Ohm

* The symbol Om, Ohm or Aum is believed to be the sound that was spoken to create the universe and life. * It is made up of three separate sounds, and saying these together makes Om the ultimate mantra. * Saying the three sounds together in the right way helps to awaken the inner self, the atman, which is a spark from the divine Brahman. When said in this way, Om is called Pranava, the sacred sound (sacred humming). * It is the representation of Brahman, who is unreachable and unknowable. By using the symbol (or saying the word), Hindus can approach Brahman in both the mystical and earth-bound planes. * The symbol has huge significance in Hindu life, appearing everywhere – on temples, on amulets worn by almost everyone and even painted onto the tongue of newborns using honey, to welcome them into life.