Datta Maata 138: Omkara or Pranavopasana

Everyone likes the worship of Omkara (Pranavopasana). Let us see how to learn it.

Omkara mantra samyuktam nityam dhyayanthi yoginah!
Kamadam mokshadam tasmath
omkaraya namo namah!!

The yogis contemplate every day with the help of Omkara. It fulfills all the desires and it also bestows moksha (salvation). Salutations to such Omkara.

Wherever mantras or divine names are chanted, we listen to the sound "Om". The names of Shiva and Vishnu are also followed by Om. We say 'Om namo narayanaya', 'Om namah Shivaya'. The scholars, while chanting the Vedas also start with 'Harihi Om'. In yagnas, the sound of Om is chanted loudly and then the yagna is commenced. Also, in the attire and decorations of the famous deities that we see, we can find the prominence and symbolic representation of Omkara. For instance, Ganapathi's twisted tusk, Shiva's drum, Vishnu's conch, Brahma's swan and the tail of Anjaneya are all the symbolic representations of Omkara, if observe carefully. In this manner, we can see Omkara everywhere in some or the other form. What is the reason? If you taste a parrot-shaped sweet that is made of sugar at its feathers or at its nose, it tastes sweet. This is because that parrot is made out of sugar. Likewise, this entire world has come up from Omkara. Having born from Omkara, it once again merges into it. That is why Pranava (Om) is said to be the seed letter. At the very beginning of the creation, Maha Vishu initiated Brahma with Omkara and described the meaning of it. Brahma did Pranavopasana and attained the energy required for the creation.

Few think that only Vedas and music have emerged from the sound of Pranava. It is not so. The five elements (Panchabhutas), rivers, mountains and all the beings -animate and inanimate are born from this Omkara. The sound of Pranava i.e Omkara consists of the sounds of A, U and Ma. "A" indicates the creation and sattvic nature. "U" indicates the sustenance and rajasic nature. "Ma" denotes the merging and tamasic nature. To understand the inner meaning of creation which is based on Triginas (the three types of nature), one must worship Omkara. Only to indicate this, all the Gods carry the symbols related to Omkara. For any knowledge and worship, Omkara is the basis. Entire jnana is a part of Pranava. That is why the worship that is done without considering Omkara will not lead to enlightenment. We all must try to worship the Lord who is in the hearts of everyone in the form of Omkara. Worshiping Omkara is equivalent to worshipping all the Gods. With Pranavopasana, all the desires get fulfilled. The mind becomes purified and it leads to salvation. Lord Shiva continuously chants the Pranava. For those who die in Kashi, also known as Kailash of Earth, Lord Shiva himself will initiate them with Omkara during the time of death. With such initiation, the noble souls merge into him. That is the power of Omkara. We must all worship Omkara daily at least for 5 minutes. You will yourself get to know the result.

We also have listened to the mantra - Om Aim Hreem Sreem Siva Rama Anagha Dattaya namaha.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!