“OM” GOD AS NIRGUN

 

Om is the mystic and holy word which sums up all truth in the universe. According to Hindu mythology, which is understood to have a beginning over 5000 years ago, God is –

OMNIPRESENT meaning present every where.

OMNISCIENT meaning infinitely knowledgeable and

OMNIPOTENT meaning infinitely powerful

(Mark the prefix ‘Om’ in all these eptithers for God.)

God is thus, eternal, formless and the absolute soul Paramatma, the supreme energy which controls the whole universe. Om (or Aum) symbolizes God as nirgun, meaning without form, the Absolute.

Om is pronounced at the beginning and /or end of rituals and prayers. This pronouncing is understood to create vibrations which link up with the supreme energy Parmatma, the life source of all creation in the universe.

One school of thought has it that earlier

Aryans worshipped natural elements namely

1.       Bhoomi (earth)

2.       Gagan (sky/space)

3.       Vayu (air)

4.       Agni (fire) and

5.       Neer (water)

giving rise to the term Bhagwan for this supreme energy.

To make it convenient to comprehend the nirgun, forms with different attributes evolved as sagun meaning with form. God with such forms would then help a person during his/her existence, when propitiating these gods through good karam (deeds). It also helps one to look at the sagun reality, attributes of which suit one from one’s personality growth.

To make one understand nirgun & sagun aspects, Ramkrishn Paramhans used to give example of water, which is nirgun in its usual form and sagun when in snow/ice form.

According to Hindu mythology the Supreme energy as sagun, is Trimurty (Trinity), an immense energy which controls the universe and its activities. Another all-permeating aspect of nirgun form of God is Sat, Chit & Anand, meaning the 3 basic attributes of the Supreme i.e. truth, consciousness and blissfulness.

While Brahma Ji is not popular in present day (he is understood to have completed his task of creation of the universe and made it a self continuing process), Vishnu Ji and Shiv Ji are popularly worshipped, respectively as the sustainer of the creation and its destruction when it has outlived its utility. There are other gods/goddesses who are adored and they are described in some detail in the following chapters.