Omkaar Sadhana

In the Prapanchsaar Tantra( by Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan) Adi Shankaracharya discussed various practical aspects. One of the interesting sadhana he discussed is Omkaar Sadhana.  According to himPranav can be addressed in ten different ways as Omkaar, Gunbeej, Pranav, Taar, Dhruv, Vedadi, A-adi, U-madhya, M-Par and trimatrak. Accordig to him Omkaar being the precursor of all Vedas is used before all mantras. Being the root of all the yoni it is called Sarvyoni and being the base for every thing, hence called Sarvashraya. Since it is associated with everything hence it is also called Sarvsamvaad. A is Rikveda, U is Yajurveda and M is Samveda. 

In it, seven different ways of sadhana on OM has been described which one is trying to share here with the help of self generated image for easy understanding as below:

1.

According to it, one should repeatedly chant OM with A,U,M,Bindu,Naad and with ones mind take it to top in Dwadahsant. One should practice it again and again till one can feel it established in Sahasrar and till mind gets completely dissolute in it.

Hence by this method one dissolves the MIND.

2.

Visualize Omkaar in the Sahasraar and visualize it as an effulgent sun encircled by three orbs of light. In that experience Om in the form of a Bindu from where nectar is cascading down. Continue practicing this daily. By this one gets sidhi. One is set free of untimely death, diseases and victory pf various sins.

3.

In it visualize Kundlini shakti in the form of a subtle thread like effulgence which is embued with nectar like that of moon or Chandra rising from Mooladhar upwards. One who follows such a method, surely develops power to digest all kinds of poisons.

4.

Visualize the kundalini shakti in the form of a thin yellow hued light thread, like that of a cobweb, with three and half circle around the swyambhu lingam. Chanting OM beej one should raise it and enter it in to Suhumanatakaing it up to Dwadashant. Focus ones chit vritti in it and then completely dissolve It in the parmatama in Sahasrar. By the power of it one gets free of the cycle of life and death and attains moksha.

5.

Dissolve A in U, U in M, M in Bindu, Bindu in Naad, Naad in Shakti, Shakti in Shanti which is without a second, Nishkal, form of Sarvanand, subtle, Sarvamaya which faces every direction and is pure effulgence. Thus all senses along with its cause and getting free of all kinds of associated knowledges, becomes one with Parmatama. Such a yogi gets free of all kinds of deeds and becomes Brahm like.

6.

A yogi who understands all the five states of atma like Jagrit, Swapna(dream state), Sushupti (Ignorance state), Turiya and Turiyateet achieves Sadya mukti. In it atma through our senses enjoys various things. A state in which mind without senses enjoys the things is called Swapna or dream state. A state where both atma and mind become without samkalp, that state is called Sushupti. A state in which tamas gets removed and atma experiences the par-tattva is called Turiya. A state in which a yogi experiences that both atma and parmatama are one and the same entity that is called Turiyateet. Reaching this state, final emancipation of the yogi is just at hand.

7.

While chanting OM, one should experience it as Parvaak in mooladhar, then experience it as Sukhamavaak too there only. In the navel experiencing it as Pashyantivaak which is a form of knowledge, in the heart in Sushumana experience it as great knowledge form Madhyamavaak, to arrive at one mouth in the form of Vaikhari vaak. It means to experience the chanting of OM from Mooladhar in the form of Paravaak , moving through various stages to feeling it in ones mouth in the form of Vaikhari vaak is the realization of a yogi. From here he should raise it to his eyebrow centre, then to Moordha, onwards to Dwadashant to culminate in to Shodashant. Here he should wait for some time and then retrace the path back to mooladhar dissolving the one in to another.On reaching para he should dissolve A, U and M in Jagrit, Bindu in Swapna(dream state) and Naad in Sushupti, Shakti in turiya and Shanta in atma. Three states of atma and five states of Omkar are interconnected.

A-kaar of Om gives birth to ten kalas of Brahmjaat.

Srishti¹, Medha², Smriti³, Ridhi⁴, Kanti⁵,Luxmi⁶, Dyuti⁷, Sthira⁸, Sthiti⁹, Sidhi¹⁰.

In the matrikas these are associated with varnas from Ka to Cha.

U-kaar of Om gives birth to ten kalas of Vishnujaat.

Jara¹, Palini², Shanti³, Ishwari⁴, Rati⁵, Kamika⁶,Varda⁷,Haladini⁸,Priti⁹,Deergha¹⁰.

In matrikas these are associated with varnas from Ta to ta.  

M-kaar of Om goves birth to ten kalas of Rudrajaat.

Tikshina¹, Raudri², Bhaya³, Nidra⁴, Tandra⁵, Kshut⁶, Krodhini⁷, Kriya⁸, Utkari⁹, Mrityu¹⁰.

These are associated with matrikas from Pa to Ya.

Bindu gives rise to four kalas of Ishwarjaat which are for tirodhaan.

Peeta¹, Shweta², Aruna³, Asita⁴.

These are associated with Sha, sha, Sa, Ha.

Naad gives rise to 16 kalas of Sadashivjaat for anugrah.

Nivrati¹, Pratishtha², Vidya³, Shanti⁴, Indhika⁵, Deepika⁶, Rechika⁷, Mochika⁸, Para⁹, Sukshama¹⁰, Sukhamamrita¹¹, Gyana¹², Amrita¹³, Apyayini¹⁴, Vyapini¹⁵, Vyomroopa¹⁶.

Thus explained Shankara various sadhanas of Omkaar in Prapanchsaar Tantra as understood by ones limited knowledge….Om!