Vishnusahasranamam and OM : Part-2.

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To,


All Members,


How is Om a symbol for the Lord?

A flag is just a piece of cloth. Yet, we see that on the flag of a country, the constitution of the country, what the country stands for, is deliberately superimposed, loaded. Deliberate superimposition on something else makes it a symbol for what is superimposed.

Therefore, the flag symbolizes the country and respect shown to the flag is the respect shown to that country. Defence force personnel follow a strict protocol in the flag hoisting ceremony.

Similarly, on the word Om, there is a deliberate superimposition of Ishvara and therefore it becomes a word symbol. The names that we give to people are also sound symbols, standing for the person. So, ?m is a sound symbol, which is loaded with meaning.

Phonetically, 'A' is the basic sound that is produced by human being anywhere in the world, when he tries to make a sound by opening the mouth. In most languages 'A' is also the first letter of the alphabet. When a sound is produced by closing the mouth, what comes out is the sound 'M'. In between, when there is a rounding off of the mouth, the sound 'U' is produced. Since everything is the Lord, all names in all languages and in all dialects are the names of the Lord, and the names are nothing but the Lord.

Now, what can be the best name for the Lord, a name that would include everything? All objects are but names and all names are words. Words, being made of letters, are nothing but letters, and letters are sounds. Since sounds are produced by opening and closing the mouth, all sounds are phonetically between A' and 'M'. The Lord being everything, his name should include every name. The letter 'U' is inserted in between to indicate all sounds in between. Thus, Om that is made of the letters 'A', 'U', and 'M' includes, phonetically all sounds and therefore, all letters and all words of all languages and dialects. Therefore, it becomes a word which indicates all objects. In this way, ?m becomes the name of Ishvara, the Lord.

It has been said that Om is everything. What is everything? That is indicated by the word 'Visvam' which it is followed by in the Sahasranamam.

END.

Swami Dayananda

To be continued   ....




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