Om (also written Aum; Sanskrit: ॐ, ओम्; ISO 15919: Ōṁ) is a polysemous symbol representing a sacred sound, seed syllable, mantra and invocation in Hinduism as well as in other Indian religions. Its written form is regarded as the most important symbol in the Hindu religion, and it is also referred to by names such as Onkara (Omkara) and Pranava.
In Indian religious thought, Om is described as the essence of the supreme Absolute, consciousness, Ātman, Brahman or the cosmic world. It serves as a sonic representation of the divine, a standard of Vedic authority, and a central aspect of soteriological doctrines and practices. It is also considered a basic tool for meditation in the yogic path to liberation, and is described in the texts as the goal of all the Vedas.
Om emerged within the Vedic corpus and is said to be an encapsulated form of Samavedic chants. The syllable is often found at the beginning and end of chapters in the Vedas, the Upanishads and other Hindu texts. It is recited as a sacred incantation before and during the reading of spiritual texts, during puja and private prayers, at rites of passage (samskara) such as weddings, and during meditative practices such as Pranava yoga.
Beyond its use as a chant, Om appears as part of the iconography found in ancient and medieval manuscripts, temples, monasteries and spiritual retreats associated with Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. As a syllable, it is chanted either independently or as a prelude to spiritual recitation and meditation across the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions.