The OM (AUM): text and meaning
ॐ इत्येतदक्षरमिदꣳ सर्वं तस्योपव्याख्यानं
भूतं भवद् भविष्यदिति सर्वमोङ्कार एव
यच्चान्यत् त्रिकालातीतं तदप्योङ्कार एव
सोऽयमात्माध्यक्षरमोङ्कारोऽधिमात्रं पादा मात्रा मात्राश्च पादा
अकार उकारो मकार इति
oṃ ity etad akṣaram idaṃ sarvaṃ tasyopavyākhyānaṃ bhūtaṃ bhavad bhaviṣyad iti sarvam oṃkāra eva |
yac cānyat trikālātītaṃ tad apy oṃkāra eva
so 'yam ātmādhyakṣaram oṃkāraḥ |
adhimātraṃ pādā mātrā mātrāśca pādā akāra ukāro makāra iti
Word by word
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| oṃॐ | a word of solemn affirmation and respectful assent, sometimes translated by ‘yes, verily, so be it’ … appears first in the Upaniṣads as a mystic monosyllable, and is there set forth as the object of profound religious meditation, the highest spiritual efficacy being attributed not only to the whole word but also to the three sounds a, u, m, of which it consists |
| etad | this, this here |
| akṣaram | a syllable; the syllable om … imperishable |
| idaṃ | this, this here, referring to something near the speaker |
| sarvaṃ | whole, entire, all, every … (n. sg.) ‘everything’ |
| oṃkāra | the sacred and mystical syllable om, the exclamation om, pronouncing the syllable om |
| eva | just, exactly, very, same, only, even, alone |
| akāra | the letter or sound a |
| ukāro | the letter or sound u |
| makāra | the letter or sound ma |
- The thing chanted is the single syllable ॐ (oṃ), and there are no further 'lyrics'. The lines above are the classical description of it in Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad 1 and 8, which the page itself cites. Present them as a description, not as something to chant.
- Māṇḍūkya 8 names the parts of oṃkāra as a-kāra, u-kāra and ma-kāra, which supports the page's A-U-M breakdown. The page's mapping of A/U/M to waking, dream and deep sleep (Vaiśvānara, Taijasa, Prājña) and of the silence to Turīya comes from verses 9–12, which are not reproduced here.
- Manu 2.76 (GRETIL Manusmṛti) also names the three sounds: 'akāraṃ cāpy ukāraṃ ca makāraṃ ca prajāpatiḥ'.
- Word-by-word covers the key terms only, not every word of verses 1 and 8.
- Spelling difference: Wikisource writes इदꣳ (Vedic anusvāra); GRETIL writes idaṃ.
- No published English translation was opened, so none is quoted.
- Not verified: the page's claims about the Charaka Samhita and about OM 'harmonising the three doshas' are not supported by any source opened here. Yoga Sūtra 1.27–28 was not opened either.
Sources
- माण्डूक्योपनिषत् (Sanskrit Wikisource), Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad 1 (first three lines) and 8 (last two lines)
- Māṇḍūkyopaniṣad with Māṇḍūkyamūlamantrabhāṣya, Māṇḍūkyopaniṣatkārikā and Āgamaśāstrabhāṣya (GRETIL, Sansknet input), mandup_1 (lines 1–2) and mandup_8 (lines 3–4)
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 235,3
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 231,2
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 3,2
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 165,2
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 1184,3
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 236,1
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 232,2
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 1,1
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 171,3
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 771,1
About this practice
OM is the primordial sound from which all creation emerges according to Vedic philosophy. The Mandukya Upanishad, one of the most revered texts in the Vedantic tradition, dedicates its entire teaching to exploring the four states of consciousness contained within the syllable AUM. The 'A' represents the waking state (Vaishvanara), the 'U' represents the dream state (Taijasa), the 'M' represents deep sleep (Prajna), and the silence that follows represents Turiya, the transcendent fourth state of pure awareness.
In Ayurvedic practice, OM is considered the ultimate tridoshic remedy. The Charaka Samhita lists mantra chanting among the primary methods for restoring mental balance (Sattvavajaya), and no mantra is more fundamental than OM. The vibration of OM resonates through every cell of the body, harmonizing the three doshas, clearing the nadis, and establishing the deep state of inner stillness that Patanjali calls Samadhi.
The practice of OM meditation involves sounding each component of AUM consciously, beginning with 'A' vibrating in the abdomen, 'U' moving through the chest, and 'M' resonating in the head. This progression mirrors the movement of prana from the lower chakras to the crown, creating a natural energetic ascending current. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Sutra 1.27-1.28) identify OM as the sound expression of Ishvara (universal consciousness) and recommend its repetition with deep reflection as a direct path to self-realization.
This meditation is accessible to complete beginners yet remains the cornerstone of even the most advanced yogic practices. Whether chanted aloud, whispered, or repeated mentally, OM creates a vibrational field that calms the nervous system and is traditionally associated with deep relaxation. Some researchers have studied the effects of chanting on nervous system activity, and practitioners report subjective experiences of calm and focus.
Regular OM meditation is particularly beneficial for establishing a daily practice, as it requires no prior experience and its effects are immediately perceivable. The ancient tradition recommends chanting OM 108 times using a mala (prayer beads) for a complete meditation, though even a few minutes of practice yields tangible benefits.
Benefits
- Balances all three doshas simultaneously through primordial sound vibration
- Calms the nervous system and activates the parasympathetic response via vagus nerve stimulation
- Clears energy channels (nadis) and harmonizes the chakra system from base to crown
- Reduces mental chatter and establishes deep meditative states accessible to all levels
- Enhances brain coherence and bilateral brain synchronization through sustained vibration
- Builds foundation for all other mantra practices in the Vedic tradition
- Cultivates Sattva (purity, harmony) in the mind according to Ayurvedic psychology
How to practice
- 1
Sit in a comfortable meditation posture with spine erect and shoulders relaxed. If using a mala, hold it in your right hand draped over the middle finger. Take 5 deep cleansing breaths.
- 2
Take a deep breath in. On the exhale, begin sounding 'AAAA' from deep in the abdomen. Feel the vibration in your belly and lower chakras. Let this part take about one-third of your exhale.
- 3
Transition smoothly to 'UUUU' as the vibration rises to your chest. Feel the resonance expanding through your heart center and ribcage. This takes the middle third of your exhale.
- 4
Close your lips and sound 'MMMM' for the final third. Feel the vibration concentrate in your head, behind the forehead and at the crown. Let the sound naturally fade into silence.
- 5
Rest in the silence after OM. This silence is Turiya — pure awareness. Listen deeply to the inner resonance that continues vibrating even after the sound stops. Stay here for 2-3 breaths.
- 6
Repeat the full OM cycle. If using a mala, advance one bead per repetition. Find your natural rhythm — each OM should be slow, deliberate, and fully felt rather than rushed. Continue for 10-12 minutes.
- 7
After your final OM, sit in complete silence for 3-5 minutes. Observe the profound stillness that has been created. Feel the vibration still humming at a subtle level throughout your body.
Practice tips
- If chanting aloud feels uncomfortable in your environment, whisper OM or practice it mentally (Manasika Japa) — the mental vibration is considered the most powerful form in classical texts
- Begin with a slower pace and longer sustained sound rather than rapid repetitions to establish deep resonance
- A mala of 108 beads (Rudraksha for Vata/Kapha or Tulsi for Pitta) helps maintain focus and count repetitions
- Practice at the same time each day, ideally during Brahma Muhurta (4-6 AM), to establish a powerful energetic routine
- If your voice feels strained, you are chanting too loudly — OM should be comfortable and effortless
Vaidya picks the right session for your dosha — the balance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha you were born with — and the time of day. Free, about 4 minutes. Take the dosha quiz to start.
Take the dosha quiz→Three questions towards your dosha
These are the first three questions of the full dosha quiz. Answer them here and carry on where you left off.
Prefer to start from the beginning? Take the full dosha quiz.
Frequently asked questions
OM is more accurately written as AUM, with three distinct sounds: 'A' (ah) beginning in the throat and resonating in the belly, 'U' (oo) transitioning through the chest, and 'M' (mm) closing the lips and vibrating in the head. The Mandukya Upanishad teaches that each sound corresponds to a state of consciousness. Practice slowly, giving equal time to each component, followed by conscious silence.
Traditional practice recommends 108 repetitions using a mala, as 108 is considered a sacred number in Vedic mathematics representing the wholeness of the universe. However, even 3-11 repetitions offer benefit. Start with a comfortable number and gradually increase. Quality of attention matters more than quantity — three fully conscious OMs surpass one hundred mechanical repetitions.
Yes. While OM originates in the Vedic tradition, it represents the universal sound of creation recognised across cultures. It is not tied to any deity or dogma. The Yoga Sutras present it as the natural expression of universal consciousness. People of all backgrounds practice OM meditation for its scientifically documented effects on the nervous system and mental clarity.