Sacred Learning
Praṇava (Oṃ)
Praṇava; śruti as the seed-syllable of Veda (traditional). Printed here as the single syllable ॐ.
Praṇava; śruti as the seed-syllable of Veda (traditional). Printed here as the single syllable ॐ.
Canonical source text
ॐ
IAST transliteration
oṃ
Close translation
Oṃ.
Reader-friendly meaning
The syllable that opens study, puja, and silence. It is not a sentence; it is a resting of the breath in sound.
Meenananda editorial explanation
In this Ashram the praṇava is the doorway, not a toy. Sit with it as the house has shown you. A personal count or a diksha-mantra comes from the Guru.
Practice context
Houses begin and close recitation with Oṃ according to their custom. Ask the Guru for a personal instruction.
Word meanings
- ॐ — the praṇava
Praṇava as received in Vedic recitation; single-syllable public form. Sanskrit: public domain. Foundation translations: CC BY-SA 4.0.