Mystic Syllable Om

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

Page 3

YATEENDRASURI SMARAK GRANTH complete and in your parts, the word om de
Kathopanisad (2.15) which says that Om is a scribes."
word which all the Vedas speak, of which all
the penances also speak, with a view to atThus put in a tabular form the Om expresses
taining it (the Sadhakas) observe celibacy. I following things with its three component letters:
shall tell you it in brief. It is Om. Letter Veda Stages Gunas Worlds Gods
यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यलयो वीतरागाः। Rgveda Waking Sattva Bhur Brahma
यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं संग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ॥ . Yajurveda dreaming rajas Bhuvah, Visnu
One who departs leaving the body (at the time
of death, reciting the letter Om, the one Samaveda deep, tamas Svar Siva
lottered Brahma, and thinking of me, one gets sleep
the highest state (moksa) (8.13). . The half matra speaks of the fourth stage
The Yogasastra and the Tantrasastra identify which is enclosed by its subtle sounds. This stage
Om, from adhibhautika point of view, with the procis inexplicable. Only the accomplished yogis can
ess of breathing. During 24 hours one breaths experience it in their brain as a feeling that an ant in moving there.
21,600 times. While inhaling the sound is pro
duced and while exhaling the sound is produced. The mystic power of Om is felt also by the
By omitting the consonants and from this one Bauddha and Jain Sadhakas. The mantra of
gets the sound Om. Avalokitesvara Buddha is famous. It begins with Om as "Om Manipadme hum"
In this manner, Om represents Parabrhama
from the Adhyatmika point of view; three gods viz. The Jain philosophers derive it from the sa
Brahma, visnu and siva the Adhidaivika point of cred and mystic Navakara mantra and identify it
view and the So ham or the Ajapamantra from the with five Paramesthins.
Adhibhautika point of view. अरिहन्ता असरीरा आयरिय - उवज्झाय-मुणिणो।
It is therefore rightly called the mantra-raja or पंचक्खरनिप्फनो ओंकारो पंचपरमिठ्ठीय
the king of all the mantras. The five Paramesthins are - 3767, FHS, 3R,
Upasana of Om उपाध्याय and साधु Now the word सिद्ध is replaced by अशरीरी and साधु by मुनि. Then taking initial letter of
Now this mantra which according to the sage
Patanjali, is expressive of the god, can be attended these words viz अ + अ + आ and आ + उ + म give by ...
: upon in three ways:joining with each other the letter Om. Sri Simhatilaka Suri in his Srimantrar ahasya says :
1. It can be recited orally with one or two or
three matras. This sort of recitation of Om in short, अर्हददेहाचार्योपाध्याय मुनीन्द्र पूर्ववर्णोत्थः।
long and prolonged (pluta) form cures one from disप्रणवः सर्वत्रादौ ज्ञेयः परमेष्ठसंस्मृत्यैय
eases. Srimadbhagavadgita also extols Om in sev- 2. It can be meditated upon. For this its popueral places :
lar form is drawn as 3. But eariler, it was written in 1. It is spoken as a vibhuti of the Lord Sri Krsna -
manuscripts as 3, the form which is adopted by
the Jains, Sriharsa in his Naisadhiyacaritam gives प्रणवः सर्ववेदेषु
a still earlier form as 3. It is also represent it as. 2. It reiterates in (8.11) the mantra of the