Chapter VIII - Application of om in the vedas and vedanta

1.  Pranava = Adorable.

"O venerable, let me enter thee (viz. the word Om)—the sheath of Brahma, swaha. O venerable do thou enter me, swaha. O venerable, I shall be purified by thee." (Taittiriya Up. IV. 3).

2.  The Burden of song.

"Om, the hymns of the Sama Sing, Om, Som, the hymns proclaim."

3.  Commanding and assenting.

"By Om, the Adhwarju gives his reply:—By Om the Brahma commands;—By Om he gives his orders for the burnt offering" (Ibid VIII. Anuvak).

4.  Beginning.

"Om, says the Brahman, when he commences to read the Veda." (Ibid).

5.  Om is Multinymous.

"Om is Brahman, it is immortal, it is light, it is truthful, and a portion of holy light."

"It is the sun, the truthful, the Yajus, devotion, fire, wind and air."

"It is the moon, strength, immortality, and the means of attaining Brahma" (Maitri Upanishad VI. 35.)  ~~ ~~ 

6. It is all significant.

But apart from all the particular objects to which this word is severally applied, Om is found from its general sense of "a being" at large, to be significant of "all things," as its archetype Brahman is made to stand for universal existence both collectively as well as singly (in toto et per singulatim), as it is said in the Mandukya Upanishad,  ~~

7.  Om includes all things.

"Om" says the Sruti, "is immortal." Its explanation is "this all"; what was, what is, and what will be, all is verily the word "Om"; and every thing else which is beyond the threefold time is also verily the word "Om." For this all (represented by "Om") is Brahm, and Brahm is "all." (Mandukya Upanishad Bhashya verse 1 and 2).  ~~

8.  Scholium on the above.

According to Sankara's explanation the rendering would be as follows:—"Om" this sound (or immortal) is this "All," and its explanation is "what was, what is, and will be, all is verily the word "Om." (Sankara's Bhashya of the above). Anandagiri's explanation is to the same purport; thus says he:—

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