Having its origins from the sacred texts of the religion, the Om symbol is mostly associated with Hinduism. Rest assured, there is so much more to it than that. Here in this post, we will try to examine the Om symbol, the meaning and symbolism behind it in detail.

In the West, the Om symbol is most commonly associated with yoga, meditation, and other spiritual practices, yet, do we really know where it comes from and what it means?

For example, did you know that the Om is not just a symbol but also a sound? It is chanted at the end of yoga sessions (and sometimes at the beginning of them also). More on that later, through the end of the article in the section titled ‘Om and Yoga Practices’

The Origins of the Om

The fact of the matter is that the Om symbol is used in many different spiritual practices and religions throughout the world.

You can find this particular symbol in many places of the world, especially in Asian countries where Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism are practiced.

You can find the Om symbol in various Jain, Hindu, and Buddhist temples, monasteries, religious retreats, and spiritual manuscripts.

Many people associate the Om symbol with Buddhism, especially in terms of meditation, however the Om symbol actually has its origins in Hinduism.

The first mention of the Om is in the Mandukya Upanishad, which is a very sacred Hindu text, one that was written around the year 800 BC.

The Upanishads are sacred and mystical texts of Hindu religion and they are associated with the Vedanta philosophy. Within the Upanishads, the Om symbol is often used for abstract spiritual concept

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It is also often associated with many other concepts such as the mystic syllable, the cosmic sound, and the affirmation to something divine.