OM consists of three letters: ‘A’, ‘U’ and ‘M’. These signifies the 3 periods of time, states of consciousness and the entire existence. ‘A’ is the waking state or Virat and Visva. ‘U’ is the dreaming state of Hiranyagarbha and Taijasa. ‘M’ is the sleeping state or Isvara and Prajna.

This symbol is actually a sacred syllable representing the Brahman or the Absolute -the source of all existence. Brahman, in itself, is incomprehensible so a symbol becomes mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable. Om, therefore, represents both the unmanifest (nirguna) and manifest (saguna) aspects of God. That is why it is called pranava, to mean that it pervades life and runs through our prana or breath.

Om syllable appears in English words too and carries a similar meaning; few examples are ‘omniscient’, omnipotent’, and ‘omnipresent’.