Om — also written as Aum — is the most fundamental symbol and sound in the yoga tradition. It appears at the beginning or end of virtually every Sanskrit mantra, prayer, and text. The Mandukya Upanishad, one of the shortest but most philosophically dense of the Upanishads, is devoted entirely to explaining the significance of Om. The opening verse states: “Om, this entire world is Om. What was, what is, and what shall be — all of it is Om. And whatever else there is beyond the three times — that too is Om.”
The Three Syllables and the Silence
When properly pronounced, Om is composed of three sounds: A, U, and M. Each corresponds to a state of consciousness:
- A (Akara): The waking state (jagrat). The sound A is the most open vowel sound, produced with the mouth fully open. It corresponds to gross experience — the outer world perceived through the five senses. The deity of this state is Brahma, the creator.
- U (Ukara): The dreaming state (svapna). The middle vowel, formed as the mouth closes slightly. It corresponds to the subtle world of dreams and mental imagery. The deity is Vishnu, the sustainer.
- M (Makara): The deep sleep state (sushupti). The lips close completely on M, ending the sound. It corresponds to the state of dreamless sleep where all individuality temporarily dissolves. The deity is Shiva, the dissolver.
- The silence after Om: The Mandukya Upanishad points to a fourth state beyond the three — turiya, the witnessing awareness that is present through all three states. This cannot be represented by any sound and is indicated by the silence that follows chanting Om. Turiya is pure consciousness, the Atman.
The Cosmic Significance
The Yoga tradition holds that Om is not a human invention but the primordial sound of existence itself — the vibration from which all phenomena emerge. Modern physics’ description of the universe as fundamentally composed of vibrating fields of energy is not entirely unlike this ancient intuition. Whether or not one accepts the metaphysical claim literally, the idea points to something verifiable: that sound — vibration — is one of the most fundamental aspects of physical reality.
Chanting Om in Practice
When Om is chanted aloud, the three components should each be sustained and allowed to merge naturally. A single chanted Om typically takes 10–15 seconds when done properly. The A sound begins in the throat and resonates in the belly and chest. The U sound rises into the chest and head. The M sound creates a buzzing resonance throughout the skull that practitioners often describe as both calming and invigorating. The silence following the M should be held for at least as long as the chanted portion — this is where the actual practice occurs.
Om as a Complete Meditation
The practice of sustained Om chanting — 21 repetitions or 108 repetitions — is itself a complete meditation practice. The focus required to sustain the sound properly, the physical resonance of the vibration, and the period of silence that follows each chant combine to produce a state of deep mental stillness. Many practitioners who struggle with seated silent meditation find that Om chanting provides a bridge — the sound gives the mind something to engage with, and the quality of attention gradually deepens.
Om in Teacher Training
At Medhya Laya, every practice session begins and ends with three chants of Om. Students are taught the proper pronunciation, the meaning of each component, and the philosophy of the Mandukya Upanishad. Understanding Om is not a supplementary piece of yoga philosophy — it is a direct pointer to the nature of consciousness that all other practices are aimed at revealing.
Learn This at Medhya Laya
Study Om (Omkara) with qualified teachers in our Hatha Yoga programs in Rishikesh.