - parama_rahasya Wednesday, March 27, 2002 7:19 AM Re: Aum -the Pranava Mantra.... mY HUMBLE PRANAAMS TO ONE AND ALL! Here is one correction in my post - regarding 'Hari Om' - here , om is used as a suffix and not prefix- sorry for that error! My post was titled -Aum, th PRANAVA mantra. what does PRANAVA mean? Literally,Pranava in Sanskrit means "humming." The mantra Aum denotes God as the Primal Sound. This sound can be heard as the sound of one's own nerve system, and meditators and mystics hear it daily, like the sound made by an electrical transformer or a swarm of bees, or a thousand vinas playing in the distance. It is a strong,inner experience, one that yogis hold with great reverence. The meditator is taught to inwardly transform this sound into the inner light which lights up ones' thoughts, and to bask in this blissful consciousness of light. Pranava is also known as the sound of the "nadanadi sakti." Hearing it one draws near to God Consciousness. When we are living in the lower chakras, or when the world too strongly dominates our mind, this sound may, for a time, not be heard. But it returns as awareness withdraws, as the mind becomes perfectly quiescent, silent, still. Listen for this sound in your quietest moments and you will learn to recognize it as a daily encounter with the Divine that lives within all men, within all creatures, within all existence. In the inner silence, you will hear the sound of 'om' !! In patanjali's yoga sutras, there is a verse which states "Tasya vaacakah praNavah" , which means The mystic syllable AUM symbolizes the Lord, Ishwara. It is an absolute identity of essence between the symbol and the Symbolized.In the Upanishads, AUM designates Brahman.The rhythmic and uninterrupted repetition, that is japa, of this praNava mantra, AUM,many times is supposed to yield material .as well as supernatural powers to the aspirant. The Mantra-Yoga-Samhitâ also emphasizes this point... When people hear the pranava they hear the Absolute itself. When they utter the pranava they go to the abode of the Absolute. He who perceives the pranava sees the state of the Absolute. He who always has the pranava in his mind has the form of the Absolute. Mundaka Upanishad also states Taking as a bow the great weapon of the Upanishad, One should put upon it an arrow sharpened by meditation. Stretching it with a thought directed to the essence of That, Penetrate that Imperishable as the mark, my friend. The mystic syllable Om is the bow. The arrow is the soul. Brahman is said to be the mark. By the undistracted man is It to be penetrated. One should come to be in It, as the arrow [in the mark]. Now, OM can also be contemplated upon as 'saguna' mantra on one's 'ishtadevata' or chosen deity. in this context. let me share with you all why our lord ganesha is called 'omkara' - lORD ganesh is OMKARANATHA! Ganesha was born when the eternal couple parvati and paraameshwera contemplated on AUM. If you view Lord Ganesha sideways, then you will see the symbol AUM in sanskrit. That's why Ganesha is called AUMkara and worshipped first. AUM is praNava. What is meant by praNava. pra is short for prakriti and navam means excellent boat. That is, AUM is the way to cross the ocean of worldly existence. The following stotra is from the narada purana, and is recited to remove all troubles and get liberation. praNamya shirasaa devaM gaurii putraM vinaayakaM | salutation head god gaurii son vinaayakaM bhaktaa vaasaM smaren.h nityaM aayuH kaama artha siddhaye One should bow the head and offer obeisance before the son of Gauri, Vinayaka, whose abode is the devotees, and remember Him always for the purpose of obtaining longevity, desired powers and prosperity. om shri ganeshaya namaha! TO BE CONTINUED........ Sponsor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2002 Report Share Posted March 27, 2002 Subject Om : An Inquiry into its Aesthetics, Mysticism, and Philosophy Article of the Month - December 2001 Om : An Inquiry into its Aesthetics, Mysticism, and Philosophy http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/om Jaya Sri Radhey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2002 Report Share Posted March 27, 2002 Namaste. Here is more to know about 'OM' from Kathopanishad: "I tell you briefly of that goal which ALL Vedas with ONE voice propound, which ALL austerities speak of, and wishing for which people practise Brahmacarya,: it is this, viz 'OM'." (Since 'OM' is the Name and Symbol of Brahman), therefore: "This letter (OM), indeed, is the Brahman (Hiranyagarbha); and this letter is, indeed, the Supreme Brahman. Anybody, who, meditating on this letter, wants ANY of the TWO, to him comes that." "This medium for meditation is the BEST; this medium is the Supreme. Realizing through this medium of meditation and getting identified with the Supreme Brahman, one becomes ADORABLE like Brahman." Kathopanishad 1.2.15-17 ---------------- And from Bhagavad Gita - The Blessed Lord Said: "All the gates of the body closed, the MIND confined within the heart, having FIXED his life-energy in the head, engaged in FIRM yoga; UTTERING the one-syllabled "OM", Brahman, THINKING of ME, he who departs, leaving the body, ATTAINS the Supreme Goal. B.G. 8.12,13 ---------------- "I am the Father of this world, the Mother, the Dispenser and the Grandfather; I am the Knowable, the Purifier, the SYLLABLE "OM" and also 'Rik, the Saman, and the Yajus'." B.Gita 9.17 -------------- "Of the great Sages I am Bhrigu; of sacred utterances I AM the monosyllable "OM". Of Yajnas (sacrifices) I am 'Japa Yajna' and of unmoving things, the Himalaya." B.Gita 10.25: Comments: "OM" is the MOST sacred sound symbol of Iswara (Lord). Constant utterance of this monosyllable is a SURE MEANS to reach Divinity. It is equivalent to Iswara. 'Yajna' or Sacrifice is the ACT of the Jivatma (individual soul) making himself over to the Paramatman (Supreme Soul). The easiest and MOST potent of all 'Yajnas' is the 'Japa-Yajna'. CONSTANT MENTAL repetition of the Lord's Name is 'Japa-Yajna'. It can be performed at ANY time and in the midst of ANY other activity. It involves NO harm or hindrance to ANYBODY. The Lord is PRESENT where 'Japa-Yajna' takes place. Jaya Sri Radhey! , pyari_h <no_reply> wrote: > Subject Om : An Inquiry into its Aesthetics, Mysticism, and > Philosophy > > Article of the Month - December 2001 > > Om : An Inquiry into its Aesthetics, Mysticism, and Philosophy > > http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/om > > Jaya Sri Radhey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.