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Aum facts for kids

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AUM symbol, the primary (highest) name of the God as per the Vedas
Om

Om (also spelled Aum), is the most sacred symbol in Hinduism. Hindu scriptures tell many things about this symbol. In Hinduism, Om is like calling god's name towards you. This name is generally said three times, before chanting any prayers. Om is usually related to the Hindu God Shiva, who is the destroyer god.

Images for kids

  • 004 Gopura, Aum Sign (26596636998)

    Om (ௐ) in Tamil script with a trishula at Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Singapore; Om appears frequently as an icon in temples (mandirs) and spiritual retreats

  • Golden Mandala with Om symbol at Hindu temple in Malaysia

    A rangoli featuring Om surrounded by stylised peacocks; Om often features prominently in the religious art and iconography of Indic religions

  • Shiva as the Lord of Dance LACMA edit

    Statue depicting Shiva as the Nataraja dancing in a posture resembling the Devangari ligature for Om; Joseph Campbell argued that the Nataraja statue represents Om as a symbol of the entirety of "consciousness, universe" and "the message that God is within a person and without"

  • Rigveda MS2097

    Om appears frequently in Hindu texts and scriptures, notably appearing in the first verse of the Rigveda

  • Om syllable script

    Om is given many meanings and layers of symbolism in the Upanishads including "the sacred sound, the Yes!, the Vedas, the udgitha (song of the universe), the infinite, the all encompassing, the whole world, the truth, the ultimate reality, the finest essence, the cause of the universe, the essence of life, the Brahman, the ātman, the vehicle of deepest knowledge, and self-knowledge (atma jnana)".

  • A Pahari painting of an OM containing deities, c.1780-1800

    A Pahari painting of Om (ओं), c. 1780-1800, decorated with deities: Shiva and Shakti (could be Vaishnavi or Siddhidatri); Vishnu and Lakshmi seated upon Shesha; Harihara (Vishnu-Shiva fusion deity); Brahma; and Dattatreya as a representation of the Trimurti (top-to-bottom, left-to-right)

  • A Yantra with Tamil Om symbol in center, at a Mariamman Temple

    Shri Yantra with Om (ௐ) at its center, Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore; yantras are frequently used as aids in Hindu meditation

  • Ganesha-aum

    The Hindu deity Ganesha is sometimes referred to as "oṃkārasvarūpa" (Omkara is his form) and used as the symbol for Upanishadic concept of Brahman.

  • Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva within an OM

    An illustration of Om from a Mahabharata manuscript, 1795, decorated with murtis of Surya, Brahma, and Vishnu to the left, Shakti (could be Maheshwari) on the chandrabindu point, and Shiva (holding a trishula) to the right

  • Om Symbol at Kanaka Durga Temple

    Om symbol with a trishula at Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada

  • Radha and Krishna on a single lotus within an "Om" sign surr Wellcome V0045039

    Radha and Krishna intertwined with an Om (ওঁ) and surrounded by scenes from their life

  • Jaipur Jain Aum

    Painting illustrating the Jain Om symbol, from Jaipur, c. 1840

  • Kannonshoji Azuchi Kyoto pref Japan01s3

    Nio statues in Kyoto prefecture of Japan, are interpreted as saying the start (open mouth) and the end (closed mouth) of syllable "AUM"

  • Horyu-ji14s3200

    Agyō Niō at the Central Gate of Hōryū-ji

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Om para niños

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