The Great Syllable

The "OM" syllable is described with several meanings in the Vedas and different early Upanishads. the sacred sound, is in the Vedas, called Udgitha (song of the universe),and various meanings; immeasurably great, and the truth, the ultimate reality, the finest essence, the cause of the Universe, the essence of life, the Brahman, the Atman, the conveyance of deepest knowledge, and Self-knowledge" as that.

The Chandogya Upanishad as one of the oldest Upanishads, it says, that the syllable OM as Udgitha. The OM syllable is the essence of all beings in the earth, the essence of earth is water, the essence of water are the plants, the essence of plants is man, the essence of man is speech, the essence of speech is the Rig Veda, the essence of the Rig Veda is the Sama Veda, and the essence of Sama Veda is the Udgitha.

There is a related story from Kadha Upanishad

Vajasravasa, who performed the Yaga, announced that he would give away all his cows as charity of the yaga. Plenty of sages attended for yaga once finished the hymns and rituals he was giving cows as charity to the sages. However, his son Nachiketa saw the ludicrously the charitable things all are already been exhausted, and are of no value to the receiver. the cows were very old, they are barren' so the son asks his father,

"O father, to whom will you give me away?" He asked his father in third time, and
The father, rose very angry to him and said " Yes I give you away to Yama," heard this word from his father he accepts his father's offering him to Yama, and went to Yamalogam (Yama's abode); but Yama was not there Nachiketa was very hungry and he waited for three nights, Yama arrives and felt sorry he was not there to invite his guest Nachiketa , so he offers Nachiketa to ask three boons.

Nachiketa' was feeling very happy and he asked the first boon to Yama that “O Lord I wish to be back to my family” Yama grants the first wish immediately,

O Lord I wish to know how one could reach heaven where there is no sorrow, old age or death”. This second boon not for himself but for sake of the worldly people and his sincere wish for everyone to learn this secret of knowledge and free from sufferings. Yama was pleased with the unselfishness of Nachiketa. detailing the fire ritual, including how the bricks should be arranged, and how the fire represents the building of the world. Nachiketa remembers what Yama tells him, and he repeats the ritual, skillfully, Yama pleased with him , and announced that hereafter this nature of ritual will be called the "Nachiketa ritual of fire"; also Yama adds that along with "three Nachiketa ritual of fires anyone who respects three bonds with mother, father and teacher, does three kinds of karmas they are ritual, studies and charity, understands the knowledgeable deeds who will be free from sorrow... Nachiketa was happy and he asked the third wish “ Lord What happens to a man after death? I wish to know the truth from you.” Yama did not expected this question from a young boy. He tried to divert him but Nachiketa was very firm. He wanted to know the answer. Yama was very pleased but he tried to divert the attention with lot of attractive things. Nachiketa declined all these worldly pleasures. Yama was pleased with such a juvenile seeking the truth who had rejected the path of enjoyment and chose the path of righteous. Then Yama taught him the knowledge of the Atman, realizing which man attains immortality. Nachiketa already conqueror of the death personally, His intention was people should know the truth. Yama pleased with him, and explicated on the nature of the true Self, which persists beyond death. The primal of the realization one should aware the Self (Atman) is inseparable from Brahman, the supreme spirit, the vital force in the universe. Yama's explanation was brief however he focused points are vital he explained to Nichiketa. Before the beginning, the Brahman (absolute reality) was one and non-dual. It thought, "I am only one - may I become many." This caused a vibration which eventually became sound. Creation itself was set in motion by the vibration of OM. The closest approach to Brahman is that first sound, OM.

The vibration produced by chanting OM in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose at the time of creation. The sound of OM is called Pranavam, (meaning that it sustains life and runs through Prana or breath). OM is represents the four states of the Supreme Being. The three sounds in OM (AUM) represent the waking, dream and deep sleep states and the silence which surrounds OM represents the "Turiya" means being in 4th state of soul.

Because the first of the three states of consciousness is the waking state, it is represented by the sound "A" pronounced like "A" in accounting. Because the dream state of consciousness lies between the waking and the deep sleep states, it is represented by the letter "U" which lies between the "A" and "M". This "U" is pronounced like the "U" in would. The last state of consciousness is the deep sleep state and is represented by "M" pronounced as in "sum." This closes the pronunciation of OM just as deep sleep is the final stage of the mind at rest. This silence represents the "fourth state" called "Turiya" which is the state of perfect bliss when the individual self recognizes his identity with the supreme.

• The sound OM! is the syllable of the supreme Brahman
• The Soul, whose symbol is OM is the same as the omnipresent Brahman. Smaller than the smallest and larger than the largest, the Soul is formless and all-pervading.
• The goal of the wise is to know the self (soul).
• The Soul is like a rider; the horses are the senses, which he guides through the maze of wishes.
• After death, the Soul remains and it is immortal.
• Mere reading of the scriptures or irrational learning cannot realize Soul.
• The soul is immortal but body is mortal, understanding soul is ultimate reality.
• Ignorant can not realize Brahman result is struck with circle of birth cycle . Understanding the Self leads to moksham or realization.

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