The entire Creation emerged from just one sound, that of ‘Om’. Every sound in the Creation effects a change in the physical body that might be positive (sur) or negative (asur). ‘AUM’, also called the Brahmnaad, was also the sound recorded by the researchers at Sheffield University, UK, as the sound emitted by the Sun. Another research has proven how water molecules change their structure when subjected to nice, calming words as opposed to harsh words.
The simple chant of ‘Om’ essentially has three sounds, representing the trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, corresponding to the three forces: Creation, Preservation and Transformation. Interestingly, reference to this primordial omnipresent sound Aum is present in some form, in almost all religious texts in the world. Om (Aum) became the sacred word hum of the Tibetans, ameen of the Muslims, and amen of the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans and the Christians.
Here are a few references to ‘Om’ in various ‘religions’:
- This concurs with modern scientific thinking which says that everything – every atom and molecule in every nook and corner of this universe – is formed out of energy vibration. Einstein formulated his famous equation E = mc² which indicates that matter (m) is but an expression of Energy (E). Every atom, at-Om, comes out of the Primordial Vibration which is symbolised by Om.
- The Arabic letters of the opening phrase of the Quran sum to the numerical value 786 in the system of Abjad numerals. Muslims on the Indian subcontinent use 786 as an abbreviation for the phrase ‘bism illāh ir-raḥmān ir-raḥīm’ (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم) which means ‘in the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful’. All Arabic copies of the Quran have the mysterious figure 786 imprinted on them. No Arabic scholar has been able to determine the choice of this particular number as divine. This ‘magical’ number is none other than the Vedic holy letter ‘Om’ written in Sanskrit. Read from right to left this figure of Om represents the numbers 786.
- The phonemes of the Vedic hymns and the seven fundamental nodes – Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, of the Indian classical music have originated from the vibrations of the sublime sound of ‘Om’ in nature. The Vedic quote –“Ekoham Bahusyami” implies that all sounds, all energies, all motion and everything existing in the Universe has originated from the vibrations of this single anahata nada.
- Amen in Hebrew means – sure, faithful. The Biblical passage, John 1:1, “In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” it is believed refers to the same primordial omnipresent sound.
- Om in Vedas: In the Yajur Veda in verse 1:1 where it is known as the ‘pranava’ – ‘the humming sound’- or ‘udgita’ – ‘the elevating chant’.
- Om in Upanishads: The Mandukya Upanishad is exclusively dedicated to explaining the significance of Om. It says that Om symbolises everything manifest and yet it has its origin in the Unmanifest. Om is also widely mentioned and discussed in other Upanishads, such as the Chhandogya, Nada Bindu, Amrita Bindu, Maitri, Katha, Sweteshwatara and Dhyana Bindu Upanishads.
- The ancient mystical language of the Irish Celts was called Ogham (pronounced Ohm, Om or Aum). Ogham was not a flexible, developed language, but more a set of hieroglyphic words for a limited range of things, mostly denoting objects revered by the Druids.
A mantra is a codified energy. Irrespective of the ‘religious’ connotations, it is the science of sound that has been used across religions for the benefit of mankind. This is why the temples have a custom to ring bells at dusk and dawn. Similarly, the churches ring bells and the mosques recite prayers at the same time. With as much similarities across ‘religions’, it is time we realize that there is only one energy that may have taken various forms; but essentially we’re all bound by the same gravity, no matter what we call it.
Watch this space in the next issue for reference to ‘Om’ in more cultures.
References:
http://www.mandalayoga.net/index-newsletter-en-mantra_om.html
http://guidingthoughts.blogspot.in/2012/08/om-and-big-bang-theory-of-modern.html
http://www.muktinath.org/hinduism/om-aum.html
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.186.8652&rep=rep1&type=pdf
http://www.ttonline.org/threads/7965-Islam-and-OM-(AUM)-the-Creative-Sound-Of-God
