The OM mantra is a most sacred syllable in Vedic culture. The Vedas glorify OM as the origin of the Vedas, or the seed from which all of the Vedas grew. This is why OM precedes every Vedic mantra. OM expands into the vyahritis (bhuh, bhuvah and svaha) which indicates the three planetary levels of the universe, or the whole creation. The vyahritis expand into the Brahma Gayatri mantra, and this expands into all the Vedic literature.

OM is the sound substance of the Absolute, the seed of the universal manifestation, and connected to the infinite Brahman. It is also a name of God. It is composed of the letters A, U, and M. Several meanings for these have been written in the Sanskrit texts. “A” represents that which is observed in the state of wakefulness, or the experience of the body and senses. “U” represents that which is observed in the dream state, or the inner astral realm. “M” represents that which is in the state of deep sleep as well as that which is beyond the perception of the senses in the wakeful state. The silence, which is like the fourth letter of AUM, is the basis and underlying reality found in all states of consciousness, whether waking, dreaming or deep sleep. This is the Brahman, which is all that is manifested and all that is unmanifest.

However, OM also reveals itself according to the depth of consciousness and realizations of the practitioner or sadhaka. For example, another interpretation by the Gosvamis of Vrindavana is that the letter A (a-kara) refers to the Supreme Being, Krishna, the master of all living beings and all material and spiritual worlds. He is the Supreme Leader. The letter U (u-kara) represents Radharani, or the pleasure potency or spiritual energy of the Supreme, otherwise known as the feminine aspect of God. The M (ma-kara) represents the living beings, the marginal energy of the Supreme. Thus, om is the complete combination of the Absolute Truth. In other words, omkara represents the Supreme Being, His name (Krishna), fame, pastimes, entourage, expansions, energies and everything else. Thus, OM is also the resting place of everything and the full understanding of the Vedas.

Further information relates that OM or omkara, as the representation of the Supreme Lord, delivers one back to the spiritual dimension if one remembers or chants it at the time of death. Srila Jiva Gosvami, in his Bhagavat-sandarbha, says that omkara is considered the sound vibration of the holy name of the Supreme Lord. The Srimad-Bhagavatam also begins with omkara. Thus it is considered the seed of deliverance from the material world. Since the Supreme is absolute, then both He and His name are the same. Contact with the name is also contact with the Lord Himself.

The image of OM looks something like the number 3 with an extra curve. The largest lower curve represents the waking state. The upper curve signifies deep dreamless sleep. The additional lower curve is the dream state. The dot represents the Absolute Reality which is separated from the other curves (or states of consciousness) by a half-circle. This half-circle signifies maya, the illusion or material energy. It is maya which keeps us focused on various states of consciousness within the realm of the material manifestation which then veils the Absolute from our experience or awareness. The half-circle, open on top, indicates the infinite and unbounded nature of the Absolute, which is always separate from maya.

OM, therefore, is the indescribable reality. It is the encapsulated form of all that is. When it is pronounced properly, the “A” begins from the base of the spine, the Muladhara Chakra. As the sound moves up, the “A” or A-kar activates the area of the naval and the digestive system. The “U” sound comes from the heart area, so our blood circulation becomes activated. The heart gets the extra supply of oxygen, which then spreads though other parts of the body. The sound of “U” is pronounced in the throat region, ending at the tongue’s tip. The “M” is focused at the lips, or the end of the vocal mechanism. It goes in our head and comes out through our nose, which stimulates the vibrations in the brain. This also helps activate the pituitary gland and helps the over-all improvement of the body. Plus the psychic abilities are awakened. Thus, when OM is chanted or pronounced correctly, it includes all the sounds or vowels of the alphabet.

In the last part of the mantra is the silence into which the OM culminates. It is the OM without the distinction of parts. It has no name and thus does not come under the purview of empirical usage. It is the self or pure consciousness, the turiya, which transcends all distinctions.

OM is also said to be the sound of the universe, or the sound of the energy which flows through it. Thus, to meditate on OM in deep attention leads one’s mind into profound states of higher consciousness.

The Meditation Technique

The correct procedure for chanting OM is as follows:

1. Sit in your meditation posture with eyes closed and your mind at peace. The head, neck and spine must be straight. Prepare yourself appropriately with relaxation, deep breathing and pranayama. 

2. When ready, take in a deep breath slowly until it reaches the naval, hold it comfortably.

3. Then begin to utter OM with a long exhale, going ooooooommmmm or aaaaauuuuummmmm. You first chant the “A” or “aaahhh” sound during the main portion of the exhale, and then go to pronouncing the “U” or “uh” sound, and conclude with the “M” sound. The “A” is chanted through parted lips, slowly ascending in volume. The “U” is chanted through lips that are closer together. The time taken for chanting the “U” should be double the time taken for chanting “A”. The last sound “M” is uttered through the nose with lips closed. The time for chanting “M” should be double of that of “U”. As you chant the “M” the volume of the sound should descend as slowly as it rose during the “A”, taking as much time as it took to ascend.

4. Chant it like this several times for a total of at least nine times.

5. As you chant, do it more quietly until it is a whisper, bringing your awareness deeper within yourself each time.

6. Then chant even more deeply, but only mentally, not out loud. Let the sound pervade and resonate in your mind. It should be the only thing that you hear.

7. The last step is when this form of meditation gets more difficult. Now cease the mental chanting while still listening to the sound within your awareness. Let yourself flow into that sound, losing all other identity, and all other awareness. Nothing else exists, only you and OM, the vibration of God. Within that vibration God is there is. If you can reach this level of awareness, then for several minutes or as long as you can, if you are aware of time at all, sit in that awareness of God, the Absolute, the Pure, the Omniscient and Supreme Being.

To really reach the full perfection of this form of meditation is not easy. This is why some sages feel and some references in shastra state that, this can be a nice preliminary form of practice but, should not be expected to take people to the deepest level of realization immediately, simply because most people in this age of Kali-yuga will find it too difficult due to many distractions around them. However, with perseverance, genuine practice and an innermost desire to realize God, one can realize the true potential of this meditation over a period of time.