What Om means
The Mandukya Upanishad opens: "Om — this syllable is all this. All that was, is and will be is Om." It explains the three sounds A, U and M as the waking, dreaming and deep-sleep states, and the silence after them as the fourth (turiya), pure consciousness beyond all three.
Patanjali calls Om the word that expresses Ishvara (God), and says its repetition with reflection on its meaning leads to the goal of yoga.
Mandukya Upanishad 1
ओमित्येतदक्षरमिदं सर्वं तस्योपव्याख्यानं भूतं भवद्भविष्यदिति सर्वमोङ्कार एव ।
om ity etad akṣaram idaṃ sarvaṃ tasyopavyākhyānaṃ bhūtaṃ bhavad bhaviṣyad iti sarvam oṃkāra eva |
Om — this syllable is all this. Its explanation: all that was, is and will be is Om alone.
Yoga Sutras 1.27–1.28
तस्य वाचकः प्रणवः ॥ तज्जपस्तदर्थभावनम् ॥
tasya vācakaḥ praṇavaḥ || taj-japas tad-artha-bhāvanam ||
The word expressing Him is the pranava (Om). Its repetition, with reflection on its meaning (is the practice).
How to chant Om
- Sit and breathe. Sit upright, close the eyes and take a deep breath.
- A. Begin with an open "aa" sound felt in the belly.
- U. Let it round into "oo", felt in the chest.
- M. Close the lips into a long humming "mm", felt in the head — roughly one part A, one part U, two parts M.
- Silence. Rest in the silence after the sound before the next breath.
- Repeat. Chant 9, 11 or 21 times, then sit quietly.
General information only, not medical advice. If you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, heart disease, a hernia, epilepsy, recent surgery or any other condition, consult a doctor and learn from a qualified teacher before practising.
Frequently asked questions
Is it Om or Aum?
Both — Om is made of the three sounds A, U and M, which blend into "Om".
How many times should Om be chanted?
Often 3, 9, 11, 21 or 108 times; regular, attentive chanting matters most.
What is the silence after Om?
The Mandukya Upanishad calls it turiya, the fourth state — pure consciousness beyond waking, dream and deep sleep.