Mystic Syllable Om

Author(s): A N Jain
Publisher: Z_Yatindrasuri_Diksha_Shatabdi_Smarak_Granth_012036.pdf

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The Mystic Syllable Om
Dr. A. N. Jain
mantra. Thus the sanctity or the sacredness was granted to Om.
The mystic syllable Om occupies a prominent and auspicious place in the field or Sadhana (spir- itual practics) whether it may be in the line of Hindu, Buddha or Jain religion.
The antiquity of this syllable is traced back to the Vedas. It occurs for the first time in the Vajasaneyi Samhita of the Yajurveda (2.13, 40.17 etc.) The word Pranava is found in 19.25.
The four matras of Om became five, presided over by five gods - Brahma, Visnu, Rudra, Isana and Sarva. This seems to be precursor of later Saivism
The Satapathabrahmana developed it as essence of the Vedas and of the universe.
The Pratisakhya of the Yajurveda (8, 9, 11) lays down the recitation of Om in the beginning of study, and before chanting a Vedic mantra. It also mentions that Om is the name of Brahma (Omiti namanirdeso Brahmanah. Thus it identified. Om with Brahma.
The Aitareya brahmana (V 3.2) gives its three componants 37, 3, 7 for the first time. These three componants are derived from the three Vyahrtis :
To: and Fa: from the three Vedas, viz. the Rigveda, the Yajurveda and the Sama Veda; from the three gods - agni, Vayu and Aditya and from the three worlds - Prthivi, Antariksha, and Vayu respectively.
The Gopathabrahmana gives two accounts Thereof and presents full development of Om.
. According to first account, Brahma created Brahma on the lotus-leaf. The latter created two letters with four matras :
3īt and
From 317 transformed into 7 were
The Baudhayana sutra (4.1 gives further mystic character to Om by stating that it is papanasaka (destroyer of sin).
This idea is elaborated in the later Sannyasopanisad as follow :
यस्तु द्वादशसाहस्रं प्रणवं जपतेऽन्वहम्। तस्य द्वादशभिर्मासैः परं ब्रह्म प्रकाशते।। सर्वेषामेव पापानां संघाते समुपस्थिते। तारं द्वादश साहस्रमभ्यसेच्छेदनं हि तत्।।
It also describes it as the best mantra which is sacred, purifying, bringing piety and fulfilling all desires and identifies it with Brahma.
मांगल्यं पावनं धयं सर्वकामप्रसाधनम्।
ओंकारं परमं ब्रह्म सर्वमन्त्रेषु नायकम्।।
This idea is also corroborated in the Yogatatvopanisad :
सर्वविघ्नहरो मन्त्रः प्रणवः सर्वदोषह। एवमभ्यासयोगेन सिद्धिसरम्भसंभवा।।
The Yajurveda Kalpasutra gives reason for its sacred character :
ओंकारश्चाथ शब्दश्च द्वावेतो ब्रह्मणः पुरा। कण्ठं भित्त्वा विनिर्यातौ तस्मान्मांगलिकावभौ।
produced water, moon, the Atharvaveda, Om, the Vyahrti Janah and the metre anustubh etc.
From ware created the Itihasa, Puranas, gita, nrtya and vidhya
From the HF were produced the three Vyahrtis, three deities, three Vedas, three worlds and three metres - Gayatri, Tristubh and Jagati.
The second account says that the gods got victory by Om. Consequently they gave boon to it that it will be recited in the beginning of every Vedic