These three sounds represent several sacred trinities: 

• Creation (Brahma), preservation (Vishnu), and dissolution (Shiva) of the universe.

• The three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, and deep sleep.

• The three aspects of time: past, present, and future. 

• The three gunas Rajas, Tamas, and Sattva

The entire symbol, including the silence that follows the chanting of the sound, is said to represent the sound of creation, the vibration of the universe, and a symbol of the ultimate reality (Brahman) the entirety of the universe. everything in the universe — including thoughts, emotions, food, and actions — is made up of three gunas, or qualities of energy / sound vibration.

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AUM (ॐ) is a sacred sound and spiritual symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Dharmic traditions. It is considered the primordial sound of the universe — the vibration from which all creation emerged.

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The sound “AUM” has three parts:

1. A (pronounced “ah”) — represents the waking state and the physical world. Sattva.

2. U (pronounced “ooh”) — represents the dream state, the subtle or mental world. Rajas.

3. M (pronounced “mmm”) — represents the deep sleep state, the state of pure consciousness or unmanifest potential. Tamas.

 

After the “M,” there is  a moment of silence, symbolising the absolute reality (Brahman) — the state beyond all dualities. Where the trinity, the separateness are all brought together.  Wholeness, Oneness.

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The sound

• signifies the union of the mind, body, and spirit.

• represents the past, present, and future, and also that which is beyond time.

• is often chanted at the beginning and end of prayers, yoga sessions, and meditations to align with the universal vibration.​

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ॐ

If you look closely at the symbol Om it has three main curves, a crescent, and a dot.

Here’s what each part represents:

 

'A' Left large curves like a large “3” shape

• Represents the waking state (jāgrat).

• Represents our everyday awareness — seeing, hearing, feeling, acting in the physical world.

• The foundation of consciousness.

• Mind, body and senses engaged in life

• It’s when our consciousness is turned outward, experiencing the physical world through the sense

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Qualities:

• Laziness and inaction

• Neglect, confusion, or ignorance

• Sleep, attachment, and resistance to change

• Fear, depression, or delusion

​When Tamas dominates we are asleep, but our eyes are open. We feel sleepy, unmotivated, or stuck — like being trapped in fog.

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Examples of tamasic things:

• Stale, processed, or leftover foods

• Violence, deceit, intoxication

• Excess sleep, avoidance, or despair

 

'U' Middle curve (extending to the right) A smaller curve that branches off in the large 3 shaped one.

• Represents the dreaming state (svapna).

• It’s the inward-turned consciousness, where we experience mental impressions (thoughts), imagination and dreams.

• This is subtler than the waking state.

• Yes the mind is a dream, think of mind as a movie being projected of our experiences. that get recalled and shaped depending upon our programming and our will

QQualities:

• Desire and ambition

• Effort, motion, and change

• Attachment and craving

• Excitement, competition, and achievement

When Rajas dominates we feel motivated but restless — always chasing results, recognition, or stimulation.

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Examples of rajasic things:

• Spicy or fried foods, caffeine, strong flavors

• Overwork, ambition, argument, stress

• Loud music, social media, addictions, or overactivity

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"M" Upper curve (A small arc sitting above the two lower curves.

• Represents the deep sleep state (suṣupti).

• This is when the mind and senses rest, no dreams, no desires, but the seed of consciousness exists (pointing towards what us humans believe is the death state too)

• peaceful warm comfortable darkness and rest in the void of potentiality.​​

 

Sattva Qualities:

• Wisdom and understanding

• Compassion and selflessness

• Inner peace and joy

• Clarity of thought and purity of intention

• Alignment with truth (Dharma)

• When Sattva dominates we feel calm, content, clear-minded, and connected — like a still lake reflecting the sky.

Examples of sattvic things:

• Fresh  food just harvested, fruits, grains, milk, nuts

• Meditation, study, selfless service

• Gentle speech, honesty, kindness

 

Above the curves, a dot & a crescent

Dot (small, simple, and radiant)

• Symbolizes the fourth state — Turiya — pure consciousness or the ultimate reality.

• This is the state of enlightenment, beyond waking, dreaming, and sleeping — silent, infinite, and blissful. can be referred to as the void.

• It is infinite, eternal, and blissful — the ultimate reality (Brahman).

• The source of all sound and silence, movement and stillness.  The all and everything.  

 

Crescent (a crescent moon shape under the dot), not touching the main curves already mentioned above)

• Represents Māyā — the veil of illusion. ignorance that separates the individual self from the highest reality.

• It separates the individual from realizing Turiya (the dot).

• It shows that ignorance or illusion prevents us from perceiving the highest truth.

• It’s what keeps us from realising our true nature as pure consciousness.

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Put It All Together

If we now  imagine the symbol, the sound as it is manifest:

• The three curves form the realm of human experience (body, mind, unconscious).

• The crescent and dot sit above, representing transcendence — the higher spiritual plane.

• The whole symbol embodies the journey of consciousness — from outer awareness to inner enlightenment.

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All three gunas are always present — they rise and fall in proportion.

State              Dominant             Guna     Experience

Early morning  clarity.                     Sattva    Calm and pure

Midday              activity                    Rajas      Energy and drive

Night                 rest or confusion   Tamas    Numbness or dullness

 

The goal of yoga and meditation is not to destroy any guna, but learn how they influence our lives in this manifestation, as we cultivate Sattva, balance Rajas, and reduce Tamas so we wake up in this lifetime and the mind and body becomes clear enough to realise the Self (Ātman).

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When you chant or meditate on AUM:

Aaa… Uuu… Mmm… (silence)

A — opens the body (physical world)
U — moves us inward (mental world)
M — dissolves into unmanifest (pure being)
(…and then silence…) — awareness beyond all sound. (ultimate consciousness)

journeying you through sound to silence — symbolising the journey from outer experience to inner stillness.

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Deeper Spiritual Meaning

• ॐ is said to contain all of existence — it begins with creation (“A”) Brhaman, sustains it (“U”) Vishnu, and dissolves it (“M”) Shiva.

• Chanting it helps re-harmonise our manifest vibration with the cosmic vibration.

• In meditation, it is not just a sound, but a magical gateway to silence and ultimately awareness of the infinite.

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