Om facts for kids

Om is a special word or sound that has different meanings. It can refer to the Order of Merit, which is a special award given in Britain and some Commonwealth countries.

However, most often, when people talk about "Om," they are referring to Aum, a very important and sacred sound or symbol in several religions, especially in Hinduism. It's considered one of the most powerful and meaningful sounds.

Understanding Om (Aum)

The word "Om" is actually made up of three sounds: A, U, and M. When you say it, it often sounds like "A-U-M." Each part of this sound is believed to represent different things.

For example, in Hinduism, the three sounds can mean:

• A (A-kara): This sound is linked to creation, like the beginning of everything. It can also represent the waking state, when we are fully aware.
• U (U-kara): This sound is connected to keeping things going or preservation. It can also represent the dream state, when our minds are active but our bodies are resting.
• M (Ma-kara): This sound is related to transformation or dissolution, like the end of a cycle. It can also represent the deep sleep state, where we are completely at rest.

Together, the whole sound of Om is seen as representing the entire universe, all of time (past, present, and future), and even the divine or ultimate reality.

Om in Different Religions

Om is most famous in Hinduism, where it's considered a sacred mantra (a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation). It's often chanted at the beginning and end of prayers, meditations, and religious ceremonies. Many Hindus believe that chanting Om helps to connect them with the divine and brings peace.

But Om is also important in other religions:

• In Buddhism, Om is sometimes used in mantras, like the famous "Om mani padme hum." It helps followers focus during meditation.
• In Jainism, Om is also a sacred symbol. It represents the five supreme beings or qualities that Jains aim to achieve.
• In Sikhism, the sound "Ik Onkar" means "There is one God," and the "Onkar" part is related to Om, showing the oneness of the divine.

How Om is Used

Om is used in many ways:

• Chanting and Meditation: People often chant Om aloud or silently during meditation. This helps to calm the mind, improve focus, and create a sense of inner peace.
• Religious Art and Symbols: You'll see the Om symbol everywhere in temples, homes, and religious texts. It's a common icon that represents spirituality and the divine.
• Yoga: Many yoga classes begin and end with the chanting of Om, helping participants to connect with their breath and find a sense of unity.
• Jewelry and Decorations: Because of its deep meaning, the Om symbol is also used in jewelry, clothing, and home decorations as a reminder of its spiritual significance.

Om is more than just a sound; it's a symbol of unity, creation, and the connection between all things.

Images for kids

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  Om (ௐ) in Tamil script with a trishula at Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Singapore; Om appears frequently as an icon in temples (mandirs) and spiritual retreats

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  A rangoli featuring Om surrounded by stylised peacocks; Om often features prominently in the religious art and iconography of Indic religions

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  Statue depicting Shiva as the Nataraja dancing in a posture resembling the Devangari ligature for Om; Joseph Campbell argued that the Nataraja statue represents Om as a symbol of the entirety of "consciousness, universe" and "the message that God is within a person and without"

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  Om appears frequently in Hindu texts and scriptures, notably appearing in the first verse of the Rigveda

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  Om is given many meanings and layers of symbolism in the Upanishads including "the sacred sound, the Yes!, the Vedas, the udgitha (song of the universe), the infinite, the all encompassing, the whole world, the truth, the ultimate reality, the finest essence, the cause of the universe, the essence of life, the Brahman, the ātman, the vehicle of deepest knowledge, and self-knowledge (atma jnana)".

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  A Pahari painting of Om (ओं), c. 1780-1800, decorated with deities: Shiva and Shakti (could be Vaishnavi or Siddhidatri); Vishnu and Lakshmi seated upon Shesha; Harihara (Vishnu-Shiva fusion deity); Brahma; and Dattatreya as a representation of the Trimurti (top-to-bottom, left-to-right)

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  Shri Yantra with Om (ௐ) at its center, Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore; yantras are frequently used as aids in Hindu meditation

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  The Hindu deity Ganesha is sometimes referred to as "oṃkārasvarūpa" (Omkara is his form) and used as the symbol for Upanishadic concept of Brahman.

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  An illustration of Om from a Mahabharata manuscript, 1795, decorated with murtis of Surya, Brahma, and Vishnu to the left, Shakti (could be Maheshwari) on the chandrabindu point, and Shiva (holding a trishula) to the right

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  Om symbol with a trishula at Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada

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  Radha and Krishna intertwined with an Om (ওঁ) and surrounded by scenes from their life

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  Painting illustrating the Jain Om symbol, from Jaipur, c. 1840

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  Nio statues in Kyoto prefecture of Japan, are interpreted as saying the start (open mouth) and the end (closed mouth) of syllable "AUM"

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  Agyō Niō at the Central Gate of Hōryū-ji

See also

In Spanish: Om para niños