What does the Om Symbol mean?

What does this picture mean?

by Dacia S.

(U.S.A)

Om

Hello, I was visiting the page www.japanese-buddhism.com/hinduism.html and I came across this picture. What does it mean?

*****My answer*******

Dacia,

welcome to the site and thank you for your question.
Good question!

Well this picture is actually the Sanskrit word “Om” (pronounced /aum/ in English)

You might have heard the word “Om” but maybe not so I will explain it here:

Om is a sacred seed-word or syllable used in many Eastern religion (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism.)

It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a sacred incantation to be intoned at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas or prior to any prayer or mantra.

For this reason, it has come to represent the Hindu religion.

In Japanese Buddhism, we often used it too.

It is at the beginning of many Dharani (invocation to the Buddhas).

For example, the Dharani for Yakushi Nyorai is Om Koro koro sendali matougi sokawa.

Thank you again for your question.

Hugo