Etymology and the Origin of OM
Dravi Varao
Brahmins’ Claims about OM The word Om/Aum is commonly pronounced as a long or over-long nasalized close-mid back rounded vowel though there are other enunciations pronounced in received traditions. It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a sacred exclamation to be uttered at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas or previously to any prayer or mantra. The name Omkara/Onkara/Onkaram is taken as a name of God in the Hindu revivalist Arya Samaj.
According to fraud Brahmins, the said syllable is taken to consist of three phonemes, a, u and m, variously symbolizing the three Vedas or the Hindu Trimurti or three stages in life (birth, life and death). It is polysyllabic and vocalized as a triphthong. Few fraud Brahmins say that the word Om is derived in the Koshas from the root „aba‟ or „ava‟ to protect or save. They further say that Om is enlisted as in grammar as having no inflection of its own in gender, number, case or person and agreeing with all words in its unchanged state Eg:- Om Ishvar, Om Durga. According to Vaishnava Brahmin version, the four fold structure of AUM is that the letters A, U, M are accepted here as representing Vishnu, Lakshmi and the Jeevan (the individual soul). The Jeevan represented by M is recognized as the Jnata (the Knower), Karta (the Doer), Bhokta (the Enjoyer) and the Sesha (the subservient being of the Lord Narayana and His Consort). The Fourth part, the nasalization is recognized as the eternal, subservient relationship of the Jeevan to the Divine Couple, who represent Eka Seshitvam.
According to Nrisimha Uttara Tapini Upanishad, A, U, M and the Ardha Matra (Letter having Half measured value in pronunciation) at the end of the sacred syllable represent the four constituents of Pranavam. The letter "A" represents the Rig Veda. The letter "U" represents the Yajur Veda and the intermediary world. The letter "M" represents the Sama Veda. The half letter or the nasalization at the end of the three letters, "A, U, M” represents the the Atharva Veda. In its Samashti form, The Pranavam thus contains all the 4 Vedas and their immortal hymns from which the Brahman, the truth symbolized by the sound "Om" arises.
Mandukya Upanishad says that "OM the syllable is the whole world. It is the past, present and the future. Everything is just the word OM. "Pranavam is recognized here as the resonating sound embodiment of the Supreme Being, who pervades Space, Time and Form Completely. Prasna Upanishad points out that OM is recommended for the meditation on and the worship of Supreme Reality. In a Katopanishad Mantra, The Lord of Death reveals to the aspirant Nachiketas that “this word (Om) is verily Brahman; this word is verily the highest. He, who knows this word, obtains, verily, whatever he desires."
A passage in the Brugu Valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad says: " Let him, the aspirant, meditate on the supreme (Om) as the support; he becomes well supported. Let him worship Aum as great; he becomes great. Let him worship it as Mind; he becomes thoughtful. Let him worship Aum as Nama (obeisance); to him all desires shall come to pay homage. Let him meditate upon that as the Supreme; he comes to supremacy in Life."
Symbol of Om
Symbol of Om in different Indian languages. Although the OM [
] symbol's left part,
Unicode U+090A), which looks like a figure 3, looks like
the uu vowel in the Devanagari script. Iit is actually based on Brahmi version of indicated by a chandrabindu (U+0901).
is the rotation of the symbol
is the rotation of the symbol
The nasal sound is
is the wrong script combination of
m
to denote Om ( instead of
ō+ m
(u in Gujarati )+ m
like Sanskrit U
in Gujarati)
is the wrong script combination of short u
+m
is the wrong script combination of U
+m
to denote Om
to denote Om
+
is the wrong script combination of m
+U
o (wrong arrangement of m+u) to
denote Om
Correct symbolization of OM
is the correct script combination of Bengali letters
ō+
m to
denote OM
is the correct script combination of Malayalam letters
denote OM
ō+ o m to
is the correct script combination of Kannada letters
is the correct script combination of Telugu letters
or letters
ō+
ō+ o m to denote OM
ō+ o m to denote OM
is the correct script combination of Tamil
m to denote
Unlike North Indian Languages and their scripts, South Indian languages have short o and Long O [ō] in their alphabet.
Tamil alphabet in AD 3 Century
A dot upon Long O
[ō] is marked as short o as in the case of short e and long
to avoid confusions in the inscription to denote short o and long o in Tamil Brahmi,
evolved from
. The scripts
script . This is in accordance with long u
. Later in order
are
to denote short o and Long O [ō] is still used in Malayalam as distinguished from short u
. To denote long I, U, E and
O, In Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Singhalese languages have marked a small line or curve over or after the short I, u, e and o .
Singhalese
Malayalam
Telugu
Kannada
Devanagari
Fraud Brahmins could not explain they symbol of Om.
or
in Devanagari Script. But
is written as
The word OM i.e.
is not mentioned as
in the holy books. Then the origin of
is not a
North Indian Invention or Devanagari script.
U
+m
could not be pronounced and formed as Om
and used in Om
. There is no marking of O
script for the symbol Om
To denote Long O in Om
To denote m in Om, the
.O
+ m to denote
was not marked, mentioned . Therefore the Devanagari
is not suitable.
,
in the Tamil Brahmi Script was used.
(
ma) in the Tamil Brahmi Script was used.
Script was not used to denote m in word OM.
of Devanagari
Therefore the word Om, which is wrongly considered as Devanagari
is originally developed from
the old Tamil Brahmi Script.
Evolution of OM in Devanagari Script from Tamil Brahmi Script
->
->
+
+
->
->
+
+
->
->
=
=>
Origin & Meaning of OM
Wrong Linguists‟ View Moron Linguists are trying to give the false explanation for the etymology of OM without knowing the fundamentals about Tamil, Sanskrit and Indian Religion (which is now termed wrongly as Hinduism) as
“a word of affirmation or assent intoned as part of a mantra or as a symbolic mystical utterance
during meditation”.
It is absolutely incorrect.
To denote affirmation or consent, Tamil has the words āmām,
āl,
¹ ākā,
ākaṭṭum,
ām,
³ ōm.
Even Madras Tamil Lexicon has merely compared (cf.) the word
ām, <
cf. ām. adv. Yes,
so, expressing assent, recollection; and never mentioned it as derived from so called Sanskrit ām. In Hindi
hā: means yes, yea; (ind) a word-denoting agreement, fulfilment, affirmation, etc;
yes, yes (Cf.
āmām); a word expressing negation/affirmation that would depend on its
intonation); and the same was not mentioned/claimed as Sanskrit Derivation. Only Tamil and Sanskrit languages have the word ōm to denote affirmation. Even Telugu never uses the word
Om to denote the affirmation.
Tamil Lexicon clearly distinguished
² ōm (Mystic name of the Deity) and
³ ōm (Yes, the expression of affirmation or of consent) as different/separate words, unlike Sanskrit Dictionaries.
In Sanskrit, the single word
ōm denotes both the meanings i.e.
1 The sacred syllable om, uttered as a holy exclamation at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas, or previous to the commencement of a prayer or sacred work. 2 As a particle it implies (a) solemn affirmation and respectful assent (so be it, amen !); (b) assent or acceptance (yes, all right); Hence
ōm is merely defined as a holy exclamation. It is pertinent to note that the etymology of
ōm was not at all mentioned in Apte's Dictionary. Though the words Sanskrit are denoting affirmation or assent and having same origin, unlike
ōm and
ām in
ām is not a sacred syllable
ōm.
Om Namah Sivaya is known as the great redeeming mantra also known as five-syllable mantra
The meaning : It means "I bow to Siva." Shiva is the supreme reality, the inner Self. It is the name given to consciousness that dwells in all. Shiva is the name of your true identity- yourself.
If we apply the explantion given by moron Linguists to the word Om in the sentence Om Nama Sivaya, it means only that So be it; truly; ok; yes alright (so called meaning of the word OM), I bow to Siva.
This is not acceptable view of moron Linguists. Even Some Moron Linguists try to connect the word Om with Amen.
The word Amen ( Arabic:
; Hebrew:
, Modern Amen Tiberian ʼĀmēn, ʼĀmīn ; "So be it; truly") is
declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Its use in Judaism dates back to its earliest texts. It has been generally adopted in Christian worship as a concluding word for prayers and hymns. In Islam, it is the standard ending to Dua (supplication). Common English translations of the word amen include: "Verily", "Truly", "So say we all", "So be it", and "Let it be." It can also be used colloquially to express strong agreement, [2] as in, for instance, amen to that.
Muslims use the word "ʼĀmīn" not only after reciting the first surah (Al Fatiha) of the Qur'an, but also when concluding a prayer or dua, with the same meaning as in Christianity. [25] The Islamic use of the word is the same as the Jewish use of the word. In Arabic ʼĀmīn simply means "so be it".
Etymology of Amen
Amen, meaning so be it, is of Hebrew origin. The Hebrew word amen derives from the Hebrew verb ʼāmán, a primitive root. The word was imported into the Greek of the early Church from the Jewish synagogue. From Greek, the word amen has entered the other Western languages. According to a standard dictionary etymology, amen passed from Greek into Late Latin, and then into English.
Popular among some theosophists, proponents of Afrocentric theories of history, and adherents of esoteric Christianity is the conjecture that amen is a derivative of the name of the Egyptian god Amun. Some adherents of Eastern religions believe that amen shares roots with the Indic word, Om.
There is no academic support for either of these views.
Etymology of OM & Aum E, O, AI and Au are actually diphthongs only.
E.g. I
+A
=> short E,
I
+A (long)
U
+A
U
+A(long)
A
+I
A
=> long E
=>O Short O /omicron
+U
=>long O /O mega
=> I => Au
Brahmins mean it is a combination of U+A+M. it is wrong then we have to pronounce it as uvam.
Therefore the correct pronunciation and explanation for Aum and (but not OM) is A+U+M i.e. Aum.
For the correct pronunciation and explanation of Om is U
But the word
+A(long)
( =>long O
i.e.
was regarded in Sanskrit Dictionary as
aum , ind. The sacred syllable of the Śūdras (for
Om which is forbidden to be uttered by them). Om alone Should be
pronounced by Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vasyas. These three Varnas should not utter the word
Moreover there is no word
+M
auṅkārḥ unlike
aum as it is a Śūdra word.
ōṅkārḥ to denote Om, the syllable.
Then what’s the etymology of Om?
u->
¹-
uy- , 4 v. intr. [Malayalam. uy.] 1. To live, to subsist, have being; 181). 2. To be saved, redeemed; 5, 1). 3. To be relieved, as from trouble; (
41, 17). 4. To escape, as from danger;
, 900).
¹-->
²-
uy- , 11 v. 1. To ensure salvation;
29). 2. To drive away, dispel as darkness; 175).
¹->
uykai , n. . 1. Salvation, deliverance;
2. Escape from hardship, relief from
distress; (
->
47).
uyti , n. 1. Salvation, deliverance;
Remedy, atonement, expiation; Ceasing;
25, 5). 2. 34). 3.
34,
u-> ē -> (
¹ ēm) ->
¹ ēmam, n. 1. Safety; (
.(
. 1, 11). 2. Sacred ashes;
.) 4. Curtain, screen;
¹ ēmam ->
. 6. Defence, protection, guard;
.(
.(
.) 3. Hoarded treasure;
.)
sēmam , n. 1. Safety, well-being, welfare;
1136, 9). 2. Happiness, pleasure; Protection, preservation, security, defence, safe- guard; (
.
3. 93, 4).
4. Stronghold, secure place; 16). 5. Prison, dungeon; 90). 6. Hoard, treasure-trove; 49). 7. Tying of ola book; 20). 8. Act of a
warrior protecting himself against hostile arrows, one of pañca-kiruttiyam, q. v.;
1676, W.)
9. Binding and shrouding a corpse for burning or interment;
->
sēmi- , 11 v.
1. To keep secure, preserve in safety; 19). 2. To hide underground, bury;
3. To ward off; 11, 21).
->
kṣēma a. 1 Conferring happiness, ease or comfort, good, beneficial, well;. -2 Prosperous, at ease,
comfortable; -3 Secure, happy;. -
,-
1 Peace, happiness, ease, welfare, well-being;. -2 Safety, security; -3
Preserving, protection; -4 Keeping what is acquired;. -5 Final beatitude, eternal happi- ness. -6 Basis, foundation;. -7 Residence, resting-place;
¹ ēmam ->
-
ēmaru- , 13 v. intr. 1. To be protected, to be supported; .(
(
.
¹ ēmam ->
ēmā- , 12 v. intr. 1. To be protected by, guarded by;
².
, 448). 2. To rejoice, to be elated;
.
. 24).
-
¹ ēmam ->
.
ēmār- , v. tr. < id. +
.
²-. To strengthen, establish firmly, make secure; (
, 660).
¹ ēmam ->
²(
ēmāṟṟu- , v. tr. <
+
ēmuṟu- , 6 v. intr. <
¹+
-
(
.
.
saved;
. 109). 3. To be vexed; . (
.
ē ->(
( (
¹ ēm) ->
.
. (
.
.
u->
.
. 146). 4. To be mad, insane;
perplexed, bewildered;
-. 1. To be delighted;
. 147). 2. To be changed in nature or disposition; (
.
.
.4
¹ ēmam ->
(
-. To protect, defend;
, 873). 5. To be . 163). 6. To be protected,
. 97). 7. To be suited, be appropriate; .
. 704).
ōmbu-, 5 v. tr. 1. To protect, guard, defend, save; , 549). 2. To preserve; to keep in mind; to
cherish, nourish;
186). 3. To remove,
separate; to keep off; to ward off;
4. To dispel;
, 820). 5. To maintain, support; to cause to increase; to bring up; 1, 1).
ōmbu->
ōmbaṭu-, v. tr. <
²-
¹- 1. To protect; 114,
2. To avoid;
7, 3,
3. To
confirm; to encourage; to cheer up;
ōmbaṭai , n. < id. +. 1. Protection, safeguard;
ōmbu-> (
91). 2. Place of protection;
5, 179, 179,
3. Place where religious instruction is imparted;
4. Remedy;
mind, retaining in memory;
5, 232). 5. Keeping in
(
139,
Telugu. ōmu, Kannada. ōvū, Malayalam. ōmbu
ōmbu->
ōmḥ 1 A protector; -2 One who is favourably disposed (towards another) -3 Any one
fit to be protected or favoured. ōmbu->
ōmana m. 1 Protection. -2 Favour, kindness. -3 A kind person. -
protector; ōmbu->
The syllable Ōm
A friend, helper,
ōmbu->
->
ōm ind. 1 The sacred syllable om, uttered as a holy exclamation at the
beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas, or previous to the commencement of a prayer or sacred work. ōṅ-kāram , n.. Om, the syllable;
->
320, 10).
ōṅkāri- , 11 v. intr. < id. To repeat the mystic syllable Om;
¹W.)
ōṅ-kāram->
ōṅkārḥ Om, the syllable
When the word Om is meditated it is merely called Onkara or onkaram. At that time, it should not be termed as Pranavam. Usage of Pranavam and Onkaram is different though both are denoting OM only.
or Pillaiyar Suli
piḷḷaiyār-suḻi , n. A propitiatory mark made at the commencement of any writing;
'
'
?
or
Kanchi Sankarachi honours Tamil Language because the Symbal
is available only in Tamil to seek
protection of God to avoid and not to commit mistakes and wrongs. He says that
, ?'
, '
? '
' ------
Pillaiyar Suli representing Ganesa, who in Tamil Nadu is placed at the top of all palm leaf or latania manuscripts.
Even in Today's Tamil writings, many Tamils start with "u" " changed format of
to symbolize and denote
- the pillaiyar suli. This is actually
ōm shortly while writing
Tantric Pranavams
Aum is known as the Moola Mantra/Mandhiram or Moola Pranavam to distinguish it from the other Pancha Pranavas known as EIM, HREEM, SREEM, KREEM, and KLEEM. The above Pancha Pranavams are known as Tantric Pranava.
Unlike meditation of OM, Pranavam is spelled out and pronounced by mouth.
nu I. 2 P.1 To praise, extol, commend; -2 To roar, cry. -3 To sound, shout.
nu ->
navaḥ 2 Praise.
praṇavḥ ( +ṇavḥ) The sacred syllable om;
praṇu ( pra+
nu ) 2, 6 P. 1 To praise.-2 To mutter the sacred syllable om.-3 To roar,
bellow.-4 To resound.
Pranavam is called as praise or extol because in later days it is used to praise the lord
Om Nama Sivaya
Om Kali
Om Namo Narayana
Om Muruga
Therefore the word Onkaram is an origin of Tamil Word and its Symbol is derived from the Tamil Brahmi Script. It denote Tamil Meaning only.
