What is the significance of the sound "OM"?

Answer 1

From ancient Hindu belief, chanting of certain sounds is beneficial. The have a catalog of chanting sounds, each with specific purpose; you can look this up in a yoga book, for example.

From a scientific perspective, chanting of a specific sound causes vibrating in the vocal cord that gets transmitted to a specific organ. Certain frequencies corresponde to certain resonant frequency of a organ of your body.

To put it in lay term. Many of us understand the importance of sharpening our mental acuity by putting our mind to work, through thinking, analyzing, reading, etc. Many of us understand the importance of exercizing our bodily health through physical activities. But has it ever occured to anyone that one can also exercise a person's internal organs?

The concept is pretty easy. A vibrating string gives a sound at a specific pitch according to its length. A thumping drum gives a sound at a specific pitch according to its shape. This particular sound is the resonant frequency of that particular structure. Similiarly each organ, with its specific dimensions, responds to a particular vibration.

I am not certain what om corresponds to, it might be the stomach or kidney. You can find it in a reference or online.

Answer 2

Om or Aum is of paramount importance in Hinduism. This symbol (as seen in the image on the right) is a sacred syllable representing Brahman, the impersonal Absolute — omnipotent, omnipresent, and the source of all manifest existence. Brahman, in itself, is incomprehensible; so a symbol becomes mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable. Om, therefore, represents both the unmanifest (nirguna) and manifest (saguna) aspects of God. That is why it is called Pranava, to mean that it pervades life and runs through our prana or breath.

Although Om symbolizes the most profound concepts of Hindu belief, it is in use daily. The Hindus begin their day or any work or a journey by uttering Om. The sacred symbol is often found at the head of letters, at the beginning of examination papers and so on. Many Hindus, as an expression of spiritual perfection, wear the sign of Om as a pendant. This symbol is enshrined in every Hindu temple premise or in some form or another on family shrines.

Om is not a word but rather an intonation, which, like music, transcends the barriers of age, race, culture and even species. It is made up of three Sanskrit letters, aa, au and ma which, when combined together, make the sound Aum or Om. It is believed to be the basic sound of the world and to contain all other sounds. It is a mantra or prayer in itself. If repeated with the correct intonation, it can resonate throughout the body so that the sound penetrates to the centre of one's being, the atman or the soul.

There is harmony, peace and bliss in this simple but deeply philosophical sound. By vibrating the sacred syllable Om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Ultimate Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the highest state of "stateless" eternity, states the Bhagavad Gita.


Om provides a dualistic viewpoint. On one hand, it projects the mind beyond the immediate to what is abstract and inexpressible. On the other hand, it makes the absolute more tangible and comprehensive. It encompasses all potentialities and possibilities; it is everything that was, is, or can yet be. It is omnipotent and likewise remains undefined.


While meditating, when we chant Om, we create within ourselves a vibration that attunes sympathy with the cosmic vibration and we start thinking universally. The momentary silence between each chant becomes palpable. Mind moves between the opposites of sound and silence until, at last, it ceases the sound. In the silence, the single thought—Om—is quenched; there is no thought. This is the state of trance, where the mind and the intellect are transcended as the individual self merges with the Infinite Self in the pious moment of realization. It is a moment when the petty worldly affairs are lost in the desire for the universal. Such is the immeasurable power of Om.

Answer 3

om is a sacred word in hinduism and is believed to be the most beautiful of sounds.
certainly if you try repeating the word aloud slowly to let the resonance take hold of your mouth and then your throat and then your entire being, you will begin to experience something of the peace that many are said to achieve by repeating this sound.

regardless of your religious leanings (or absence of them!) you can repeat this word and draw solace from it.

you might like to try the site below for other interpretations of om.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om

Answer 4

It make a pleasant vibrating resonance and helps block out other sounds so you cans concentrate better.

Answer 5

It symbolises the cosmic vibration.