What is the meaning of the Om symbol ?
OM is the single most ubiquitous symbol in all of Hinduism The symbol Om, Ohm or Aum is believed to be the primordial sound that emanated during the creation of the Universe • It is made up of three separate sounds, and saying these together makes Om the ultimate mantra. • Saying the three sounds together in the right way helps to awaken the inner self, the atman, which is a spark from the divine Brahman. When said in this way, Om is called Pranava, the sacred sound (sacred humming). • It is the representation of Brahman, who is unreachable and unknowable. By using the symbol (or saying the word), Hindus can approach Brahman in both the mystical and earth-bound planes. • The symbol has enormous significance in Hindu life, appearing everywhere on temples, on amulets worn by almost everyone and even painted onto the tongue of newborns using honey, to welcome them into life. The Mandukya Upanishad has an excellent discussion on the significance of the Om sound. See the section on the Upan
