Om - Pranava Mantra

Om — the Pranava, the primordial sound from which all creation arises and the seed of every mantra.

Meaning

Om (Aum) is the eternal, single-syllable sound symbol of Brahman, the supreme reality. Its three sounds A-U-M represent creation, sustenance and dissolution, the waking, dream and deep-sleep states, and the silence beyond is the Self.

Benefits

Chanted before every prayer and meditation to steady the mind, purify the surroundings and attune the self to the cosmic vibration; brings calm, focus and inner peace.

The Three Sounds of Om

The Mandukya Upanishad devotes itself entirely to this one syllable. The sound A (akara) begins deep in the throat and stands for the waking state and the created world; U (ukara) rolls forward across the tongue and stands for the dream state and the subtle world; M (makara) closes on the lips and stands for deep sleep and the unmanifest. The brief silence after the M — the "half-measure" (ardha-matra) — points to Turiya, the fourth state: pure consciousness itself, beyond waking, dream and sleep. The three sounds are also traditionally associated with creation, sustenance and dissolution, the powers of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

How to Chant Om

Sit comfortably with the spine upright, take a slow full breath, and let the sound rise unhurried — the A from the belly, the U gliding through the mouth, the M humming on closed lips for roughly twice as long as the first two sounds together, and then rest a moment in the silence that follows. That silence is considered as much a part of the practice as the sound.

Om is traditionally chanted 3, 9, 21 or 108 times. The early morning, especially the Brahma muhurta (the last hour and a half before sunrise), is considered the best time, but Om carries no restriction of day, place or initiation — it may be chanted by anyone, at any time, before study, prayer, yoga or meditation.

Who Chants It, and When

Om opens and closes nearly every Vedic recitation: every other mantra on this site begins with it. Students chant it before study, yogis use it to steady the breath and mind, and meditators rest their attention on its fading resonance. If you are new to mantra practice, this single syllable is the traditional place to begin — a few slow repetitions each morning, building gradually to a full mala of 108.

The Om - Pranava Mantra above is given in both Devanagari (Sanskrit) and Roman transliteration so you can read it in whichever script you are comfortable with — switch between the two using the buttons above, share the link, or download a PDF.