praNava mantra (AUM) - Simple Explanation
The mantra that is held very sacred by all Hindus is the mantra Om also
called praNava mantra. This mantra is part of every worship. This mantra is hailed
in scriptures of various languages. vedas - the holy scripture - is chanted always after
chanting this mantra and always concluded with this mantra. Each of the hailing in the
archanai that is performed for the divine is preceded by this mantra Om.
praNava is the primal sound that existed before the creation and the sound that
stays after the praLaya. This is the nAtharUpa - the Form of sound, of the
Supreme Luminance. This mantra om refer to none other than God. The great yogis meditate in
this mantra as the path to Eternal Bliss of the Formless Nameless God !
The praNava has five parts. They are akara, ukara, makara, bindhu, nAtham.
(aum). Consequently this is also one of the glorious panchAkshara mantra (1).
The scriptures that explain the glory of this praNava mantra are quite many. However
the significant one is from the skandha purANa. It is a well known purANic event that
skandha described the real meaning of the praNava mantra to God shiva. In the above
mentioned episode of skandha purANa the sage vAmadeva seeks the boon from Lord
skandha to tell him too that description. Lord skandha who was pleased with the devotion
of sage vAmadeva told him that great secret.(2)
See Also:
1. panchAkshara mantra
2. Explanation of praNava mantra from skandha purANa
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