Om is a sound and symbol, rich in meaning and depth, often chanted at the beginning and end of yoga classes. It appears at the beginning and end of most Sanskrit (ancient language originated in India) prayers. It is a mystic syllable, considered the most sacred mantra.
Hindus believe that as creation began, the divine, all-encompassing consciousness took the form of the first and original vibration manifesting as sound “OM”. Hindus believe the mantra “OM” is the name of God, the vibration of the Supreme. It is sometimes chanted as three sounds, a-u-m, symbolic of the three major Hindu deities: Bhrahma Shakti (creation), Vishnu Shakti (preservation) and Shiva Shakti (liberation, and/or destruction).
Om reminds us that we have the ability to move past our physical and mental states of consciousness and connect with the divine – both in ourselves and others. It has been said that Om is the sound of the universe. In its essence, Om represents the sound of divinity in all things in the past, present and future.
Jo Kirsch ©2014