Perhaps the most famous among the sacred Hindu and Tibetan symbols is the Om sign, the personification of the sound that created everything in the universe. He is also known as "Aum" and "Soham". It has many interpretations.
For example, one can consider “Om” as an unnamed name of the Creator, the Supreme, Tao. It should be considered not only as a ritual symbolism, but much more broadly. It is believed that it has a deep metaphysical meaning that permeates human consciousness itself. Well, let's take a closer look at what the sign and sound "Aum" tells us about, what are the interpretations of the symbolism and what is the meaning of the "Om" tattoo.
Various interpretations of the sign "Om"
There are several interpretations of the symbol "Om": it expresses both a graphic sign and a combination of sounds. Where did the belief that “Aum” have a sacred meaning and carry a deep spiritual message came from?
Indian spiritual sciences say that God originally created a sound, from the vibrations of which the world and everything in the world originated. The very metry and our entire existence came from the sacred sound. As stated in the Upanishads, "Om" is God in the form of sound.
The meaning of the sign "Om" or "Aum" is considered in different teachings with some differences, but these approaches, of course, have a lot in common.
1. The letter "A" is understood as the beginning of something, birth (adimatva). The letter "U" - development, movement, transformation (utkarsha). The letter "M" represents destruction, decay (miti). Within the framework of this view of the meaning of the sacred sign "Aum", there is a general opinion that this is a special energy (God) that governs the regular processes of creation, development and destruction of the Universe.
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2. The whole sign symbolizes the Creator with his creations, and each of the letters means masculine, feminine and neuter gender.
3. The sign "Om" is also understood in terms of time - past, present and future. The symbol itself implies the Creator, who is outside of time.
4. It is also worth understanding the sacred symbol as the teaching of the mother, father and guru. And in general, it means the knowledge of your own I, the awareness of inner divinity.
5. The letter "A" is interpreted as vak (speech), "U" - manas (mind), "M" - prana (breath of life). The holistic symbol represents a living spirit that is part of the divine spirit. Within this approach, three letters can also be interpreted as length, width and height, and the symbol implies Force, cosmic energy, God, not limited by shape and size.
Jewelry with Om sign
So Om has a triple symbolism. In addition to the above examples, it also manifests itself in such equivalents:
- qualities (gunas) - rajas (energy), sattva (purity), tamas (ignorance);
- man - body, soul, spirit;
- deities - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, etc.
To understand all the greatness of this symbol, you must have religious knowledge, imbued with the sacredness of the sign.
The use of "Om" in different religious directions
The Indian sign "Om" in Hinduism is the most sacred. It is recited at the very beginning of mantras and sacred texts. It symbolizes the trinity of the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda. The sound "Aum" is perceived as three times of day, human abilities (desire, cognition, action) and three levels of existence (heaven, air, earth).
The Buddhist sign "Om" is borrowed from Hinduism. It is used in mantras, rituals, and personifies the three jewels of Buddhism (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha); Body, Speech and Mind of Buddha.
In yoga "Om" is used as a mantra. The sound is consistently created in three parts of the body - the abdomen ("A"), chest ("U"), crown ("M").
Buddhist sign Om
Surprisingly, this is also used in world culture. For example, The Beatles used a mantra in the chorus of one of their songs. George Harrison has put the symbol on the covers of several of his albums. And even in the film "The Matrix" in one of the songs you can hear the mantra "Om".
What does the "Om" sign look like?
Visually, the sign "Om" looks like a ligature in the Sanskrit alphabet, consisting of the letters "A", "U", as well as anusvara, pronounced like "M".
In Sanskrit, "Om" is one letter, and graphically the symbol is represented by a combination of three letters, above which you can see the image of a crescent moon with a dot at the top. According to Sri Vinoba Bhave, both the Sanskrit word "Aum" and the Latin "Omne" have the same root. They express omnipresence and omnipotence, and they can be translated as "so be it", "truly." In addition, there are at least 19 more meanings of this syllable.
Today it is not so rare to apply the sign "Om" as a tattoo. However, before applying it, you need to know the special rules. This symbol can only be depicted on the skin of the upper body, but in no case below the waist. As already became clear, this is not just an interesting drawing. This is a magical symbol containing an incomprehensible sacred secret of being. Sometimes the sign is depicted as a symbol separate from other elements, but it is also extremely popular to apply it in decoration, for example, a lotus flower or a ring made of polysyllabic ornament.
Tattoo Om Mani Padme Hum
What is the significance of the tattoo sign "Om"? In addition to decorating the body, people who are not close to religious teachings believe that with its help it is possible to find a way out even from the most difficult life circumstances. He skillfully guides a person to the right exit.
Those who strive to take the path of purifying the mind, for example, practicing a certain religious direction of Hinduism, apply the Om tattoo, the meaning of which is to help a person overcome difficult trials on the path to enlightenment.
Interpretation of "Om" as a sacred sound
How the interpretation of "Om" as a symbol is considered, we have already considered. But also this symbol is known as a sacred sound used in mantras.
The sound "Aum" is considered to be the primary sound, independent of the cultural context. We can say that this sound contains the entire alphabet, since for its pronunciation it is necessary to go through a phased metamorphosis. So, an open mouth from "A" to "M" moves to close it. And this has a deep sacred meaning. Considering this phenomenon from the point of view of metaphorical decoding, it follows that:
- the sound "A" is pronounced with an open mouth, which personifies the state of wakefulness, activity;
- the sound "U" - a transitional stage, formed from openness, but by closing the mouth, which symbolizes the state of sleep;
- the sound "M" - there is a complete closing of the lips, interpreted as a state of deep sleep, locking the doors to the outside world.
"Om" is the sound of the fourth dimension, invisible to the human senses, which perceive exclusively the material world.
What the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" says
It has already been pointed out that the sound "Om" is often used in religious mantras. They hide a deep sacred meaning, often personified, for example, in one of the most famous mantras "Om mani Padme Hum". A tattoo with her image can be interpreted in different ways. Literally translated from the Tibetan language as "Oh, the jewel in the lotus flower!" But it is given a broader meaning.
It is generally believed that this is the mantra of the bodhisattva of compassion Avalokiteshvara, consisting of six syllables, each of which is aimed at saving beings from six worlds - gods, demonic entities, humans, animals, spirits and those who live in the underworld. For example, every word in the Om Mani Padme Hum tattoo is believed to mean the following:
- the word "Om" - the body, speech and mind of the Buddha;
- "Mani" - love, sincere compassion, awakening;
- "Padme" - wisdom;
- "Hum" - the unity of practice and wisdom.
The sign "Om" can become a talisman for a person who is in a difficult life situation or does not know which decision will be correct. This symbol and sacred sound will help those who sacredly believe in it.
