ॐ ध्यान
Om Dhyana — Chanting AUM
dhyāna = meditation — meditating through the sound of Om
One syllable, three sounds, and the silence after — the meditation the Upanishads begin from.
In the simplest words
Sing "Aaa-Uuu-Mmm" slowly in one long breath. The first part buzzes in your tummy, the middle in your chest, and the "mmm" right inside your head. When the sound ends, sit in the quiet — that quiet is the special part.
What it is
Om unfolds as three sounds: A, rising from the belly with the mouth open; U, rolling forward over the lips; M, closing into a hum that fades into silence. The Mandukya Upanishad devotes itself entirely to this syllable, calling the silence after the M the fourth part — the one the other three exist to reveal. To practise, chant Om long and slow, feel A vibrate in the belly, U in the chest, M in the head, and then rest in the quiet left behind. Nine slow repetitions can change the weather of a whole evening.
Where it comes from: The Upanishads — above all the Mandukya; Om recitation opens and closes practice across every Hindu tradition.
Before you practise — health first
Fully gentle. Keep the volume soft and never strain the voice; whisper it, or repeat it silently in the mind — the texts hold the silent japa highest of all.
How to practise
Sit tall, eyes closed, one full breath in.
Open the mouth and let "A" (aaa) rise from the belly.
Round the lips so it becomes "U" (ooo) in the chest.
Close the lips into "M" (mmm) and feel it hum in the head.
Let the sound fade completely, and rest a moment in the silence before the next breath.
Chant 9, 11 or 21 times — slow beats many.
Practise now
ॐ
Om chanting is counted like any jaap — open the Om mantra page and count your rounds on the mala there.
Open the Om jaap counterWhen & how long
Dawn and dusk are the traditional hours; it also opens any meditation or study session beautifully. Count rounds on the jaap counter if you like.
What it is kept for
Settling into practice, steadying the voice and breath together, and touching the stillness the texts say Om points to.