The Value of Monosyllable

 

All our Vadic prayers begins with the pranava mantram AUM. The sound AUM produced by stimulation of the organs of hearing by vibrations transmitted through the air is considered to have a profound effect on the body and mind, also creates a calmness, serenity,and healing strength. When one chant OM, he merges with the pure expression of the energy within himself, which is the eternal home of the spirit of life. It is believed that as creation began, the divine, all and every enveloping acute awareness taken the form of the first and original vibration manifesting as sound "AUM"

It is said before creation it was "Sunyaksha",means there was no sky, every were completely emptiness; there was nothing, once the power of Supreme revealed the divine truth letter by letter, A-U-M the divine energy united in its three elementary aspects: Bhrahma Sakti (creation), Vishnu Sakti (preservation) and Siva Sakti (liberation,). "OM" the manifestation of God in form of"saguna brahman". "OM" is the reflection of the absolute reality, and there is neither beginning nor end "Adi Anadi", (meaning: no beginning and no end)

The Siva puranam explicate that The great sages saw with their spiritual vision the phenomenal Image of Parabrahmam as in Linga swaroopam (incarnation) which no one can explain and no one can understand.

Brahmam ( as different from Brahmah ) has no beginning and also it has no end. This is neither sthulam (body) nor sukshumam.(concepts) Everything is Brahmam and Brahmam is everything. Brahmam lovingly created prakruthi (Mayadevi) with eight hands - bright luminous and resplendent in all fine jewelry. At the same time he created a handsome man also.

As the man and the Devi who thus came into being were contemplating why they had been created an invisible voice told both to do penance. Accordingly they did penence for long number of years as advised by the voice. In the process they both were sweating and the sweat flowed like a stream from their body and the water became an ocean. The man and the Devi created by Brahmam went into 'yoga-nidra'. From that time the man was named Narayana and the prakruthi devi was called Narayini..( Prakruthi is the primordial matter which became the universe through the process of evolution.) From the navel of Narayana came out a nice fragrant lotus with innumerable petals. and an immeasurably long and wide stalk. Brahma - the creator incarnated in the lotus.
Brahmah saw around him. He couldn't understand anything - who he was, where-from he came, why he was created and so forth. Hence he went down through the lotus stalk on and on for years and years but he could not reach the bottom. He became very tired and turned round and began going up the stalk again for years and years. He could not reach the top either. He was bewildered when he heard an invisible voice which asked him to do penance.

Accordingly he did penance for 12 years. At last Sri Narayana appeared in front him. Brahma asked him who he was and why he had appeared before him. Narayana said " I am the one that created you to do the work of creation". Brahma was disbelieving and retorted " you say that I have been created to carry on the work of creation. But I did not create you. Then how did you come into being ?" They were quarreling harshly when suddenly there appeared a luminous bright Jyothi (light). They both looked at the four directions for the source of the brightness. A big “stanu” (means pillar) appeared in front of them. They were stunned and stopped quarrelling. Narayana said to Brahma "you go up and see where this begins at the top and I will go down and see the end at the bottom"

Narayana took form of the a white boar and drilling the earth went deep down. From that time he was called 'Swedha Varaham' and the 'kalpam' became 'swedha varaha-kalpam'.(even today when we do any pooja 'sangalpam' this word 'swedha varaha kalpe' is mentioned) Brahma went up on his Hamsa vahanam (meaning: 'Hamsa' is a swan & 'Vahanam' is mount). Years passed and they could not locate the end nor the beginning. and they became humble and realized that there was one above them. 

When they were doing prayer they heard sound "AUM" . They were searching for the source of the divine sound and they saw the letters 'agaaram' ( a ) on the south, on the north they saw " ugaaram " ( U ) and in between the "Magaaram" ( M ). and the first letter ' Agaaram' was like 'Surya Mandalapradesam' ( sun ) ugaram was like the brightness of Agni ( like fire) and 'Maagaram' was like the Chandra mandala pradesam ( moon the satellite). Over that there appeared the "brahmam" bright like spadigam (pure crystal) with five faces and ten arms and with priceless jewels. God 'Parabrahmam' appeared in Jyothi swaroopam.

Narayana and Brahma bowed to Easwara and asked him " My lord, who are you ? Please explain to us about your avathara." Brahmam said " I am the one that created Narayana and Narayana created Brahmah. I am everything and every-thing is I. I am the "Brahmam". He told Brahmah " Vishnu is my creation and he created you to carry on the task of creation." he told Vishnu " I have created you to sustain the universe. Rudhra who will be the liberator is also my aspect." Vishnu Brahma and Rudra are from me” Vishnu asked Brahmam " My Lord we now know the purpose of our creation how will be get the 'sakthi' to do our duties."

Brahmam was very happy and taught them "Om Thatvamasi" 'Maha-vakyam' (Mahavakyam means the great sentences) and Mrithyn-jayam, Pancha-ksharam, Chinthamani, and Dhakshina-moorthi Moola Jabam Brahma and Vishnu bowed to the lord. Brahmam told them "Narayana, I am in 'Lingam' exactly how I appear now before you with 5 faces. I will fulfil the desires of all my devotees.

On my right side is Brahmah, on my left Vishnu and in centre Rudran - all three united in me. You three are only my 'swaroopam' created to carry on the three duties of creation, sustenance and liberation . Though you are my 'swaroopam' I have no bondage with you. you three can do your duties independently You pray me so that the universe you will create in future will be prosperous and people will take you as an example and be devoted to me.

According to philosophy , the letter A represents creation, the letter U refers to sustenance Vishnu and the letter M symbolizes Rudra the final part of the cycle of existence, more broadly, OM it is said to be the primordial sound that was present at the creation of the universe. the original sound that contains all other sounds, all words, all languages and all hymns.

The OM consists three., A (Vaishvanara), U (Hiranyagarbha), and M (Isvara), which symbolize the beginning, duration, and dissolution of the universe and the associated gods respectively Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, 

 

Sage Patanjali says in his yoga sutra 1.28, OM should be chanted keeping its meaning and significance in mind. Since OM is the representative sound and symbol for Ishvara, it is important to keep the essence of Ishvara in mind while chanting OM. He is teaching the method for chanting OM.

Sit in a comfortable cross-legged (Padmasanam pose) seated posture with the spine upright, head, neck and spine in a vertical alignment. Close the eyes and take a deep inhalation. While exhaling start with audible expression the OM sound. Begin by feeling the vibration of the "O" sound building up in the navel part and raising upward and continue to chant, feel the vibration moving upward toward the base of the throat. When the vibration reaches the throat, convert the sound to a deep vocalizing sound of "M". Continue to feel the vibration moving upward until it reaches the crown of the head (called Sahasrara Padmam). You may repeat this process two or more times. At the end of the final chant, continue to sit still and feel the vibration of the OM sound to pass through the entire body.

It is said Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the most ancient and authentic texts on Yoga, further he said "Ishwara is a particular Purusha Who has no bandages. His designation is the Pranavam which is OM. Ones constant reiteration will vanish all obstacles, Disease, doubt, carelessness, laziness .,the main cause of mind distraction will arise because of rejection of belief, non-achievement, instability, Certainly the pranava OM recitation will remove all the obstacles the constant practice of the Meditation of 'OM'. will bring wellness.

Sage Padanjali emphasized that the continued recitation of OM is called Udgita Pranayama (Means recitation) which fills one with peace, calmness, serenity. When one recite it with complete confidence and understanding OM with keep mind on Ishvara, it will bring to closer to true nature, pure self. OM is the primordial sound and this entire creation is a manifestation of this divine sound. It represents the cosmic prana (the vital energy or atman).

Sri Krishna says in Bhagavat Gita: "I am the syllable AUM."(Gita 7:8) He also says the same thing in 9:17 "I am...the sacred monosyllable" and 10:25 "Among words I am the monosyllable AUM". Further Sri Krishna says "Involved in the practice of concentration... reiteration the monosyllable OM--the Brahman--(Atma) remembering Me always, he...attains to the supreme goal. I am easily attainable by that ever-unshakable Yogi who constantly and daily remembers Me."– Bhagavad Gita 6:13; 8:12-14.

The Modern medical report says: The “OM”chant helps to bringing a sense of peace, When chanting in repetition “OM” for 20 minutes morning and evening is refreshing, strengthening and an effective way to release stress. The benefits of chanting “OM.”

Physiological Effects:1.slows the heart beat 2.relaxes muscles 3.calms the body 4. blood pressure brings normal 5.oxygenates the blood 6.massages the spine, chest, core, throat and head through vibrations 7. generate the relaxation 8.improves the health performance 9.increases clarity and concentrated focus 10 soothes the mind.

To chant AUM there is no formality and no age limitation and also no gender differences.

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