$JES 103 Jain Alphabet Book Level 1 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 55

O is for Om Om is for meditation
Om is a holy word used in the beginning of many prayers. Om is also used to set a tune for meditation. Om is another religious chant like the Namokär Mantra**.
'Om' is a Sanskrut word and it sounds like 'Aum'. It is made up of five letters: - a, a, ä (aa), u, and m.
The five letters, spoken together, make the sound Om.
The first letter "a" represents Arihanta (a human being who has realized the true nature of reality and has conquered their worldly passions)
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The second "a" represents Ashariri (Ashariri means to be without a physical body, such as a liberated soul, a perfected being, or a Siddha)
O IS FOR OM
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The third letter "ä" represents Ächärya (an Ascetic who is the head of a Jain congregation)
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The fourth letter "u" represents Upädhyay (an Ascetic teacher) The fifth letter "m" represents Muni (Sädhus and Sädhvis who practice Jain principles).
Hence, the Om represents the salutation to the five revered personalities in Jainism. Om is a short form of the Navakär or Namokär Mantra.
Note: O is also for Omniscience
**
Look for Navkär Mantra under N
JAIN ALPHABET BOOK
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