Significance Of 'Aum' In Hinduism

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The Hindu symbol 'Aum' or 'Om' is one of the most important symbols of Hinduism. You must have seen the Aum symbol featuring almost everywhere and on everything that is connected to Hinduism. Have you ever wondered as to what this symbol is all about?

Aum is a syllable in Sanskrit which is supposed to be the first sound of the Universe. The symbol is described as the all-encompassing mystical entity in the Upanishads. The vibration created by the chanting of Aum symbolises that manifestation of God. The sound is the reflection of absolute reality.

The syllable 'Aum' has three distinct sounds A (a-kara), U (oo- kara) and M (ma- kara). When taken letter by letter, A-U-M represents the divine energy (Shakti) united in its three elementary aspects: Bhrahma Shakti (creation), Vishnu Shakti (preservation) and Shiva Shakti (liberation, and/or destruction). It is the sound of creation, preservation and destruction.

SYMBOLISM OF HINDU PUJA RITUALS

Let us know a bit more about the significance of Aum in Hinduism.

The Inner Meaning
As per Mandukya Upanishad,

• The "A" stands for the state of wakefulness, in which we experience everything externally through our mind and sense organs.
• The "u" stands for the dream state, in which we have inward experience.
• The sound "m" represents the sate of deep sleep where there is no desire and consciousness is gathered in upon itself.

The Trinity
The Aum symbol also represents the holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Symbolically the three letters embody the divine energy (Shakti) and it's 3 main characteristics:

• beginning of the universe
• the life period of universe
• destruction of the universe

Significance Of Chanting Aum
The sound AUM, when chanted, vibrates at the frequency of 432 Hz, which is the same vibrational frequency found throughout everything in nature. So, when we chant Aum the vibration in us resonates with the universal vibration which elevates us from our normal state of consciousness and connects us to that of the divine which helps us in realising our true self.

To add in, the vibrations of the syllable causes our mind to relax and slows down our nervous system, calms down our mind like in the state of meditation. When you mind gets this kind of relaxation, you blood pressure comes down to normal and your heart health is improved.

So, as we saw Aum as one of the most important symbol in Hinduism and is the mark of everything that is God.