About Omkara

[Paramananda das]

 PAMHO AGTSP  I am doing a workshop about mantra meditation and also explaining about Omkara, so I compiled something that may help preachers in KC. your servant Paramananda das    

Bhagavad Gita 8.13

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Text 13   om ity ekaksharam brahma vyaharan mam anusmaran yah prayati tyajan deham sa yati paramam gatim   Translation   After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets.   Commentary by Srila Prabhupada   It is clearly stated here that om, Brahman and Lord Krishna are not different. The impersonal sound of Krishna is om, but the sound Hare Krishna contains om. The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is clearly recommended for this age. So if one quits his body at the end of life chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, he certainly reaches one of the spiritual planets, according to the mode of his practice. The devotees of Krishna enter the Krishna planet, Goloka Vrindavana. For the personalists there are also innumerable other planets, known as Vaikuntha planets, in the spiritual sky, whereas the impersonalists remain in the brahmajyoti.   Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur (combined commentary for verses 12 and 13)   Explaining what was previous said, the Lord describes the method of yoga. Withdrawing the openings of all the senses (sarva dvarani) from the external objects and confining the mind to the heart, not desiring other objects, fixing the prana between the brows (murdhni), and taking shelter of me from head to foot (yoga dharanam); uttering just one syllable, om, the form of brahman, and meditating continuously upon me represented by om, giving up his body, he attains salokyam, (paramam gatim).         Bhagavad Gita 9.17

 

Text 17   pitaham asya jagato mata dhata pitamahah vedyam pavitram omkara rk sama yajur eva ca   Translation   I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable om. I am also the Rig, the Sama and the Yajur Vedas.   Commentary by Srila Prabhupada   The entire cosmic manifestations, moving and nonmoving, are manifested by different activities of Krishna’s energy. In the material existence we create different relationships with different living entities who are nothing but Krishna’s marginal energy; under the creation of prakriti some of them appear as our father, mother, grandfather, creator, etc., but actually they are parts and parcels of Krishna. As such, these living entities who appear to be our father, mother, etc., are nothing but Krishna. In this verse the word dhata means “creator.” Not only are our father and mother parts and parcels of Krishna, but the creator, grandmother and grandfather, etc., are also Krishna. Actually any living entity, being part and parcel of Krishna, is Krishna. All the Vedas, therefore, aim only toward Krishna. Whatever we want to know through the Vedas is but a progressive step toward understanding Krishna. That subject matter which helps us purify our constitutional position is especially Krishna. Similarly, the living entity who is inquisitive to understand all Vedic principles is also part and parcel of Krishna and as such is also Krishna. In all the Vedic mantras the word om, called pranava, is a transcendental sound vibration and is also Krishna. And because in all the hymns of the four Vedas—Sama, Yajur, Rig and Atharva—the pranava, or omkara, is very prominent, it is understood to be Krishna.   Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur   Please see text 19 for Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur's combined commentary to texts 17, 18 and 19.    

Chapter 10. The Opulence of the Absolute  

TEXT 25 maharsinam bhrgur aham giram asmy ekam aksaram yajnanam japa-yajno 'smi sthavaranam himalayah SYNONYMS maha-rsinam--among the great sages; bhrguh--Bhrgu; aham--I am; giram--of vibrations; asmi--I am; ekam aksaram--pranava; yajnanam--of sacrifices; japa-yajnah--chanting; asmi--I am; sthavaranam--of immovable things; himalayah--the Himalayan mountains. TRANSLATION Of the great sages I am Bhrgu; of vibrations I am the transcendental om. Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa], and of immovable things I am the Himalayas. PURPORT Brahma, the first living creature within the universe, created several sons for the propagation of various kinds of species. The most powerful of his sons is Bhrgu, who is also the greatest sage. Of all the transcendental vibrations, the "om" (omkara) represents the Supreme. Of all sacrifices, the chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the purest representation of Krsna. Sometimes animal sacrifices are recommended, but in the sacrifice of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, there is no question of violence. It is the simplest and the purest. Whatever is sublime in the worlds is a representation of Krsna. Therefore the Himalayas, the greatest mountains in the world, also represent Him. The mountain named Meru was mentioned in a previous verse, but Meru is sometimes movable, whereas the Himalayas are never movable. Thus the Himalayas are greater than Meru.   Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya: Visnuswami Sridhara Swami's Commentary Of sound vibrations Lord Krishna's vibhuti or divine, transcendental opulence manifests as the sacred monosyllable OM which is uttered before every Vedic ritual can begin. The words ekam aksaram directly refers to OM. Of all acts of worship and propitiation Lord Krishna's vibhuti manifests as japa-yajno or the reverential chanting of the holy names of the Supreme Lord with bhakti or exclusive loving devotion. Of immovable things His vibhuti is the towering Himalaya's, the highest mountains on Earth.    Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya: Madhvacarya Madhvacarya's Commentary   Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya: Ramanuja Ramanuja's Commentary

Lord Krishna reveals that of the holy sages His vibhuti is Bhrigu. The word giram means articulate sound vibrations of these Lord Krishna's vibhuti is the all powerful monosyllable OM. Of all yagna or propitiation and worship to the Supreme Lord, the best and most elevated is japa-yagno the reverential and devotional chanting of the Supreme Lord Krishna holy names. Of terrestrial mountains His vibhuti is the mighty Himalayas.  Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:   Nimbaditya Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary Of articulate sound vibrations Lord Krishna's vibhuti or divine, transcendental opulence is the monosyllable OM the root of all sound. Among yagna or propitiation and worship of the Supreme Lord, His vibhuti is japa- yagno or the devoted chanting of the Supreme Lord Krishna's holy names. Of immovable mountains His vibhuti is the Himalaya mountains.  

Bhagavad Gita 17.23

 

Text 23   om tat sad iti nirdeso brahmanas tri-vidhah smrtah brahmanas tena vedas ca yajnas ca vihitah pura   Translation   From the beginning of creation, the three words om tat sat were used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic representations were used by brahmanas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Supreme.   Commentary by Srila Prabhupada   It has been explained that penance, sacrifice, charity and foods are divided into three categories: the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. But whether first class, second class or third class, they are all conditioned, contaminated by the material modes of nature. When they are aimed at the Supreme—om tat sat, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the eternal—they become means for spiritual elevation. In the scriptural injunctions such an objective is indicated. These three words, om tat sat, particularly indicate the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Vedic hymns, the word om is always found.   One who acts without following the regulations of the scriptures will not attain the Absolute Truth. He will get some temporary result, but not the ultimate end of life. The conclusion is that the performance of charity, sacrifice and penance must be done in the mode of goodness. Performed in the mode of passion or ignorance, they are certainly inferior in quality. The three words om tat sat are uttered in conjunction with the holy name of the Supreme Lord, e.g., om tad visnoh. Whenever a Vedic hymn or the holy name of the Supreme Lord is uttered, om is added. This is the indication of Vedic literature. These three words are taken from Vedic hymns. Om ity etad brahmano nedistham nama (Rig Veda) indicates the first goal. Then tat tvam asi (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7) indicates the second goal. And sad eva saumya (Chandogya Upanishad 6.2.1) indicates the third goal. Combined they become om tat sat. Formerly when Brahma, the first created living entity, performed sacrifices, he indicated by these three words the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the same principle has always been followed by disciplic succession. So this hymn has great significance.   Bhagavad-gita recommends, therefore, that any work done should be done for om tat sat, or for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When one performs penance, charity and sacrifice with these three words, he is acting in Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness is a scientific execution of transcendental activities which enables one to return home, back to Godhead. There is no loss of energy in acting in such a transcendental way.   Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur   Please see text 24 for Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur's combined commentary to texts 23 and 24.  

The Katha Upanishad states:  "The goal, which all Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which humans desire when they live a life of conscience, I will tell you briefly it is aum" "The one syllable [evākṣara, viz. aum] is indeed Brahman. This one syllable is the highest. Whosoever knows this one syllable obtains all that he desires. "This is the best support; this is the highest support. Whosoever knows this support is adored in the world of Brahma." (1.2.15-17)[5]

The Chāndogya Upanishad (1.1.1-1) states:  om ity-etad akṣaram udgītham upāsīta / aum iti hy udgāyati / tasyopavyākhyānam "The udgi:tā ["the chanting", that is, the syllable om] is the best of all essences, the highest, deserving the highest place, the eighth."     comments: Pranams to the lotusfeet of my Gurudeva.In the  Mandukya Upanishad it is stated: "OM: this eternal word is all what was, what is and what shall be." Srila Madhavacarya the great Vaisnava Sampradaya has commented on this Upanisad that deals with Omkara .Sadly I do not have the english translation of this Upanisad by Srila Madhavarya.But I have the Mayavada Sata Dushani where he refutes the impersonalistic concept of the vedic mantras.     The Bhagvad Gi:tā (17.23) has stated:  om tatsatiti nirdesho brahmanstrividhah samratah "OM, tat and sat has been declared as the triple appellation of Brahman, who is Truth, Consciousness and Bliss." Om is the personification of the Supreme Lord Krsna, in aspect of Sat -eternality ,cit-knowledge and Ananda bliss many interpretations are given of A-U-M by different Puranas , by different concepts of various worshippers.Om excist in Buddhisme for example in the chant om mani padme hum ,Jainisme, and the the Advaitists And there Om is taken that the soul is one with God. But this oneness is only in the nature of spirit.That the soul is the divine energy of the Lord.   In Bhagavad Gita Krsna has stated:   apareyam itas tv anyam prakritim viddhi me param jiva-bhutam maha-baho yayedam dharyate jagat   "Besides these, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature."

However the soul never becomes the Supreme Lord.It is eternally seperate and a servant of the Supreme Lord.   This in one drop in the siddhanta about Omkara   your servant Paramananda das