Pranava(AUM) – The Cosmic Consciousness
Pranav the cosmic Sound i.e AUM. The divine, the Non-Dual only the One. Pranava is the syllable of The Almighty. This is the sound of the universe, the cosmos. The mystical sound of AUM or Pranav mentioned as the sound of in all major scriptures of Vedic culture. The sound of the word Pranava is the origin sound during the creation of the cosmos the first primeval sound is the AUM sound. AUM is just not sacred or spiritual syllable but, it is the most powerful mantra of the universe. It is a pure cosmic sound to awaken the inner consciousness. In all the Vedic scripture Pranav(AUM) mentioned as the most auspicious, powerful and cosmic vibration that is the cause and effect of this universe. It is The One, The Ultimate Truth, The Brahman. It is beyond time i.e past, present, and future.
Pranava(AUM)- The Powerful Mantra
Pranava(AUM) is the summation of all the mantras and sounds of this cosmos. Pranava(AUM) is beyond past, present, and future, it is timeless and eternal. In Upanishad, AUM is explained as:
“AUM is the Supreme Brahman.”
“God is the Syllable AUM.”
“AUM is Brahman, the Primeval Being.”
“That [AUM] is the quintessence of the essences, the Supreme, the highest.”
“AUM is Brahman.”
In Gita Sri Krishna explain about the relation of AUM with him:
raso ‘ham apsu Kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh
pranavah sarva-vedesu sabdah khe paurusam nrsu (7.08)
Arjuna, I am the sapidity in water and the light in the moon and the sun; I
am the sacred syllable OM in all the Vedas, the sound in ether, and the manliness
in men.
Sri Krishna in this shloka shows the manifestation God in the form of water, light, sound in ether and God is the sacred syllable AUM which is mentioned in the AUM. Pranava is not only had significance in Hinduism but it is also very important in other religions like Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. AUM is used in all mantras and it is an essential tattva to the mantras. There are four states of consciousness that human perceives waking consciousness, dreaming, dreamless sleep and Turiya. AUM is formed of the three letters A, U, and M, which represent the three states of waking, dreaming, and dreamless sleep respectively, when these letters combine it leads to the fourth state of consciousness i.e Samadhi or Turiya, It is the One Pure state Sat-Chit-Ananda.
Pranava Yoga – The Union of Personal Self with Cosmic Self.
From Vedas to the Vedanta the Pranava(AUM) represents the shabda brahman(syllable of ultimate truth, bliss & existence). The recitation and meditation on mantra Pranava(AUM) lead toward spiritual awakening. Once the mind is focused and pure meditating on the syllable Pranava(AUM) that results in the union of the self with the cosmic self. The state of yoga where the personal self merges in the sound of AUM, the Brahman. Pranava Yoga is the transcendental way toward pure consciousness, pure bliss & pure existence. In Upanishad the Pranava Yoga illuminated as follow:
“The monosyllable AUM is the highest Brahman,”(Manduka Upanishad)
Patanjali briefed it all up by simply saying: “Pranava repetition and meditation is the way.”
To recognize the Brahman we should absorb in the japa(recitation) and the meditation of AUM–simple and direct.
“One should meditate on this Syllable [AUM].”
“This Pranava is the best means [of attainment and realization]; this means is the Higher and Lesser Brahman. Meditating on Om, one becomes worthy of worship in the world of Brahman.”
“The Self [atman] is of the nature of the Syllable Om. Thus the Syllable Om is the very Self. He who knows It thus enters the Self [Supreme Spirit] with his self [individual spirit].”
It is the Pranava(AUM) yoga that is the best and easy way to the attainment & realization of the Self.
