ओम्om

ओम् (om) is a Sanskrit word meaning the sacred syllable om, beginning, assent or acceptance, prohibition, auspiciousness, knowledge. Its 16 recorded definitions are grouped into 4 contexts, among them Particle of Affirmation, Assent, and Other Functions, Metaphysical Symbol of Brahman and the Divine Trinity, Sacred Invocation and Auspicious Commencement.

Root: अव् (av)
Etymology: E. अ a name of VISHNU, उ of SIVA, and म of BRAHMA; it therefore implies the Indian triad, and expresses the three in one
Definitions: 16

View Declension Tables , 72 forms

Meanings by context

Particle of Affirmation, Assent, and Other Functions

6 definitions

1. Solemn affirmation and respectful assent. 2. Assent or acceptance. 3. Command. 4. Auspiciousness. 5. Removal or warding off.

— Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. The mystic name of the deity used in prayers and writings. 2. A particle of command. 3. A particle of assent meaning verily or amen. 4. A particle of auspiciousness. 5. A particle of removal meaning away or hence. 6. An inceptive particle.

— Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. The sacred syllable uttered at the beginning and end of reading the Vedas. 2. An expression of acceptance, command, assent, or auspiciousness. 3. Brahman.

— Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. The mystic name of the deity used before prayers and writings. 2. A particle of command. 3. A particle of assent or agreement. 4. A particle expressing auspiciousness. 5. A particle denoting removal. 6. An inceptive particle.

— Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

the mystic syllable Om

— Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

A sacred mystic syllable of solemn affirmation, uttered at the beginning and end of Veda-reading.

— Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary

Metaphysical Symbol of Brahman and the Divine Trinity

4 definitions

1. A word of solemn affirmation and respectful assent meaning yes, verily, or so be it. 2. A sacred exclamation used as a greeting or at the beginning and end of prayers and scriptural readings. 3. A mystic monosyllable representing the highest spiritual essence and the Hindu triad.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Brahman

— Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

The mystic name of the deity or trinity

— Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

A sacred exclamation of solemn affirmation and auspicious salutation, used as an object of profound religious meditation and placed at the commencement of sacred works and prayers.

ओम् (om) [Printed book page 0189-b]
ओम् (om) om, ind. (said to be fr. rt. av; perhaps

originally oṃ, which may be derived fr. āṃ, and this

fr. ā), 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 Upani-

shads 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 akṣaram or

ekākṣaram, and only in later times oṃ-kāra.

The Buddhists use om at the commencement of

their vidyā ṣaḍ-akṣarī or mystical formulary in

six syllables (viz. om māni padme hūṃ). Lexico-

graphers affirm that besides the above uses, om may

imply command or injunction, removal or warding

off (Away! Hence!), and be used as an inceptive par-

ticle. Grammarians assert that before om a preced-

ing a or ā at the end of a word should be cut off

(e. g. vijayoṅkāraḥ for vijayauṅkāraḥ (°ya-oṅ°),

thanksgiving for victory; see Gram. 38. b). —Oṃ-kāra,

as, m. the sacred and mystical syllable om; the ex-

clamation om; pronouncing the syllable om; (ā), f.

a Buddhist Śakti or female personification of divine

energy. —Oṃkāra-grantha, as, m. title of a work

of Nārāyaṇa. —Oṃkāra-tīrtha, N. of a Tīrtha.

—Oṃkāra-bhaṭṭa, as, m., N. of a man. [ID=12975]

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)

Sacred Invocation and Auspicious Commencement

4 definitions

The sacred syllable uttered as a holy exclamation before prayers, sacred works, or the reading of the Vedas.

— Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. The sacred syllable Om. 2. The exclamation or pronunciation of Om. 3. Commencement.

— Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

the sacred syllable om, used as an invocation, at the start and end of prayers and Vedic recitation, and as a respectful salutation

— Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary

A sacred mystic syllable used at the beginning and end of prayers, holy recitations, and writings, as well as in respectful salutations.

— Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Specific Contextual Uses, Etymology, and Grammatical Notes

2 definitions

1. the sacred syllable om. 2. beginning. 3. assent or acceptance. 4. prohibition. 5. auspiciousness. 6. knowledge. 7. the supreme spirit.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

by protection

— The Purana Index

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Definitions on this page come from 12 works: Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary, Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872), Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary, The Purana Index, Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon.