Pranava OM– the Yoga Upanishads Explains

Pranava is another name for the sacred syllable “Om” (ॐ) — the primordial sound and symbol of the Absolute (Brahman). As per Yoga Sutra, “Ishvara’s expression is Om.” Pranava represents the entire range of existence, from gross to subtle, and ultimately points to the Self (atman).
 
“Om” the monosyllable, is the Brahman. Its body, seat and three durations are – three devas, the three worlds, the three Vedas, the three fires, the three Matras (syllables) and half Matra (half-Syllable) of that three-lettered Shiva.  Esoteric Truth underlying Brahmavidya is the Brahman.

The Pranava has fourfold character of ‘Akara’, ‘Ukara’, ‘Makara’ and the half-syllable. The Akara and others are the four kinds, being differentiated as the Sthula (Gross), Suksma (Subtle), Bija (Seed) and Saksi (Witness).

Their states are waking, dreaming, sleeping and the Turiya (the Fourth). The waking Vishva is in the gross part of Atara. The Taijasa is the subtle part of Akara. The Prajna is the seed state of Akara. The Turiya is the witness state of Akara. Likewise, Ukara, Makara and the half-syllable have four parts each.

Pranava is the bow, the Atman (Manas) is the arrow and Brahman is the target. All the gods take their origin from the Omkara. All the vowels take the origin from the Omkara. All the three worlds, with everything, animate and inanimate therein, take their origin from the Omkara.

The short Pranava of one syllable burns away sins; the long Pranava of three syllables or the prolongated Pranava of four syllables bestows liberation. The long one reaches as far as the Brahmarandhra (in the cranium) while the prolongated one reaches as far as Dvadasanta (lying beyond the Brahmarandhra). This Pranava removes all obstacles and destroys all defects.

Pranava & Dhyana
Pranava – Dhyana with Pranayama – Brahman is said to be Puraka, Vishnu is said to be the Kumbhaka and Rudra is said to be the Rechaka – these are the deities of Pranayama. One should meditate on the Omkara stationed in the middle of the body and surrounded by a halo of lustre.
Pranava – Dhyana with other methods – One should apply himself to the best of his strength to the resonance of the sound of Omkara, till his breath is restrained and the Nada is dissolved. Those who see in the Omkara depending upon the in-going and out-going breath, for its utterance (characterized by Hamsa), they are rendered free from the quality of Rajas and attain the summum bonum of existence.
Forms of Pranava
The real form of the Pranava – In its feet is the Bhurloka and in its knees the Bhuvarloka. In its hip-region is the Suvarloka and in its naval region the Maharloka. The Janaloka is in the region of its heart and the Tapoloka in its throat. The Satyaloka iss established in the middle of its brows and forefront.

1. In “A” the first part of the Pranava – the Earth, the Fire, the Rigveda, the world Bhur, and the Pitamaha. “A” is of yellow colour and unrhythmic in quality.
2. In “U” the second part of the Pranava – the intermediate region, Yajurveda, the Air, the Bhuvar, the Vishnu, & Janardan. “U” is of white colour and rhythmic in quality.
3. In “M” the third part of the Pranava – the celestial region, the Sun, the Samaveda, the world Svar and Maheshwar. “M” is of black colour and inert quality.

Significance of Pranava -

1. Pranava has Eight Angas – A, U, M, Bindu, Nada, Kala, Kalatita and Tatpara.
2. Pranava has four feet – Vishva, Taijasa, Prajna and Turiya in Vyasti; Viraj, Sutra, Bija and Turya in Samasti; Otr, Anujnatr, Anujna and Ekatasa, common to both;
3. Pranava has three states – Jagrat, Svapna and Susupti;
4. Pranava has three bodies – Sthula, Sukshma and Karana;
5. Pranava has three Gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas;
6. Pranava has three Powers – Kriya-Shakti, Iccha-Shakti and Jnana-Shakti;
7. Pranava has three durations – Past, Present & Future;
8. Pranava has five deities – Brahman, Vishnu, Rudra, Ishvara and Sadashiva. 

 
Worship of the Pranava –
The worlds are three in number (Bhur, Bhuvar & Svar). The Vedas are three in number (Rig, Yajus and Saman), Sandhayas occurs thrice. The letters are three in number (A, U, M). fires are three in number (Daksina, Garhapatya and Ahavaniya). Gunas are three.
Ardhamatra – Turya. There stands a lotus in the region of the heart with its face turned downwards and its stalk higher up. In the nether portion of it is the Bindu in the form of ether. In the middle of the stands the mind, wherein the inmost consciousness manifests itself. With Akara (of the form of Vishva, Viraj and otr-chaitanya manifesting directly) the lotus (with its face upward) moves up. Only with Ukara (of the form of Taijasa, Sutra and Anujnatr manifesting itself directly) the lotus blooms. With Makara (manifesting itself directly as Prajna, Bija and Anujnaika-rasa) the yogi attains the Nada.