The Word That is God
The Word That is God
The Word That is God
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<strong>The</strong> Glories and Powers of Om<br />
As you can see, the amount of material in the authoritative scriptures of India and the<br />
words of realized saints regarding Om <strong>is</strong> truly surpr<strong>is</strong>ing. Here I have arranged extracts from<br />
the previous sections to give an overview of the whole subject of the Pranava in its various<br />
aspects.<br />
Om <strong>is</strong> <strong>God</strong> (Brahman)<br />
“Om! Th<strong>is</strong> Syllable <strong>is</strong> Brahman.” (Amritabindu Upan<strong>is</strong>had 20)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> Brahman in one Syllable.” (Amritanada Upan<strong>is</strong>had 20)<br />
“Th<strong>is</strong> Syllable <strong>is</strong> the Parabrahman, Which it designates. …Th<strong>is</strong> Syllable <strong>is</strong> the Supreme<br />
Brahman.” (Atharvashikha Upan<strong>is</strong>had 1:2)<br />
“<strong>That</strong> Which <strong>is</strong> Om <strong>is</strong> the Pranava. <strong>That</strong> Which <strong>is</strong> the Pranava <strong>is</strong> the All-pervasive One, the<br />
Endless One, the Deliverer, the Subtle One, the Pure One, the Shining One, the Parabrahman,<br />
the One Absolute Ex<strong>is</strong>tence.” (Atharvashira Upan<strong>is</strong>had 44)<br />
“<strong>The</strong> innermost Fire, the esoteric Truth underlying the knowledge of Brahman, <strong>is</strong> Brahman.<br />
Om, the Monosyllable, <strong>is</strong> that Brahman. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> what has been said by the expounders of the<br />
Vedanta.” (Brahmavidya Upan<strong>is</strong>had 1, 2)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> Brahman, the Primeval Being.” (Brihadaranyaka Upan<strong>is</strong>had 5.1.1)<br />
“<strong>That</strong> [Om] <strong>is</strong> the quintessence of the essences, the Supreme, the highest.” (Chandogya<br />
Upan<strong>is</strong>had 1.1.3)<br />
“Th<strong>is</strong> [Om] <strong>is</strong> Brahman.” (Jabala Upan<strong>is</strong>had 3, 4)<br />
“I will tell you briefly of that Goal which all the Vedas with one voice propound, which all<br />
the austerities speak of, and w<strong>is</strong>hing for Which people practice d<strong>is</strong>cipline: It <strong>is</strong> Om.” (Katha<br />
Upan<strong>is</strong>had 1. 2.15-17)<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Supreme Being <strong>is</strong> the most excellent Pranava that <strong>is</strong> taught in the Vedas.” (Mahanarayan<br />
Upan<strong>is</strong>had 8:1)<br />
“<strong>The</strong> one Syllable Om <strong>is</strong> Brahman.” (Mahanarayan Upan<strong>is</strong>had 33: 1)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> Brahman. …Om <strong>is</strong> the Supreme Truth. Om <strong>is</strong> all. …Salutation to Him. …O<br />
Supreme,…Thou art Om.” (Mahanarayan Upan<strong>is</strong>had 68:1,2)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> Brahman. …Th<strong>is</strong> alone <strong>is</strong> Brahman, the Brahma Pranava. Th<strong>is</strong> should be known.<br />
…As It alone <strong>is</strong> Brahman, th<strong>is</strong> One-Lettered Brahman <strong>is</strong> shining always.” (Narada Parivrajaka<br />
Upan<strong>is</strong>had, Upadesha VIII) 82<br />
“Brahman, the Self-Ex<strong>is</strong>tent, says: ‘Om <strong>is</strong> My very life.’” (Pashupatabrahman Upan<strong>is</strong>had 4)<br />
“Brahman, indicated by Om, <strong>is</strong> Ishwara [<strong>God</strong> the Lord].” (Pashupatabrahman Upan<strong>is</strong>had<br />
Uttarakhanda 1)<br />
“Brahman of absolute radiance and infinitude <strong>is</strong> identified with [one with] Om. 83 <strong>The</strong><br />
turiya-turiya of Brahman pervades the entire Pranava.” (Rama Tapini Upan<strong>is</strong>had)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> the Supreme Brahman.” (Svetasvatara Upan<strong>is</strong>had 1:7)<br />
“<strong>The</strong> real nature of Brahman <strong>is</strong> identical with the Pranava.” (Svetasvatara Upan<strong>is</strong>had 2:8)<br />
82 “One syllable shines for ever in the heart as the Self.” (Ramana Maharshi)<br />
83 Th<strong>is</strong> first sentence may be translated in two other ways: “Om unites with the Brahman of absolute radiance and<br />
infinitude,” or “Om unites to Brahman and Its infinite Radiance [Tejas]”–Tejas being a reference to the infinite Mahashakti or<br />
Mulaprakriti, which <strong>is</strong> also known as the Brahma Jyoti (Light of <strong>God</strong>; Light that <strong>is</strong> <strong>God</strong>). Om <strong>is</strong> the true form of <strong>God</strong>.<br />
91