The Meaning of ‘Om’: Why This One Syllable Holds the Universe

It’s just one sound – three letters, no embellishment. And yet, ‘ॐ’ (Om) is perhaps the most profound syllable known to humankind. It is not just a word. It is a vibration. A symbol. A doorway. 

From the Upanishads to everyday meditation rooms, from temple bells to breathwork classes, Om echoes across centuries. But what does it truly mean? 

The Origin of Om 

In the Mandukya Upanishad, it is said, “ॐ इत्येतदक्षरं इदं सर्वम्।” 
Om is the eternal syllable. It is everything, what was, what is, and what will be. 

Om is considered the primordial sound, the vibration from which the universe emerged. Not a sound we made, but a sound we heard deep within. 

It is made of three distinct parts: 

A (अ), U (उ), M (म) - representing the three states of consciousness: 

A (अ) - waking state (जाग्रत) 

U (उ) - dreaming state (स्वप्न) 

M (म) - deep sleep (सुषुप्ति) 

And the silence after the chant? That is the fourth, तुरीय , the state of pure awareness, untouched by activity. 

Why Do We Chant It? 

When you chant Om slowly, you feel it, starting from the belly, rising through the chest, and ending on the lips. The vibration settles into the body, and then into stillness. 

This is not philosophy. This is experience. 

Benefits of chanting Om: 

• Calms the nervous system 

• Balances breath and thought 

• Aligns you with the present moment 

• Invites ध्यान (deep focus) and inner silence 

Om is not loud. It does not seek to impress. It seeks to harmonize. Like a tuning fork for your soul. 

Om in Daily Life 

You don’t need a perfect voice or a formal setting. You don’t even need to chant aloud. 

Say “Om” quietly before starting your day 

Whisper it before eating or praying 

Chant it during moments of anxiety 

Let it flow with your breath in meditation 

Over time, Om becomes less of a chant and more of a companion — a space you can return to, again and again. 

A Sacred Reminder 

In many homes, the symbol ॐ is placed above doorways or in pooja sthals. It’s not decoration. It’s a reminder of the eternal, of the invisible, of the unity beneath difference. 

As the Bhagavad Gita says- 
“ॐ इति एकाक्षरं ब्रह्म” 
Om is the single syllable that represents Brahman, the supreme reality. 

When you say Om, you’re not just making a sound. You are remembering that you are part of something much larger. Something sacred.