The garland of the thousand names of Lord Vishnu begins with the Omkaara. As is customary with all Vedic mantras, the Omkaara precedes every mantra. When these thousand names are chanted individually while performing archana, each name is prefixed with the Omkaara. For example, 'Om Vishnave Namaha' etc.
The Vedas and the Upanishads extol the Omkara as the essence of all mantras and as a sound symbol of the Divine (Sabda Brahman). The Mandukya Upnaishad says, "Sarvam Omkaarameva" (Everything in the Universe is Om).
The Kathopanishad declares, "The goal which all the Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which men desire when they lead the life of continence, I will tell you briefly: it is OM. This syllable OM is indeed Brahman. This syllable is the Highest. Whosoever knows this syllable obtains all that he desires. This is the best support; this is the highest support. Whosoever knows this support is adored in the world of Brahma…" (Chapter I, ii, 15-17).
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali too, one comes across references to the Omkara. Rishi Patanjali says, "Tasya Vaachakaha Pranavaha (1.27)" (Omkara is a symbol of That) and "Repetition of Om should be done with the understanding of its meaning (1.28)."
The Omkara is also called Pranava which is defined as 'Prakarshena Nuyate Iti Pranavaha' – that which is ever new, by which the Divine is praised.
The Omkara consists of three letters – A (akaara), U (ukaara) and M (makaara). Chanted together, these three letters symbolically represent the totality of all sound vibrations of the universe. All the mantras therefore are said to emerge and finally dissolve into the Omkara which is considered as the 'seed' (beeja) of all sound vibrations in the universe.
Modern Science today is corroborating the vision of Vedic Rishis. Big Bang theorists suggest that the primordial sound which was emanated from the big bang explosion was a booming, humming sound like the Omkara.
Let us meditate on the profound meaning of the Omkara before we dwell upon the names of the Lord.
The Vedas and the Upanishads extol the Omkara as the essence of all mantras and as a sound symbol of the Divine (Sabda Brahman). The Mandukya Upnaishad says, "Sarvam Omkaarameva" (Everything in the Universe is Om).
The Kathopanishad declares, "The goal which all the Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which men desire when they lead the life of continence, I will tell you briefly: it is OM. This syllable OM is indeed Brahman. This syllable is the Highest. Whosoever knows this syllable obtains all that he desires. This is the best support; this is the highest support. Whosoever knows this support is adored in the world of Brahma…" (Chapter I, ii, 15-17).
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali too, one comes across references to the Omkara. Rishi Patanjali says, "Tasya Vaachakaha Pranavaha (1.27)" (Omkara is a symbol of That) and "Repetition of Om should be done with the understanding of its meaning (1.28)."
The Omkara is also called Pranava which is defined as 'Prakarshena Nuyate Iti Pranavaha' – that which is ever new, by which the Divine is praised.
The Omkara consists of three letters – A (akaara), U (ukaara) and M (makaara). Chanted together, these three letters symbolically represent the totality of all sound vibrations of the universe. All the mantras therefore are said to emerge and finally dissolve into the Omkara which is considered as the 'seed' (beeja) of all sound vibrations in the universe.
Modern Science today is corroborating the vision of Vedic Rishis. Big Bang theorists suggest that the primordial sound which was emanated from the big bang explosion was a booming, humming sound like the Omkara.
Let us meditate on the profound meaning of the Omkara before we dwell upon the names of the Lord.
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