om ind. (√ av, Uṇ. i, 141; originally oṃ = āṃ, which may be derived from ā, BRD.), a word of solemn affirmation and respectful assent, sometimes translated by ‘yes, verily, so be it’ (and in this sense compared with Amen; it is placed at the commencement of most Hindū works, and as a sacred exclamation may be uttered [but not so as to be heard by ears profane] at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas or previously to any prayer; it is also regarded as a particle of auspicious salutation [Hail!]; om appears first in the Upaniṣads as a mystic monosyllable, and is there set forth as the object of profound religious meditation, the highest spiritual efficacy being attributed not only to the whole word but also to the three sounds a, u, m, of which it consists; in later times om is the mystic name for the Hindū triad, and represents the union of the three gods, viz. a (Viṣṇu), u (Śiva), m (Brahmā); it may also be typical of the three Vedas; om is usually called praṇava, more rarely akṣara, or ekākṣara, and only in later times oṃkāra), VS.; ŚBr.; ChUp. &c.

(Buddhists place om at the beginning of their vidyā ṣaḍakṣarī or mystical formulary in six syllables [viz. om maṇi padme hūṃ]; according to T. om may be used in the following senses: praṇave, ārambhe, svīkāre, anumatau, apākṛtau, asvīkāre, maṅgale, śubhe, jñeye, brahmaṇi; with preceding a or ā, the o of om does not form Vṛddhi (au), but Guṇa (o), Pāṇ. vi, 1, 95.)

om ind. 1 The sacred syllable om, uttered as a holy exclamation at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas, or previous to the commencement of a prayer or sacred work. 2 As a particle it implies (a) solemn affirmation and respectful assent (so be it, amen !). (b) assent or acceptance (yes, all right); omityucyatāmamātyaḥ Māl. 6; omityuktavatotha śāṃrgiṇa iti Śi. 1. 75; dvitīyaścedomiti brūmaḥ S. D. 1. (c) command; (d) auspiciousness; (e) removal or warding off. 3 Brahman. [This word first appears in the Upanishads as a mystic monosyllable, and is regarded as the object of the most profound religious meditation. In the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad it is said that this syllable is all what has been, that which is and is to be; that all is om, only om. Literally analysed, om is taken to be made up of three letters or quarters; the letter a is Vaiśvānara, the spirit of waking souls in the waking world; u is Taijasa, the spirit of dreaming souls in the (pb) world of dreams; and m. is Prājña, the spirit of sleeping and undreaming souls; and the whole om is said to be unknowable, unspeakable, into which the whole world passes away, blessed above duality; (for further account see Gough's Upaniṣads pp. 69-73). In later times om came to be used as a mystic name for the Hindu triad, representing the union of the three gods a (Viṣṇu), u (Śiva), and m. (Brahmā). It is usually called Praṇava or Ekākṣaram]. Comp. — kāraḥ 1 the sacred syllable om. 2 the exclamation om, or pronunciation of the same. 3 (fig.) commencement; eṣa tāvadoṃkāraḥ Mv. 1; B. R. 3. 78.

om ind. 1 The mystic name of the deity, prefacing all the prayers and most of the writings of the Hindus. E. a a name of VIṢṆU, u ŚIVA, and ma of BRAHMA; it therefore implies the Indian triad, and expresses the three in one. 2 A particle of command or injunction. 3 Of assent, (verily, amen.) 4 Of auspiciousness. 5 Of removal, (away, hence,) and, 6 It is an inceptive particle. E. ava to go, to preserve, &c. man Uṇādi affix, the radical being converted into o.