How to chant AUM?

AUM can be chanted in three ways through mouth through mind and through ones whole being The first method is mechanical second mental and the last supramental In the first two cases emphasis can be either on the sound of letters a u or m in successive mode virtually uninterruptedly or on u O or oo and m

Updated At : 05:46 AM Sep 24, 2018 IST

Dr Satish K Kapoor

‘AUM stands for the supreme reality
It is a symbol for what was, what is,
And what shall be. AUM
represents also
What lies beyond past,
present and future.’

— Mandukya Upanishad, verse1

AUM can be chanted in three ways — through mouth, through mind and through one’s whole being. The first method is mechanical, second, mental and the last supramental. In the first two cases emphasis can be either on the sound of letters a, u, or m in successive mode, virtually uninterruptedly; or on u (O or oo) and ‘m’. It means pronouncing syllables in a uniform manner, or by giving an edge to one over the other, preferably m, which comes at the end. The sound of a is, in no sense, ignored, because it is inherent in other sounds, and sometimes takes longer time while chanting.

In either of the above mode of chanting, the beginning and the end must be slow, smooth, elongated and focused on its deeper meaning, so as to imbibe vibrations from the cosmic sphere. When recited fast, AUM looses verve and impact, as it cannot find the wavelength of the primal sound. Humming the sacred syllable is better than verbal chanting, mental chanting is better than humming, and internal chanting is the best.

The mantra is the bow,

The aspirant is the arrow

And the Lord, the target.

— Mandukya Upanishad, II.2:4

AUM can be chanted anytime, anywhere, individualyly or in community gathering, both indoors and in open. However, it is better to choose a calm and quiet place in early morning or evening hours, at the junction-time of day and night, called sandhya-kala.

At the climax of chanting, the subject and object become one, and the whole being of a person is permeated with divinity. In case of an advanced practitioner, the sacred syllable keeps resounding in the deeper self, day and night, and helps him to acquire the highest state of a sthitaprajna — one who is of firm mind and established wisdom, above pleasure and pain, loss and gain. Death does not cause him fear as he understands that human life is just a transitional period of the soul in its movement towards perfection; a forward step in eternity, on the twin wings of time and space.

AUM-chanting influences all chakra-s, plexuses in the subtle human body, and activates prana, the life-force. The vibratory seat of AUM is Vishuddha chakra or the throat centre, which it purifies, restraining negative thought-currents. It is believed that focussing at Ajna Chakra, with the chanting of AUM, activates the pineal gland and brings out the cognitive potential of a person that can be transmuted for the awakening of higher consciousness.

‘Those who know AUM as the Self become the Self;

Truly they become the Self.’

— Mandukya Upanishad, verse 12

When AUM-chanting emanates from the heart, it sprouts feelings of kindness and love, tearing apart the knots of anger and hatred within. As the sound touches manipura chakra, located behind the root of the navel, it regulates fire-element in the gross body, and burns up toxins. Moving downward in the lower chakra-s-muladhara and svadhishthana – located at the base of the spine, and behind the root of the genital respectively, it controls sense organs, and helps in sublimation of the vital energy. Some spiritual preceptors advice householders, not to recite AUM without the prefix Hari, lest regular practice makes them abdicate worldly duties. AUM-chanting fills the surrounding environment with peaceful vibrations

(Dr Satish K Kapoor is a noted educationist, historian and spiritualist)