Meditation on OM: Relevance from ancient texts and contemporary science.
Sanjay Kumar, Hr Nagendra, Nk Manjunath, Kv Naveen, Shirley Telles
International Journal of Yoga 2010 DOI: 10.4103/0973-6131.66771 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Om meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Autonomic variables Patanjali’s yoga sutras Upanisads |
| Key findings | Mental repetition of Om produces physiological alertness and increased sensitivity to sensory transmission. |
Abstract
In Indian scriptures the sacred syllable Om is the primordial sound from which all other sounds and creation emerge which signifies the Supreme Power. To explore the significance of the syllable OM from ancient texts and effects of OM meditation in contemporary science. DESCRIPTIONS FROM ANCIENT TEXTS: The descriptions of Om have been taken from four Upanisads (Mundaka, Mandukya, Svetasvatara, and Katha), the Bhagvad Gita, and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ON OM: Autonomic and respiratory studies suggest that there is a combination of mental alertness with physiological rest during the practice of Om meditation. Evoked potentials studies suggest a decrease in sensory transmission time at the level of the auditory association cortices, along with recruitment of more neurons at mesencephalic-diencephalic levels. It is considered that a person who realizes Om, merges with the Absolute. Scientific studies on Om suggest that the mental repetition of Om results in physiological alertness, and increased sensitivity to sensory transmission.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- Global Effect on Cortical Activity in Young Indian Males in Response to "OM" Chanting: A High-Density Quantitative Electro-Encephalography Study. Annals of Neurosciences July 1, 2024
- Effectiveness of 12-week Om chanting on reaction time and spatial and verbal memory Asian Journal of Medical Sciences October 1, 2022
- Impact of Regularly Supervised Training of Pranayama and Omkar Meditation on the Cardio-Respiratory Parameters and Short-Term Memory of Persons with Special Needs Pharmacognosy Journal March 15, 2018
- Rediscovering Daivavyapashraya Chikitsa: Traditional Spiritual Therapies for Holistic Mental Health Care MEDINITY-2025: International Conference on Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 2025
- Changes in Brain Waves During Silent Repetition of OM: A Crossover Study from India. Journal of Religion and Health December 2024
and 9 more in the library