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Meaning of Om: symbol, history, mantras, in Hinduism and more!

Om is one of the sacred mantras that are part of religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. He is well known for his use in other aspects, such as meditations and during yoga practice.

It is noteworthy that the mantra can be seen as Ohm or Aum. This is a sacred sound and known as the sound of the Universe. Through its history, it is possible to understand the importance that the symbol has for different religions and their practitioners, as well as the way it can impact people’s lives.

Sound is capable of benefiting various aspects of life and manages to bring with it positive energies that cause change. Want to know a little more about the Om symbol? Read next!

One of the ways to understand Om is by referring to its history, in which one can understand that the vibrations produced by its sound are so strong and positive that they manage to unify everything around it. Therefore, he is considered powerful.

In addition, such vibrations also promote energization, which is beneficial for the body. Thus, chanting using Om is common in moments of meditation, because it brings positive energies to the chakras.

To understand more about Om, it is also necessary to look at its aesthetics. Formed by several curves, a crescent and a dot, each of its details symbolizes something different. Were you curious? Discover the origin and history of the Om symbol below!


The origin of Om can be directly associated with Hinduism. The first mentions and meanings attributed to the sound were through the religious practices of these regions and show the symbol as something extremely important.

As it brings good vibrations, Om is used to define a feeling of full happiness, a state in which the human being is only aware and lives in harmony with himself. From the definition of its origin, it began to be assigned to several important issues of the Hindu religions.


The oldest record of the Om symbol, until the present moment, is a sacred text of Hinduism, Mandukya Upishad. This text talks about the symbol, highlighting that it is something imperishable and that it transcends its own time.

This same text has also been associated with one of the six Hindu philosophies, Vedanta. In it, Om is considered inexhaustible, infinite knowledge and the essence of everything one has – even life. With this meaning, it came to represent the sacred trinity of the Hindu gods: Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu.

To understand a little more about the symbology behind Om and everything it can reveal, it is necessary to understand the small details responsible for its complete formation.

As it consists of three curves, a semicircle (or crescent) and a point, each of these has a different meaning and can bring a greater understanding of the importance that Om carries. See more about the details that make up the symbol below!


The larger curve 1 shows about the waking state. It is in this state that one’s consciousness becomes turned inward and this happens through the gates of one’s senses.

Thus, its size can be interpreted as the most common state of human consciousness. Therefore, it occupies a larger space, when compared to the other elements present in the constitution of Om.


The above curve 2 carries with it a deeper meaning and talks about the deep state of sleep in which human beings can find themselves. This state can also be understood as unconsciousness.

Therefore, it is the moment when the mind relaxes, a state of sleep in which the sleeper does not want to think about anything or go through any kind of situation. This includes dreams, which appear in the mind during moments of deep sleep.


Located between deep sleep and the waking state, the middle curve 3 carries with it the meaning of dream. This point talks about the individual’s consciousness at that moment, when he is more turned inward.

Thus, the dreamer has the vision within himself and contemplates a different world through dreams. He will have something much more enchanting to experience through his eyelids and in the moment of deep sleep, in which he finds himself with his dreams.


The semicircle that appears in the Om symbol represents illusion. In that case, it refers to everything that can somehow affect a person’s life, preventing them from achieving their happiness in life.

The illusion makes that person start to believe deeply in the fixed idea in his mind and this ends up having a strong impact on his life, reaching a point where nothing else around will be noticed by him. Your focus will be fully on that thought and nothing else. In this way, there is an enormous difficulty in finding happiness, when facing only what is an illusion.


The dot that appears in the Om symbol speaks of people’s fourth state of consciousness, which in Sanskrit is known as Turiya. In that case, it can be seen as absolute consciousness.

Through the symbology of the point, it is also possible to understand that it is through it that the much desired happiness and peace can be found. That way, you have a much deeper connection with the divine, the maximum connection you can have that way.

Among the various ways of understanding this very important symbol of Hinduism, there are some stories about it that point out that the world was created after the chant with Om was made.

That’s why this chant has come to be used for any situation in which you have a promising start. Including, this is something often used by people who start some kind of venture, so that there is prosperity and success.

Some stories suggest that the origin of the Om symbol comes from yoga and that it may be an alternative origin for the symbol, as its origin is uncertain. See more about these aspects below!


Levels of consciousness are shown by the symbols that make up the whole of Om. In the corners, 4 syllables are considered, the last being silent, but all assume different positions of meaning, depending on what is being considered.

Thus, these levels are shown by: wakefulness, sleep and deep sleep. The latter, considered as silent, has, in fact, the meaning of silence between one recitation of the mantra and another. In this way, these are considered the levels of consciousness of Om and the latter transcends all others.


When considering the energy of the syllables that make up Om, each one is represented by the 3 gunas, which are material energies and have the power to influence the lives of all living beings in the world with their strength.

“A” represents tamas: ignorance, inertia and darkness. “U” represents rajas: dynamism, activity and passion. “M” stands for satva: light, truth and purity. The silent sound, in this case, represents pure consciousness, which is a state that, again, transcends these 3 gunas.


If the aspects of the letters and sounds of Om are taken into account in relation to the Hindu gods, it can be understood that each of the letters is intended for one of them and the symbol can be interpreted differently.

“A” stands for Brahma, who is the creator. “U” stands for Vishnu, who is the conservative god. Meanwhile, “M” stands for Shiva, who is the destroyer god. The silent sound represents reality, which goes beyond the deities and their powers.


If, in this case, the 3 aspects of the times are considered, to understand the meaning brought by each of the letters of the sound of Om in the mantras, it is possible to perceive details about the present, the past and the future.

“A” is the representative of the present, “U” will be the representative of the past and, finally, “M” will be responsible for representing the future. Silent sound, in this case, brings aspects that are not directly involved with this, because it represents reality and something that goes beyond time and space.


The Vedas are the oldest sacred scriptures in history and are part of various currents of Hinduism. In this case, when relating to the Om symbol, this can be seen through three specific scriptures, Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda.

These scriptures are considered as powerful religious hymns dedicated to Hindu deities. They form its philosophical, cultural and social values. Therefore, they are also related to the Om symbol, since these are religious mantras, as well as those that use this symbol.


The Bhakti tradition is related to the Om symbol because it emphasizes the perception and understanding of supreme consciousness, just as this symbol speaks of deep consciousness.

Bhakti is a living feeling of oneness and is also shown by drawing and following a path of devotion, which leads people to self-realization based on love and a state of contemplation and surrender to the gods.


The Om symbol counts as trinary symbology for Hindus in several respects. This can also be shown through the 3 worlds, which speak about Earth, space and heaven.

Therefore, as, for Hindus, the sound of Om is the creator itself, the mantras that are made based on it are the sources of all things and this sound shows the inertia, the true essence and the principle. Hence it is added to the mantras through these distinct triunes.

The Om mantras are pronounced at the beginning of practices that have some spiritual purpose. But this type of chanting can also be noticed and chanted in yoga classes and can be uttered by anyone.

As the symbol also represents the states of life (present, past and future), in addition to silence, it brings an aspect that transcends time. Therefore, in practices such as yoga, in which these mantras are chanted, it is used only for experiencing the present.

In this case, the pronunciation of Om makes the person get into a deeper contact with himself and can abstract other aspects of his life, such as the past and the future, so that, in the moment of relaxation, none of that exists in his mind. . Want to know more about Om mantras? See details below!


Om Mani Padme Hum is the well known mantra in…

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