The sacred syllable Aum (Om,Omkara) is art, science, philosophy, spirituality and religion rolled into one. As art it has visible symbolic forms that fascinate. As cosmophonic sound it is the crux of meta-science. As philosophy, it crystallizes the meaning of existence. As chant it belongs to the sphere of religion and spirituality, and is the simplest way to gain higher consciousness. Aum - the primeval sound, of which other sounds are just manifestations -gives one a feeling of unitary consciousness. It is Nada - Supreme Vibration - of Para- Brahma - the Absolute. Hence, it is anadi – eternal- and self-illuminating. It is Ekakshara Brahma as it encapsulates the Supreme Being in one mystical expression. To an earnest spiritual aspirant, Aum is the code to open up the cosmic lock of Being. The nano-way to meditate on the Ultimate, Unseen and Omniscient Reality. Aum is all – all is Aum : that which is in time or beyond it, says Mandukya Upanishad (verse 1). As such it finds mention in Hindu scriptures and is sacred to Buddhists, Jainas and others. Aum, the supermind awakener is Pranava, because through it the Almighty can be praised, invoked and accosted in Anahata Chakra – the heart region in the subtle human body. It is Udgitha - it can be chanted loudly as per the Chhandogya Upanishad which avers. Now, verify 'what is the udgitha is the Aum.What is Aum is the udgitha.' Aum is sarva-deva-maya – it comprises all divine beings and hence embodies the essence of their wisdom. Aum is a kshara-swarupa - of the nature of the Word that is indissoluble and indestructible . The Kathha Upanishad regards AUM as the everlasting spirit (eva¯ksharam brahma), the highest end (eva¯ksharam param) of an individual, the best and the highest support of all (a¯lambanam shreshtham; a¯lambanam param). As Para-Vak –the transcendental speech,

Aum manifests into vaikhari, madhyama and pashyanti-‘audible, thoughtful and illumined’– forms at mundane level. When its sound penetrates the depths of being, the embodied soul melts into bliss, crossing the layers of matter, life, consciousness, and thought. Individual self (jivatma) dissolves into Universal Self, individual mind into Universal mind and individual consciousness into Universal consciousness and one attains the state of dying while living (jivata marana) as explained by Bhakti and Sufi saints. Aum thus resuscitates the bliss nature of the Self. All the key mantras in Hinduism begin with this mystic syllable which emerged out of a viable combination of the fifty-two letters of the Sanskrit alphabet each, endowed with a nucleus of cosmic power. The vibration of Aum in creation can be heard by puissant souls (jagrita purusha ) in deep meditation. Aum is seen both as a single syllable and in parts(matra-s) as A(a-kara)U(u-kara) and M (m-akara), alluding to material(Vaisvanara), mental(Taijasa) and intellectual( Prajna) states beyond which comes transcendental dimension of the Self- Turiya–avastha. While the parts, A, U and M, are sometime identified respectively with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They stand for the Supreme reality. Amritabindu Upanishad advices that one should first concentrate on Aum, through the means of letters –a,u,m,- and then, without them, to know the imperishable Brahman, and to attain peace. Mandukya Upanishad says that he who knows Aum and Atman as One, ‘merges himself in the Self.’