The Sound Before All Sounds

Of all the sacred symbols that have emerged from Asian religious traditions, few carry the universal recognition of Om (written ॐ in Devanagari script, also spelled Aum). This single syllable is considered in Hindu philosophy to be the primordial sound — the vibration from which the entire universe was created and to which it will ultimately return.

Far from being merely a trendy decorative motif, Om has a profoundly complex philosophical, linguistic, and spiritual history stretching back over three thousand years.

The Three Sounds of Aum

The syllable Om is technically a combination of three sounds: A, U, and M. In the Mandukya Upanishad — one of the principal Hindu philosophical texts dedicated entirely to the meaning of Om — these three sounds are systematically mapped onto the nature of reality:

  • A — the waking state (jagrat), the conscious mind, and the manifest world
  • U — the dream state (svapna), the subconscious, and the subtle realm
  • M — the deep sleep state (sushupti), unconscious bliss
  • The silence after Om — the fourth state (turiya), pure consciousness beyond description

This framework shows that Om is not simply a word but a complete map of conscious experience.

Reading the Symbol

The written form of Om (ॐ) is equally rich in symbolic meaning. Traditional interpretation breaks the symbol into distinct visual elements:

  1. The large lower curve represents the waking state
  2. The upper curve represents deep, dreamless sleep
  3. The middle curve represents the dream state
  4. The dot at the top represents the absolute — the infinite, unchanged consciousness (Brahman)
  5. The curved line beneath the dot represents Maya — the veil of illusion that separates ordinary consciousness from the absolute

Om in Hinduism

In Hindu practice, Om begins and ends prayers, mantras, and recitations of scripture. The Bhagavad Gita describes it as the one-syllable expression of Brahman (the universal spirit). It is chanted at the beginning of yoga practice, inscribed on temple doorways, and woven into virtually every aspect of devotional life.

Different schools of Hindu philosophy have their own nuanced interpretations of Om, but all agree on its fundamental nature as a bridge between the human and the divine.

Om in Buddhism and Jainism

Buddhism, particularly Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism, incorporated Om into its sacred mantra tradition. The famous mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" — associated with Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion — begins with Om as the invocation of the enlightened body, speech, and mind of all Buddhas.

In Jainism, Om is considered an abbreviation of the Navkar Mantra, representing the five supreme beings (Pancha Parameshti). It is used at the opening of prayers and sacred texts just as in Hindu tradition.

Om in Southeast Asian Contexts

As Hinduism and Buddhism spread through Southeast Asia, Om traveled with them. It appears in the sacred scripts of Thailand, Cambodia, Bali, and Java — carved into temple stones, inscribed in palm-leaf manuscripts, and chanted by monks and Brahmin priests alike. In Bali, where a unique form of Hinduism has been practiced for over a millennium, Om is central to every ritual and ceremony.

Beyond Decoration

In contemporary global culture, the Om symbol has become ubiquitous — printed on yoga mats, tattooed on bodies, and sold as jewelry worldwide. While this wide recognition has spread awareness of South Asian traditions, it is worth understanding the symbol's true depth. Om is not merely an aesthetic — it is a philosophical statement, a meditative tool, and a sonic embodiment of the cosmos itself.